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犹太人独特的地方

这样说来,犹太人独特的地方在哪里呢?割礼又有甚么益处呢? 从各方面来说,的确很多。最重要的,是 神的圣言已经托付了他们。 即使有人不信,又有甚么关系呢?难道他们的不信会使 神的信实无效吗? 绝不可能! 神总是诚实的,人却是虚谎的,正如经上所记:

“你在话语上,显为公义;

你被论断时,必然得胜。”

我且照着人的见解来说,我们的不义若彰显 神的义,我们可以说甚么呢?难道降怒的 神是不义的吗? 绝对不是!如果是这样, 神怎能审判世界呢? 但是 神的诚实,如果因我的虚谎而更加显出他的荣耀来,为甚么我还要像罪人一样受审判呢? 为甚么不说:“我们去作恶以成善吧!”(有人毁谤我们,说我们讲过这话。)这种人被定罪是理所当然的。

世上一个义人也没有

那又怎么样呢?我们比他们强吗?绝不是的。因为我们已经控诉过,无论是犹太人或是希腊人,都在罪恶之下, 10 正如经上所说:

“没有义人,连一个也没有,

11 没有明白的,没有寻求 神的;

12 人人都偏离了正道,一同变成污秽;

没有行善的,连一个也没有。

13 他们的喉咙是敞开的坟墓,

他们用舌头弄诡诈,

他们嘴里有虺蛇的毒,

14 满口是咒骂和恶毒;

15 为了杀人流血,他们的脚步飞快,

16 在经过的路上留下毁灭和悲惨。

17 和睦之道,他们不晓得,

18 他们的眼中也不怕 神。”

19 然而我们晓得,凡律法所说的,都是对在律法之下的人说的,好让每一个人都没有话可讲,使全世界的人都伏在 神的审判之下。 20 没有一个人可以靠行律法,在 神面前得称为义,因为借着律法,人对于罪才有充分的认识。

因信基督白白称义

21 现在,有律法和先知的话可以证明: 神的义在律法之外已经显明出来, 22 就是 神的义,因着信耶稣基督,毫无区别地临到所有信的人。 23 因为人人都犯了罪,亏缺了 神的荣耀, 24 但他们却因着 神的恩典,借着在基督耶稣里的救赎,就白白地称义。 25  神设立了耶稣为赎罪祭(“赎罪祭”直译作“赎罪或使 神息怒之法”),是凭着他的血,借着人的信,为的是要显明 神的义;因为 神用忍耐的心宽容了人从前所犯的罪, 26 好在现今显明他的义,使人知道他自己为义,又称信耶稣的人为义。

27 这样,有甚么可夸的呢?没有可夸的了。凭甚么准则说没有的呢?凭行为吗?不是的,而是以信心为准则说的。 28 因为我们认定,人称义是由于信,并不是靠行律法。 29 难道 神只是犹太人的 神吗?不也是外族人的 神吗?是的,他也是外族人的 神。 30  神既然只有一位,他就以信为准则称受割礼的为义,也要以信为准则称没有受割礼的为义。 31 这样说来,我们以信废掉了律法吗?绝对不是,倒是巩固了律法。

What then is the advantage of the Yehudi? Or what is the value of the bris milah?

Much in every way! For, koidem kol (in the first place), they are entrusted with the Divrei Hashem (the oracles, the words of G-d).

So, where does that leave us? If some have disbelieved, has their lack of emunah annulled the ne’emanut (faithfulness, trustworthiness, reliability) of Hashem?

Chas v’shalom (G-d forbid!) Let G-d be true and KOL HAADAM KOZEV ("every man a liar" TEHILLIM 116:11). Even as it is written, L’MA’AN TITZDAK B’DAVRECHA ("in order that you might be vindicated when you speak" and shall overcome when you judge TEHILLIM 51:6[4]).

But if our unrighteousness brings out and highlights the Tzedek Olamim, the Tzidkat Hashem (the righteousness of G-d), what shall we say? Rhetorically speaking, is G-d unjust in inflicting Charon Af Hashem (1:18)? (I speak from a human standpoint.)

Chas v’shalom! (G-d forbid!) For then how could Hashem be HaShofet kol ha’Aretz (BERESHIS 18:25)?

