God's Righteousness Upheld

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, (A)the Jews were entrusted with (B)the oracles of God. (C)What if some were unfaithful? (D)Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! (E)Let God be true though (F)every one were a liar, as it is written,

(G)“That you may be justified in your words,
    and prevail when you (H)are judged.”

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict (I)wrath on us? ((J)I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could (K)God judge the world? But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, (L)why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not (M)do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both (N)Jews and (O)Greeks, are (P)under sin, 10 as it is written:

(Q)“None is righteous, no, not one;
11     no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”
13 (R)“Their throat is (S)an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
(T)“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14     (U)“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 (V)“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and (W)the way of peace they have not known.”
18     (X)“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever (Y)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, (Z)so that every mouth may be stopped, and (AA)the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For (AB)by works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight, since (AC)through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

21 But now (AD)the righteousness of God (AE)has been manifested apart from the law, although (AF)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God (AG)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (AH)For there is no distinction: 23 for (AI)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 (AJ)and are justified (AK)by his grace as a gift, (AL)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God (AM)put forward as (AN)a propitiation (AO)by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in (AP)his divine forbearance he had passed over (AQ)former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 (AR)Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith (AS)apart from works of the law. 29 Or (AT)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since (AU)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and (AV)the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, (AW)our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but (AX)not before God. For what does the Scripture say? (AY)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now (AZ)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but (BA)believes in[d] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

(BB)“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not (BC)count his sin.”

Is this blessing then only for (BD)the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? (BE)For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 (BF)He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was (BG)to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For (BH)the promise to Abraham and his offspring (BI)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 (BJ)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For (BK)the law brings wrath, but (BL)where there is no law (BM)there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, (BN)in order that the promise may rest on grace and (BO)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, (BP)who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, (BQ)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, (BR)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (BS)the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, (BT)“So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was (BU)as good as dead ((BV)since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered (BW)the barrenness[e] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that (BX)God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But (BY)the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us (BZ)who believe in (CA)him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 (CB)who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (CC)for our justification.

Peace with God Through Faith

(CD)Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, (CE)we[f] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also (CF)obtained access by faith[g] into this grace (CG)in which we stand, and (CH)we[h] rejoice[i] in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we (CI)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering (CJ)produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and (CK)hope does not put us to shame, because God's love (CL)has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For (CM)while we were still weak, at the right time (CN)Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but (CO)God shows his love for us in that (CP)while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, (CQ)we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from (CR)the wrath of God. 10 For if (CS)while we were enemies (CT)we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by (CU)his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received (CV)reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as (CW)sin came into the world through one man, and (CX)death through sin, and (CY)so death spread to all men[j] because (CZ)all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but (DA)sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not (DB)like the transgression of Adam, (DC)who was a type of (DD)the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for (DE)many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For (DF)the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought (DG)justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness (DH)reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[k] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[l] leads to justification and life for (DI)all men. 19 For as by the one man's (DJ)disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's (DK)obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now (DL)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, (DM)grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, (DN)as sin reigned in death, (DO)grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

What shall we say then? (DP)Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can (DQ)we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us (DR)who have been baptized (DS)into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were (DT)buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as (DU)Christ was raised from the dead by (DV)the glory of the Father, we too might walk in (DW)newness of life.

For (DX)if we have been united with him in (DY)a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that (DZ)our old self[m] (EA)was crucified with him in order that (EB)the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For (EC)one who has died (ED)has been set free[n] from sin. Now (EE)if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that (EF)Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; (EG)death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, (EH)once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves (EI)dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not (EJ)sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 (EK)Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but (EL)present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For (EM)sin (EN)will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? (EO)Are we to sin (EP)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves (EQ)to anyone as obedient slaves,[o] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But (ER)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the (ES)standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, (ET)having been set free from sin, (EU)have become slaves of righteousness. 19 (EV)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For (EW)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members (EX)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 (EY)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 (EZ)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things (FA)of which you are now ashamed? (FB)For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you (FC)have been set free from sin and (FD)have become slaves of God, (FE)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and (FF)its end, eternal life. 23 (FG)For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released from the Law

Or do you not know, brothers[p]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For (FH)a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[q] Accordingly, (FI)she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

Likewise, my brothers, (FJ)you also have died (FK)to the law (FL)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, (FM)in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work (FN)in our members (FO)to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the (FP)new way of (FQ)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[r]

