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25 For circumcision profiteth, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a trespasser against the law [forsooth if thou be a trespasser of the law], thy circumcision is made prepuce.

26 Therefore if prepuce keep the rightwiseness of the law, whether his prepuce shall not be areckoned [shall not be reckoned] into circumcision?

27 And the prepuce of kind that fulfilleth the law, shall deem thee, that by letter and circumcision art a trespasser against the law. [And the prepuce, which is of the kind, fulfilling the law, shall deem thee, that by letter and circumcision art trespasser of the law.]

28 For he that is in open is not a Jew, neither it is circumcision that is openly in the flesh [neither the circumcision that is in the flesh in open];

29 but he that is a Jew in hid, and the circumcision of heart, in spirit, not by the letter [not in letter], whose praising is not of men, but of God.

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25 Circumcision indeed avails, if you keep the law. But if you break the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcised man keeps the righteous things contained in the law, shall his uncircumcision not be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it keeps the law, condemn you who, being under the letter and circumcision, do transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is a Jew outwardly. Neither is that thing circumcision which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is hid within, and the circumcision of the heart is the true circumcision, which is in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

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25 [a]For circumcision verily is profitable, if thou do the Law: but if thou be a transgressor of the Law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore [b]if the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the Law, shall not his [c]uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not [d]uncircumcision which is by nature (if it keep the Law) condemn thee which by the [e]letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the Law?

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one [f]outward: neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew which is one within, and the circumcision is of the heart, in the [g]spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:25 He precisely preventeth their objection, which set an holiness in circumcision, and the outward observation of the Law: So that he showeth that the outward circumcision, if it be separated from the inward, doth not only not justify, but also condemns them that are indeed circumcised, of whom requireth that, which is signifieth, that is to say, cleanness of the heart and the whole life, according to the commandment of the Law, so that if there be a man uncircumcised according to the flesh, who is circumcised in heart, he is far better and more to be more accounted of, than any Jew that is circumcised according to the flesh only.
  2. Romans 2:26 This is the figure Metonymy, for, if the uncircumcised.
  3. Romans 2:26 The state and condition of the uncircumcised.
  4. Romans 2:27 He which is uncircumcised by nature and blood.
  5. Romans 2:27 Paul useth oftentimes to set the letter against the Spirit: but in this place, the circumcision which is according to the letter, is the cutting off of the foreskin, but the circumcision of the Spirit, is the circumcision of the heart, that is to say, the spiritual end of the ceremony, is true holiness and righteousness whereby the people of God is known from profane and heathenish men.
  6. Romans 2:28 By the outward ceremony only.
  7. Romans 2:29 Whose force is inward, and in the heart.

25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

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