"But if the Emes Hashem (truth of G-d) has by my sheker overflowed to His kavod (glory), why am I still judged as a rashah (an evildoer)?"

Why do we not say, as some speakers of lashon hora slanderously report us to say, "Let us do rah that tov might come of it"? The gezar din (verdict) of ashem (guilty) on them is well deserved.

What then? Are we (Yehudim) better off? Not altogether. For we have now charged both Yehudim and non-Jews as all alike under HaChet (sin, i.e., the power of Chet Kadmon Ro 7:23),

10 As it is written, EIN TZADDIK BA’ARETZ (KOHELET 7:20), There is none [on earth] righteous, not even one.

11 There is none who has binah, there is none who seeks out G-d.

12 All have turned aside, they have become altogether paskudneh, worthless; there is none who does good, there is none, not so much as one.

13 Their throat is an open grave. They use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips,

14 Whose mouth is full of curses and bitterness.

15 Their feet are swift when it comes to shefach dahm.

16 Ruin and wretchedness are in their ways,

17 And the derech Shalom (the way of peace) they have not known.

18 There is no yirat Shomayim (fear of G-d) before their eyes. (See TEHILLIM 13:1-3; 14:1-3; 5:9,10; 139:4; 140:3; 9:28; 10:7; YESHAYAH 59:7 8; TEHILLIM 36:1; MISHLE 1:16; TEHILLIM 35:2.)

19 Now we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those under the Torah, in order that every mouth might be stopped and kol HaOlam Hazeh become ashem (guilty) and liable to the Mishpat Hashem [TEHILLIM 1:5].

20 For by Ma’asim (Works) of Chok (Law) shall KOL CHAI LO YITZDAK ("all living not be justified" TEHILLIM 143:2), for through the Chok (Law) comes the da’as HaChet (the knowledge of sin, BERESHIS 3:7).

21 But now, apart from the Chok, the Tzedek Olamim—the Tzidkat Hashem—has been revealed, as attested by the Torah and the Nevi’im,

22 That is, the Tzidkat Hashem through emunah in Moshiach Yehoshua (Yeshua) to all the ma’aminim (believers). For there is no distinction.

23 For all have sinned and suffered want of the kavod Hashem.

24 They are acquitted and accounted to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM as a matnat Hashem (gift of G-d) by the unmerited Chen v’Chesed Hashem (grace of G-d) through HaPedut (the ransom, the payment of ransom for the Geulah redemption—Shmuel Bais 7:23 that comes about through the Go’el Moshiach Tzidkeinu) which is in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua,

25 Whom G-d set forth as a kapporah (that which propitiates G-d’s wrath; cf the sa’ir l’azazel in Lv 16:22 and Isa 53:12 paying the onesh for sin) through emunah (faith) in the DAHM ("blood" Gen 22:7; Ex 12:3,6; Isa 53:7,10) of Moshiach, to demonstrate the Tzedek Olamim, the Tzidkat Hashem (righteousness of G-d) in pasach (passing over, letting go the penalty of) the averos (sins) committed in former times

26 In the forbearance of G-d, to vindicate his Tzidkat Hashem (righteousness of G-d) in the present time, that HASHEM TZADDIK ("G-d is righteous" DIVREY HAYAMIM BAIS 12:6) Himself and the One who counts to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM (IYOV 25:4) the person who has emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust) in [Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach] Yehoshua.

27 Where then is boasting? (Ro 4:2) It has been memayet (precluded, excluded). By what kind of Torah? Of ma’asim (works)? No, on the contrary, by the Torah of Emunah (the Law of Faith, that is, the Law understood in terms of emunah).

28 For we reckon that a man is acquitted and pronounced to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM by emunah (personal faith, trust, bitachon), apart from the [(supposed) zechus-earning] ma’asei mitzvot.

29 Or is Hashem G-d of the Yehudim only? Is Hashem not also G-d of the Nations? Ken, of non-Jews, too,

30 Vi-bahlt (since), after all, Adonai echad ("G-d is one" DEVARIM 6:4). Therefore, He will consider to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM and acquit those of the bris milah on the ground of emunah and the "arelim" (uncircumcised ones) through that same emunah.

31 Does it follow that we abolish Torah and make it invalid through emunah? Chas v’shalom! Aderaba (to the contrary), we uphold the Torah.