The Law and Sin

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, (FR)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if (FS)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, (FT)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. (FU)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment (FV)that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, (FW)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, (FX)deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So (FY)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, (FZ)sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For (GA)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with (GB)the law, that it is good. 17 So now (GC)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells (GD)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 (GE)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, (GF)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For (GG)I delight in the law of God, (GH)in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members (GI)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from (GJ)this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Life in the Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[s] For the law of (GK)the Spirit of life (GL)has set you[t] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For (GM)God has done what the law, (GN)weakened by the flesh, (GO)could not do. (GP)By sending his own Son (GQ)in the likeness of sinful flesh and (GR)for sin,[u] he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that (GS)the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, (GT)who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For (GU)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on (GV)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on (GW)the things of the Spirit. For to set (GX)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is (GY)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; (GZ)indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact (HA)the Spirit of God dwells in you. (HB)Anyone who does not have (HC)the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of (HD)him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[v] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies (HE)through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers,[w] we are debtors, (HF)not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you (HG)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are (HH)led by the Spirit of God are (HI)sons[x] of God. 15 For (HJ)you did not receive (HK)the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of (HL)adoption as sons, by whom we cry, (HM)“Abba! Father!” 16 (HN)The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (HO)heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (HP)provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (HQ)are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for (HR)the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation (HS)was subjected to futility, not willingly, but (HT)because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that (HU)the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that (HV)the whole creation (HW)has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have (HX)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (HY)groan inwardly as (HZ)we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, (IA)the redemption of our bodies. 24 For (IB)in this hope we were saved. Now (IC)hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we (ID)wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For (IE)we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but (IF)the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And (IG)he who searches hearts knows what is (IH)the mind of the Spirit, because[y] the Spirit (II)intercedes for the saints (IJ)according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together (IK)for good,[z] for (IL)those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he (IM)foreknew he also (IN)predestined (IO)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be (IP)the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also (IQ)justified, and those whom he justified he also (IR)glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? (IS)If God is for us, who can be[aa] against us? 32 (IT)He who did not spare his own Son but (IU)gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? (IV)It is God who justifies. 34 (IW)Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—(IX)who is at the right hand of God, (IY)who indeed is interceding for us.[ab] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

(IZ)“For your sake (JA)we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than (JB)conquerors through (JC)him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's Sovereign Choice

(JD)I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For (JE)I could wish that I myself were (JF)accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[ac] my kinsmen (JG)according to the flesh. They are (JH)Israelites, and to them belong (JI)the adoption, (JJ)the glory, (JK)the covenants, (JL)the giving of the law, (JM)the worship, and (JN)the promises. To them belong (JO)the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, (JP)who is God over all, (JQ)blessed forever. Amen.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham (JR)because they are his offspring, but (JS)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but (JT)the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: (JU)“About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but (JV)also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of (JW)him who calls— 12 she was told, (JX)“The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, (JY)“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? (JZ)Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, (KA)“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[ad] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, (KB)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For (KC)who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, (KD)to answer back to God? (KE)Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 (KF)Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump (KG)one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience (KH)vessels of wrath (KI)prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known (KJ)the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he (KK)has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he (KL)has called, (KM)not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

(KN)“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
    and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 (KO)“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called (KP)‘sons of the living God.’”

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: (KQ)“Though the number of the sons of Israel[ae] be as the sand of the sea, (KR)only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,

(KS)(KT)“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
    (KU)we would have been like Sodom
    and become like Gomorrah.”

Israel's Unbelief

30 What shall we say, then? (KV)That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, (KW)a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel (KX)who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness[af] (KY)did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the (KZ)stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,

(LA)“Behold, I am laying in Zion (LB)a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
    (LC)and whoever believes in him will not be (LD)put to shame.”

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:9 Greek Are we
  2. Romans 3:9 Or at any disadvantage?
  3. Romans 3:20 Greek flesh
  4. Romans 4:5 Or but trusts; compare verse 24
  5. Romans 4:19 Greek deadness
  6. Romans 5:1 Some manuscripts let us
  7. Romans 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith
  8. Romans 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3
  9. Romans 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11
  10. Romans 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18
  11. Romans 5:18 Or the trespass of one
  12. Romans 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one
  13. Romans 6:6 Greek man
  14. Romans 6:7 Greek has been justified
  15. Romans 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse; also verses 17, 19 (twice), 20
  16. Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4
  17. Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband
  18. Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter
  19. Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
  20. Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me
  21. Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering
  22. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus
  23. Romans 8:12 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
  24. Romans 8:14 See discussion on “sons” in the Preface
  25. Romans 8:27 Or that
  26. Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good
  27. Romans 8:31 Or who is
  28. Romans 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?
  29. Romans 9:3 Or brothers and sisters
  30. Romans 9:16 Greek not of him who wills or runs
  31. Romans 9:27 Or children of Israel
  32. Romans 9:31 Greek a law of righteousness

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