Study Desk

So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted^(a) with the spoken words of God.^(b)

What then? If some did not believe,^(c) will their unbelief cancel God's faithfulness?

Absolutely not!^(d) God must be true, even if everyone is a liar,^(e) as it is written: That You may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge. ^(f)[a]

But if our unrighteousness highlights^[b] God's righteousness,^(g) what are we to say?^(h) I use a human argument:^[c](i) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?^(j)

But if by my lie God's truth is amplified to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?^(k)

And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, "Let us do what is evil so that good may come"?^(l) Their condemnation is deserved!

What then? Are we any better?^[d] Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews^(m) and Gentiles^[e](n) are all under sin,^[f](o)

as it is written:^[g] There is no one righteous, not even one.

There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. ^(p)[h]

Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. ^(q)[i] Vipers' venom is under their lips. ^(r)[j]

Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. ^(s)[k]

Their feet are swift to shed blood;

ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,

and the path of peace they have not known. ^(t)[l]

There is no fear of God before their eyes. ^(u)[m]

Now we know that whatever the law says^(v) speaks to those who are subject to the law,^[n](w) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God's judgment.^[o](x)

For no one will be justified^[p] in His sight by the works of the law,^(y) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.^(z)

But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed^(aa)—attested by the Law and the Prophets^[q](ab)

—that is, God's righteousness through faith^(ac) in Jesus Christ,^[r](ad) to all who believe,^(ae) since there is no distinction.^(af)

For all have sinned^(ag) and fall short of the^[s] glory of God.

They are justified freely by His grace^(ah) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.^(ai)

God presented Him as a propitiation^[t](aj) through faith in His blood,^(ak) to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God^(al) passed over the sins previously committed.^(am)

God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous^[u] the one who has faith in Jesus.

Where then is boasting?^(an) It is excluded. By what kind of law?^[v](ao) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law^[w] of faith.

For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^(ap)

Or is God for Jews only?^(aq) Is He not also for Gentiles? Yes, for Gentiles too,

since there is one God^(ar) who will justify the circumcised by faith^(as) and the uncircumcised through faith.

Do we then cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not!^(at) On the contrary, we uphold the law.^(au)