¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a](A) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(B)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(A) because it is the power of God^(B) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(C) first to the Jew,^(D) then to the Gentile.^(E)

¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed^(A)—a righteousness that is by faith^(B) from first to last,^[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[b](C)

²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[a](A) through the shedding of his blood^(B)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(C)—

²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(A) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(B) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(C) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^(D)

⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(A) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^{(B) 9} and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(C) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(D) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^{(E) 10} I want to know^(F) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(G) becoming like him in his death,^{(H) 11} and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(I) from the dead.

¹⁵ “We who are Jews by birth^(A) and not sinful Gentiles^{(B) 16} know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,^(C) but by faith in Jesus Christ.^(D) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.^(E)