1 WHAT then is the superiority of the Jew? or what is the advantage of circumcision?
2 Much in every view: the principal one indeed is, that the oracles of God were entrusted to them.
3 For what if some were unbelievers? shall their unbelief render the faithfulness of God ineffectual?
4 God forbid: but let God be true, though every man were a liar; as it is written, "That thou mayest be acknowledged just in thy sayings, and overcome when thou art judged."
5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous in inflicting wrath? (I speak humanly).
6 God forbid: for how then shall God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God by my lying hath more abundantly contributed to his glory; why am I notwithstanding judged as a sinner?
8 And why not admit, (as we are falsely reported of; and as some affirm we say,) That we should do evil things, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.
9 What then? have we pre-eminence? Not at all: for we have before proved that both the Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10 as it is written, "There is not a just person, no not one:
11 there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 All are turned aside together, they are become worthless; there is none that doeth good, there is not even one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have spoken craftily; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 destruction and misery are in their ways.
17 And they have not known the way of peace:
18 there is not the fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatsoever things the law saith, it speaks to those who are under the law: that every mouth might be sealed up, and all the world become criminal before God.
20 Wherefore by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before God: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now distinct from the law the righteousness of God is manifest, receiving testimony from the law and the prophets;
22 the righteousness of God indeed by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe: for there is no difference:
23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus:
25 whom God hath proposed as the propitiatory sacrifice through faith in his blood, in demonstration of his justice for the remission of past sins, through the patience of God;
26 for a demonstration of his justice at this present time: that he might be just, though justifying him who is of the faith of Jesus.
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.
28 We conclude therefore that by faith a man is justified, without works of law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only, and is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, verily, of the Gentiles also:
30 since it is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then abolish the law through faith? God forbid: but on the contrary, we give the law stability.