Book of Common Prayer

Paul shows by the example of Abraham that faith justifies, and not the law or the works of the law.

4 What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as to the flesh, did find? ² If Abraham were justified by deeds, then he has wherein to glory, but not with God. ³ For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. ⁴ To him who works, the reward is not reckoned from favour, but as his due. ⁵ To him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ⁶ It is just as David describes the blessedfulness of the person to whom God ascribes righteousness apart from deeds: ⁷ Blessed are those whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ⁸ blessed is that man to whom the Lord does not impute sin.

⁹ Did this blessedness come then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it reckoned? In the time of circumcision, or in the time before he was circumcised? Not in the time of circumcision, but when he was yet uncircumcised.

¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that is by faith. This faith he had when still uncircumcised, to the intent that he should be the father of all who believe, though they are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be ascribed to them also; ¹² and to the intent that he should be the father of the circumcised, not only because they are circumcised, but because they walk also in the steps of that faith that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision.

¹⁴ Midway through the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. ¹⁵ And the Jews marvelled, saying, How does he know the scriptures, seeing that he was never taught?

¹⁶ Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. ¹⁷ If any person desires to do his will, he will know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God or whether I speak of myself. ¹⁸ He who speaks of himself seeks his own glory. But he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him, such a person is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. ¹⁹ Did not Moses give you a law? And yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you going about to kill me?

  ²⁰ The people answered and said, You have a devil. Who is going about to kill you?

²¹ Jesus answered and said to them, I have done one work, and you are all troubled. ²² Moses gave you circumcision, not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers. And yet you on the Sabbath day circumcise a man. ²³ If a man on the Sabbath day may receive circumcision without breaking the law of Moses, do you take offence at me because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day? ²⁴ Do not judge according to the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

²⁵ Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, Is this not the man they are going about to kill? ²⁶ Look, he speaks boldly, but they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? ²⁷ But we know this man, where he is from, and when Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.

²⁸ Then Jesus cried out in the temple as he taught, saying, You know me; and where I am from, you know. And yet I am not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ I know him, for I am of him, and he has sent me.

³⁰ Then they would have apprehended him, but no man laid hands on him, because his time was not yet come. ³¹ Many of the people believed on him and said, When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?

³² The Pharisees heard that the people rumoured such things about him. So then the Pharisees and high priests sent officers forth to seize him. ³³ Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while I am with you, and then I go to him who sent me. ³⁴ You will seek me, and will not find me; and where I am, there you cannot come.

³⁵ Then the Jews said between themselves, Where will he go, that we will not find him? Will he go among the Gentiles, who are scattered all abroad, and teach the Gentiles? ³⁶ What manner of saying is this that he said: You will seek me, and will not find me, and where I am, there you cannot come?