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What tis advantage perissos then oun · ho has the ho Jew Ioudaios? Or ē what tis is the ho value ōpheleia of ho circumcision peritomē? Much polys in kata every pas way tropos. For gar first prōton of all , they were entrusted pisteuō with the ho oracles logion of ho God theos. But gar what tis if ei some tis were unfaithful apisteō, will katargeō · ho their autos lack apistia of faith nullify katargeō the ho faithfulness pistis of ho God theos? By no means ! Let God theos be ginomai · de · ho true alēthēs and de every pas man anthrōpos a liar pseustēs. As kathōs it is written graphō, “ so that hopōs you may an be justified dikaioō in en · ho your sy words logos and kai prevail nikaō when en · ho you sy are judged krinō.” But de if ei · ho our hēmeis unrighteousness adikia demonstrates synistēmi the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos, what tis shall we say legō? That God theos is unjust adikos · ho · ho to inflict epipherō · ho wrath orgē on us? ( I use a human kata anthrōpos argument legō!) By no means ! For epei otherwise how pōs could God theos judge krinō · ho the ho world kosmos? But de if ei by en my emos lie pseusma · ho God’ s theos truthfulness alētheia · ho · ho abounds perisseuō to eis · ho his autos glory doxa, why tis am krinō I kagō still eti being condemned krinō as hōs a sinner hamartōlos? And kai why not say ( as kathōs some tis slanderously blasphēmeō · kai claim phēmi that we hēmeis are saying legō), “ Let us do poieō · ho evil kakos so hina that good agathos may come erchomai · ho of it”? Their hos · ho condemnation krima is eimi well endikos deserved !

What tis then oun? Are we better proechō off ? Not ou at pantōs all , for gar we have already charged proaitiaomai that both te Jews Ioudaios and kai Greeks Hellēn are eimi all pas under hypo the power of sin hamartia, 10 as kathōs it is written graphō, “ No ou one is eimi righteous dikaios, not even oude one heis; 11 no ou one is eimi · ho understanding syniēmi; no ou one is eimi · ho seeking ekzēteō for · ho God theos. 12 They have all pas turned ekklinō away ; together hama they have become worthless achreioō. No ou one is eimi · ho doing poieō good chrēstotēs, there is eimi not ou even heōs one heis. 13 Their autos throat larynx is an open anoigō grave taphos; · ho with ho their autos tongues glōssa they deceive dolioō; the poison ios of asps aspis is under hypo · ho their autos lips cheilos; 14 their hos · ho mouth stoma is full of gemō cursing ara and kai bitterness pikria; 15 · ho their autos feet pous are swift oxys to shed ekcheō blood haima; 16 destruction syntrimma and kai misery talaipōria are in en · ho their autos paths hodos; 17 and kai the way hodos of peace eirēnē they have not ou known ginōskō. 18 There is eimi no ou fear phobos of God theos before apenanti · ho their autos eyes ophthalmos.”

19 Now de we know oida that hoti whatever hosos the ho law nomos says legō, it speaks laleō to those ho who are under en the ho law nomos, so hina that every pas mouth stoma may be silenced phrassō and kai the ho whole pas world kosmos may be ginomai held accountable hypodikos to ho God theos. 20 So dioti by ek the works ergon of the law nomos no ou flesh sarx at all pas will be justified dikaioō before enōpion him autos, because gar through dia the law nomos comes the knowledge epignōsis of sin hamartia.

21 But de now nyni, apart chōris from the law nomos ( although attested martyreō by hypo the ho law nomos and kai the ho prophets prophētēs) the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos has been disclosed phaneroō. 22 It is the righteousness dikaiosynē · de of God theos available through dia faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos for eis all pas who ho believe pisteuō. ( For gar there is eimi no ou distinction diastolē, 23 since gar all pas have sinned hamartanō and kai continue to fall hystereō short of the ho glory doxa of ho God theos.) 24 They are justified dikaioō freely dōrean by ho his autos grace charis through dia the ho redemption apolytrōsis that ho is in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, 25 whom hos God theos set forth protithēmi · ho as an atoning hilastērion sacrifice by en his autos blood haima, obtainable through dia · ho faith pistis. · ho This was to eis demonstrate endeixis · ho his autos righteousness dikaiosynē, because dia God in his forbearance · ho had paresis passed over · ho previous proginomai sins hamartēma. 26 · ho · ho It was also to pros · ho demonstrate endeixis · ho his autos righteousness dikaiosynē at en the ho present nyn time kairos, that eis · ho he autos might be eimi just dikaios and kai the justifier dikaioō of the ho one who has ek faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous.

27 Where pou then oun is · ho boasting kauchēsis? It has been excluded ekkleiō. By dia what poios kind of law nomos? By a law of ho works ergon? No ouchi, but alla by dia the law nomos of faith pistis. 28 For gar we hold logizomai that a person anthrōpos is justified dikaioō by faith pistis apart chōris from the works ergon of the law nomos. 29 Or ē is God the ho God theos of Jews Ioudaios only monon? Is he not ouchi the God of Gentiles ethnos as kai well ? Yes nai, of Gentiles ethnos as kai well . 30 Since eiper God theos is one heis, · ho he hos will justify dikaioō the circumcised peritomē on ek the basis of their faith pistis and kai the uncircumcised akrobystia by dia the ho same faith pistis. 31 Do we katargeō therefore oun nullify katargeō the law nomos through dia · ho faith pistis? By no means ! On the contrary alla, we uphold histēmi the law nomos.

God’s Faithfulness

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way!(A) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.(B)

What if some were unfaithful?(C) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?(D) Not at all! Let God be true,(E) and every human being a liar.(F) As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”[a](G)

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(H) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(I) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(J) Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(K) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(L) Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(M) Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(N) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(O) 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”[b](P)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”[c](Q)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d](R)
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e](S)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f](T)
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g](U)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(V) it says to those who are under the law,(W) so that every mouth may be silenced(X) and the whole world held accountable to God.(Y) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(Z) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(AA)

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(AB) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(AC) 22 This righteousness(AD) is given through faith(AE) in[h] Jesus Christ(AF) to all who believe.(AG) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(AH) 23 for all have sinned(AI) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(AJ) freely by his grace(AK) through the redemption(AL) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i](AM) through the shedding of his blood(AN)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(AO) 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(AP) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AQ) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(AR) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(AS) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
  2. Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
  3. Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
  4. Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
  5. Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
  6. Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
  7. Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
  8. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  9. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.