[1] Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
[2] Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the
oracles of God. [3] What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness
nullify the faithfulness of God? [4] By no means! Let God be true though
every man be false, as it is written, "That thou mayest be justified in
thy words, and prevail when thou art judged." [5] But if our wickedness
serves to show the justice of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to
inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) [6] By no means! For then
how could God judge the world? [7] But if through my falsehood God's
truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a
sinner? [8] And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people
slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. [9] What
then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I have already
charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin,
[10] as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; [11] no one
understands, no one seeks for God. [12] All have turned aside, together
they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one." [13] "Their throat
is an open grave, they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is
under their lips." [14] "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
[15] "Their feet are swift to shed blood, [16] in their paths are ruin and
misery, [17] and the way of peace they do not know." [18] "There is no fear
of God before their eyes." [19] Now we know that whatever the law says it
speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped,
and the whole world may be held accountable to God. [20] For no human being
will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law
comes knowledge of sin. [21] But now the righteousness of God has been
manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness
to it, [22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all
who believe. For there is no distinction; [23] since all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God, [24] they are justified by his grace as a
gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put
forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to
show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed
over former sins; [26] it was to prove at the present time that he himself
is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. [27] Then
what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the
principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith. [28] For we hold
that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. [29] Or is God
the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles
also, [30] since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the
ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith. [31] Do we
then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we
uphold the law.
