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28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something external and physical.(A) 29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not the written code. Such a person receives praise not from humans but from God.(B)

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much, in every way. For in the first place, the Jews[a] were entrusted with the oracles of God.(C) What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?(D) By no means! Although every human is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written,

“So that you may be justified in your words
    and you will prevail[b] when you go to trial.”(E)

But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)(F) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their judgment is deserved!(G)

None Is Righteous

What then? Are we any better off?[c] No, not at all, for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin,(H) 10 as it is written:

“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;(I)
11     there is no one who has understanding;
        there is no one who seeks God.

Footnotes

  1. 3.2 Gk they
  2. 3.4 Other ancient authorities read you may prevail
  3. 3.9 Or at any disadvantage?