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What tis advantage perissos then oun · ho has the ho Jew Ioudaios? Or ē what tis is the ho value ōpheleia of ho circumcision peritomē? Much polys in kata every pas way tropos. For gar first prōton of all , they were entrusted pisteuō with the ho oracles logion of ho God theos. But gar what tis if ei some tis were unfaithful apisteō, will katargeō · ho their autos lack apistia of faith nullify katargeō the ho faithfulness pistis of ho God theos? By no means ! Let God theos be ginomai · de · ho true alēthēs and de every pas man anthrōpos a liar pseustēs. As kathōs it is written graphō, “ so that hopōs you may an be justified dikaioō in en · ho your sy words logos and kai prevail nikaō when en · ho you sy are judged krinō.” But de if ei · ho our hēmeis unrighteousness adikia demonstrates synistēmi the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos, what tis shall we say legō? That God theos is unjust adikos · ho · ho to inflict epipherō · ho wrath orgē on us? ( I use a human kata anthrōpos argument legō!) By no means ! For epei otherwise how pōs could God theos judge krinō · ho the ho world kosmos? But de if ei by en my emos lie pseusma · ho God’ s theos truthfulness alētheia · ho · ho abounds perisseuō to eis · ho his autos glory doxa, why tis am krinō I kagō still eti being condemned krinō as hōs a sinner hamartōlos? And kai why not say ( as kathōs some tis slanderously blasphēmeō · kai claim phēmi that we hēmeis are saying legō), “ Let us do poieō · ho evil kakos so hina that good agathos may come erchomai · ho of it”? Their hos · ho condemnation krima is eimi well endikos deserved !

What tis then oun? Are we better proechō off ? Not ou at pantōs all , for gar we have already charged proaitiaomai that both te Jews Ioudaios and kai Greeks Hellēn are eimi all pas under hypo the power of sin hamartia, 10 as kathōs it is written graphō, “ No ou one is eimi righteous dikaios, not even oude one heis; 11 no ou one is eimi · ho understanding syniēmi; no ou one is eimi · ho seeking ekzēteō for · ho God theos. 12 They have all pas turned ekklinō away ; together hama they have become worthless achreioō. No ou one is eimi · ho doing poieō good chrēstotēs, there is eimi not ou even heōs one heis. 13 Their autos throat larynx is an open anoigō grave taphos; · ho with ho their autos tongues glōssa they deceive dolioō; the poison ios of asps aspis is under hypo · ho their autos lips cheilos; 14 their hos · ho mouth stoma is full of gemō cursing ara and kai bitterness pikria; 15 · ho their autos feet pous are swift oxys to shed ekcheō blood haima; 16 destruction syntrimma and kai misery talaipōria are in en · ho their autos paths hodos; 17 and kai the way hodos of peace eirēnē they have not ou known ginōskō. 18 There is eimi no ou fear phobos of God theos before apenanti · ho their autos eyes ophthalmos.”

19 Now de we know oida that hoti whatever hosos the ho law nomos says legō, it speaks laleō to those ho who are under en the ho law nomos, so hina that every pas mouth stoma may be silenced phrassō and kai the ho whole pas world kosmos may be ginomai held accountable hypodikos to ho God theos. 20 So dioti by ek the works ergon of the law nomos no ou flesh sarx at all pas will be justified dikaioō before enōpion him autos, because gar through dia the law nomos comes the knowledge epignōsis of sin hamartia.

21 But de now nyni, apart chōris from the law nomos ( although attested martyreō by hypo the ho law nomos and kai the ho prophets prophētēs) the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos has been disclosed phaneroō. 22 It is the righteousness dikaiosynē · de of God theos available through dia faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos for eis all pas who ho believe pisteuō. ( For gar there is eimi no ou distinction diastolē, 23 since gar all pas have sinned hamartanō and kai continue to fall hystereō short of the ho glory doxa of ho God theos.) 24 They are justified dikaioō freely dōrean by ho his autos grace charis through dia the ho redemption apolytrōsis that ho is in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, 25 whom hos God theos set forth protithēmi · ho as an atoning hilastērion sacrifice by en his autos blood haima, obtainable through dia · ho faith pistis. · ho This was to eis demonstrate endeixis · ho his autos righteousness dikaiosynē, because dia God in his forbearance · ho had paresis passed over · ho previous proginomai sins hamartēma. 26 · ho · ho It was also to pros · ho demonstrate endeixis · ho his autos righteousness dikaiosynē at en the ho present nyn time kairos, that eis · ho he autos might be eimi just dikaios and kai the justifier dikaioō of the ho one who has ek faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous.

27 Where pou then oun is · ho boasting kauchēsis? It has been excluded ekkleiō. By dia what poios kind of law nomos? By a law of ho works ergon? No ouchi, but alla by dia the law nomos of faith pistis. 28 For gar we hold logizomai that a person anthrōpos is justified dikaioō by faith pistis apart chōris from the works ergon of the law nomos. 29 Or ē is God the ho God theos of Jews Ioudaios only monon? Is he not ouchi the God of Gentiles ethnos as kai well ? Yes nai, of Gentiles ethnos as kai well . 30 Since eiper God theos is one heis, · ho he hos will justify dikaioō the circumcised peritomē on ek the basis of their faith pistis and kai the uncircumcised akrobystia by dia the ho same faith pistis. 31 Do we katargeō therefore oun nullify katargeō the law nomos through dia · ho faith pistis? By no means ! On the contrary alla, we uphold histēmi the law nomos.

All the World Guilty

Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very [a]words].(A) What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it? Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture],

That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].”(B)

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not wrong to inflict His wrath [on us], is He? (I am speaking in purely human terms.) Certainly not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? But [as you might say] if through my lie God’s truth was magnified and abounded to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? Their condemnation [by God] is just.

Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power. 10 As it is written and forever remains written,

There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.(C)
11 
There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God.(D)
12 
All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”(E)
13 
Their throat is an open grave;
They [habitually] deceive with their tongues.”
The venom of asps is beneath their lips.”(F)
14 
Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”(G)
15 
Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 
Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 
And they have not known the path of peace.”(H)
18 
There is no fear of God [and His awesome power] before their eyes.”(I)

19 Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment]. 20 For no [b]person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].

Justification by Faith

21 But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. 22 This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction,(J) 23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] [d]sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]. 26 It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior].

27 Then what becomes of [our] boasting? It is excluded [entirely ruled out, banished]. On what principle? On [the principle of good] works? No, but on the principle of faith. 28 For we maintain that an individual is justified by faith distinctly apart from works of the Law [the observance of which has nothing to do with justification, that is, being declared free of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not also the God of Gentiles [who were not given the Law]? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed it is one [and the same] God who will justify the circumcised by faith [which began with Abraham] and the uncircumcised through [their newly acquired] faith.

31 Do we then nullify the Law by this faith [making the Law of no effect, overthrowing it]? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law [since it convicts us all of sin, pointing to the need for salvation].

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:2 I.e. the Old Testament promises.
  2. Romans 3:20 Lit flesh.
  3. Romans 3:24 I.e. His favor and mercy, extended to man who can do nothing to be worthy of it. It is God’s amazing gift.
  4. Romans 3:25 By laying his hands on the head of the sacrifice the person offering the sacrifice identified himself with it and through its death it became an atonement or covering for his sin. Because the unblemished sacrifice “covered” his sin it placed the person offering the sacrifice in a right relationship with God. Later under the new covenant the perfection and sacrifice of Christ would cover (atone for) the imperfection and sin of those who identified with Him and accepted Him as Savior.