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What, then, is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

Much in every way! Firstly, because indeed the oracles of God were entrusted to them.

For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Absolutely not! Indeed, let God be true, and every man a liar! As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and overcome when you are judged.”

Now, if our unrighteousness exhibits the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous in punishing? (I speak as a man.)

Absolutely not! Or else, how shall God judge the world?

For if the truth of God has abounded more through my lie, unto His Glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?

Rather, why not say (as we are slanderously accused of saying, and as some affirm that we say) “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Their damnation is just.

What then? Are we more excellent? No, in no way! For we have already proved that all, both Jews and Gentiles, are under sin.

10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

11 “There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God.

12 “They have all turned away. They have all been made useless. There is no one that does good; no, not one.

13 “Their throat is an open grave. They use their tongues to deceive. The poison of asps is under their lips;

14 “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 “Destruction and misery are in their path;

17 “and the way of peace they have not known.

18 “The fear of God is not before their eyes.”

19 Now, we know that whatever the Law says, it says it to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be subject to the judgment of God.

20 Therefore, no flesh shall be justified in His sight by the works of the Law. For by the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

21 But now, the righteousness of God has been made manifest without the Law, having been witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;

22 that is, the righteousness of God by the faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all who believe. For there is no difference.

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God;

24 and are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation, (through faith in His blood) to declare His righteousness, by the forgiveness of previous sins through God’s forbearance;

26 to show His righteousness at this present time, that He might be just, and a justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is the boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the Law of faith.

28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith, apart from the works of the Law.

29 Or is He the God of the Jews only, and not also of the Gentiles? Yes, even of the Gentiles also.

30 For indeed it is one God Who shall justify circumcision of faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make the Law of no effect through faith? Absolutely not! Rather, we establish the Law.

God's Righteousness Upheld

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, (A)the Jews were entrusted with (B)the oracles of God. (C)What if some were unfaithful? (D)Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! (E)Let God be true though (F)every one were a liar, as it is written,

(G)“That you may be justified in your words,
    and prevail when you (H)are judged.”

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

No One Is Righteous

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

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

19 Now we know that whatever (Y)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, (Z)so that every mouth may be stopped, and (AA)the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For (AB)by works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight, since (AC)through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

21 But now (AD)the righteousness of God (AE)has been manifested apart from the law, although (AF)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God (AG)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (AH)For there is no distinction: 23 for (AI)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 (AJ)and are justified (AK)by his grace as a gift, (AL)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God (AM)put forward as (AN)a propitiation (AO)by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in (AP)his divine forbearance he had passed over (AQ)former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 (AR)Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith (AS)apart from works of the law. 29 Or (AT)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since (AU)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and (AV)the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:9 Greek Are we
  2. Romans 3:9 Or at any disadvantage?
  3. Romans 3:20 Greek flesh