25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you (A)practice [a]the Law; but if you are a violator [b]of the Law, (B)your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 (C)So if (D)the [c]uncircumcised man (E)keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And (F)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not (G)judge you who [d]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator [e]of the Law? 28 For (H)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But (I)he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and (J)circumcision is of the heart, by the (K)Spirit, not by the letter; (L)and his praise is not from people, but from God.

All the World Guilty

Then what [f]advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First, that (M)they were entrusted with the (N)actual words of God. What then? If (O)some [g]did not believe, their [h]unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? [i](P)Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found (Q)a liar, as it is written:

(R)So that You are justified in Your words,
And prevail [j]when You are judged.”

But if our unrighteousness [k](S)demonstrates the righteousness of God, (T)what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? ((U)I am speaking from a human viewpoint.) (V)Far from it! For otherwise, how will (W)God judge the world? But if through my lie (X)the truth of God abounded to His glory, (Y)why am I also still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “(Z)Let’s do evil that good may come of it”? [l]Their condemnation is deserved.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:25 Or law
  2. Romans 2:25 Or of law
  3. Romans 2:26 Lit uncircumcision
  4. Romans 2:27 Lit through the letter
  5. Romans 2:27 Or of law
  6. Romans 3:1 Lit is the advantage of the Jew
  7. Romans 3:3 Or were unfaithful
  8. Romans 3:3 Or unfaithfulness
  9. Romans 3:4 Lit May it never happen! And so throughout the ch
  10. Romans 3:4 Or in Your judging
  11. Romans 3:5 I.e., by requiring His judgment
  12. Romans 3:8 Lit Whose

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(A) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(B) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(C) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(D) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(E) who, even though you have the[a] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(F) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(G) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(H) by the Spirit,(I) not by the written code.(J) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(K)

God’s Faithfulness

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way!(L) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.(M)

What if some were unfaithful?(N) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?(O) Not at all! Let God be true,(P) and every human being a liar.(Q) As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”[b](R)

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(S) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(T) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(U) Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(V) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(W) Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(X) Their condemnation is just!

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a
  2. Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4