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 judged¹.”

1. Psalm, li. 4.

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 eyes¹.”

1. Psa. xiv. 1-3. Psa. v. 9.

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.