Study Desk

Then what ^(F1)advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

Great in every respect. First, that ^(C1)they were entrusted with the ^(C2)actual words of God.

What then? If ^(C1)some ^(F1)did not believe, their ^(F2)unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

^(F1)(C1)Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found ^(C2)a liar, as it is written: "^(C3)SO THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL ^(F2)WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."

But if our unrighteousness ^(F1)(C1)demonstrates the righteousness of God, ^(C2)what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (^(C3)I am speaking from a human viewpoint.)

^(C1)Far from it! For otherwise, how will ^(C2)God judge the world?

But if through my lie ^(C1)the truth of God abounded to His glory, ^(C2)why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "^(C1)Let's do evil that good may come of it"? ^(F1)Their condemnation is deserved.

What then? ^(F1)(C1)Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both ^(C2)Jews and ^(C3)Greeks are ^(C4)all under sin;

as it is written: "^(C1)THERE IS NO RIGHTEOUS PERSON, NOT EVEN ONE;

THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS OUT GOD;

THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME ^(F1)CORRUPT; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

"^(C1)THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "^(C2)THE VENOM OF ^(F1)ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";

"^(C1)THEIR MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";

"^(C1)THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,

DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,

AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN THE WAY OF PEACE."

"^(C1)THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

Now we know that whatever the ^(C1)Law says, it speaks to ^(C2)those who are ^(F1)under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and ^(C3)all the world may become accountable to God;

because ^(C1)by the works ^(F1)of the Law ^(F2)none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for ^(F3)(C2)through the Law comes ^(F4)knowledge of sin.

But now apart ^(F1)from the Law ^(C1)the righteousness of God has been revealed, being ^(C2)witnessed by the ^(F2)Law and the Prophets,

but it is the ^(C1)righteousness of God through ^(C2)faith ^(C3)in Jesus Christ for ^(C4)all those ^(F1)who believe; for ^(C5)there is no distinction,

for all ^(F1)(C1)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

being justified as a gift ^(C1)by His grace through ^(C2)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

whom God displayed publicly as ^(C1)a ^(F1)propitiation ^(F2)(C2)in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, ^(F3)because in God's merciful ^(C3)restraint He ^(C4)let the sins previously committed go unpunished;

for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who ^(F1)has faith in Jesus.

Where then is ^(C1)boasting? It has been excluded. By ^(C2)what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

^(F1)For ^(C1)we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works ^(F2)of the Law.

Or ^(C1)is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

since indeed ^(C1)God ^(C2)who will justify the ^(F1)circumcised ^(F2)by faith and the ^(F3)uncircumcised through faith ^(C3)is one.

Do we then nullify ^(F1)the Law through faith? ^(C1)Far from it! On the contrary, we ^(C2)establish the Law.