Book of Common Prayer
Circumcision Will Not Help Transgressors
25 For circumcision profits if you practice the Law— but if you are a transgressor of the Law your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised one keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And the uncircumcised one by nature who is fulfilling the Law will judge you, the transgressor of the Law with the letter[a] and circumcision! 28 For the Jew in the visible thing is not a Jew, nor is the circumcision in the visible[b] thing in the flesh circumcision, 29 but the Jew in the hidden thing is a Jew, and circumcision is of the heart, by[c] the Spirit not the letter— whose praise is not from people, but from God.
So Then What Is The Advantage of The Jew?
3 What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. For first— that they were entrusted the oracles[d] of God!
God Will Be Faithful To His Promises To The Jews Even If Some Reject Him
3 What indeed if some[e] were faithless[f]? Their faithlessness[g] will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! But let God be [seen to be] true and every person a liar, just as it has been written [in Ps 51:4]: “So that You might be declared-righteous[h] in Your words and prevail in Your being judged[i]”.
But God Is Not Unrighteous To Inflict Wrath On Jews Who Sin
5 But if our[j] unrighteousness demonstrates[k] the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, the One inflicting the wrath, is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in accordance with human thinking[l]). 6 May it never be! Otherwise how will God judge the world?
God Holds Jews Accountable For Their Sin Too
7 But if the truth of God abounded in my lie[m] to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 Indeed, why not say “Let us do evil things that good things may come”, as we are blasphemed, and as some affirm us to say— whose condemnation is just[n]!
Scripture Declares All Are Accountable And Guilty Before God. None Are Righteous
9 Therefore what? Are we better[o] [than they]? Not at-all. For we already-charged[p] that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 just as it has been written: “There is not a righteous one, not even one. 11 There is no one understanding. There is no one seeking-out God. 12 They all turned-away, together they became useless[q]. There is no one doing goodness. There is not as-many-as one” [Ps 14:1-3]. 13 “Their throat is an opened grave. With their tongues they were deceiving” [Ps 5:9]. “The poison of asps is under their lips” [Ps 140:3]. 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing[r] and bitterness” [Ps 10:7]. 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways. 17 And they did not know the way of peace” [Isa 59:7-8]. 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes” [Ps 36:1].
I Am Doing The Will of The One Who Sent Me
30 “I can do nothing from Myself. Just as I am hearing[a], I am judging. And My judgment is righteous, because I am not seeking My will, but the will of the One having sent Me.
Jesus Responds Regarding His Identity: Others Testify About Him
31 “If I am[b] testifying about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 There is Another— the One testifying about Me— and I know that the testimony which He is testifying about Me is true.
John The Baptist Testified
33 “You have sent out messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth[c]. 34 But I do not receive[d] testimony from a human. Nevertheless, I am saying these things in order that you may be saved. 35 That one was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to be overjoyed in his light for an hour.
Three Greater Witnesses Testify: My Works, The Father, And The Scriptures
36 “But I have testimony greater than John’s. For the works which the Father has given to Me that I should accomplish them— the works themselves which I am doing are testifying about Me, that the Father has sent Me forth. 37 And the Father having sent Me— that One has testified about Me. Neither His voice have you ever heard, nor His form have you seen. 38 And you do not have His word abiding in you, because the One Whom that One sent-forth— this One you are not believing! 39 You[e] search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life— and those Scriptures are the ones testifying about Me! 40 And you are not willing to come to Me in order that you may have life.
But You Are Not Receiving Me Because You Do Not Love God
41 “I do not receive glory from people, 42 but I know you— that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in the name of My Father, and you are not receiving Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive that one. 44 How are you able to believe while receiving glory from one another, and you are not seeking the glory from the only God?
Moses Will Be Your Accuser. For If You Believed Him, You Would Believe Me
45 Do not be thinking that I will accuse you before the Father. The one accusing you is Moses, in whom you have put-hope. 46 For if you were believing Moses, you would be believing Me, for that one wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe the writings of that one, how will you believe My words?”
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing