Romans 2:28-3:18

English Standard Version

²⁸For ^(A)no one is a Jew ^(B)who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹But a Jew is one ^(C)inwardly, and ^(D)circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. ^(E)His praise is not from man but from God.

God's Righteousness Upheld

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ²Much in every way. To begin with, ^(F)the Jews were entrusted with ^(G)the oracles of God. ³^(H)What if some were unfaithful? ^(I)Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? ⁴By no means! ^(J)Let God be true though ^(K)every one were a liar, as it is written,

^(L)“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you ^(M)are judged.”

⁵But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict ^(N)wrath on us? (^(O)I speak in a human way.) ⁶By no means! For then how could ^(P)God judge the world? ⁷But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, ^(Q)why am I still being condemned as a sinner? ⁸And why not ^(R)do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

⁹What then? Are we Jews^[a] any better off?^[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both ^(S)Jews and ^(T)Greeks, are ^(U)under sin, ¹⁰as it is written:

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