And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was uncircumcised, in order that he might be the father of all that believe, even in a state of uncircumcision, so that righteousness might be counted to them also;

and the father of circumcision to those who are not only circumcised, but who, also, walk in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while he was yet uncircumcised.

and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform.

through whom we have had access, by faith, into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

What fruit, therefore, had you at that time, in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? It can not be. Indeed, I had not known sin, except through law. For I had not known evil desire, unless the law had said: You shall not have any evil desire.

Not only so, but when Rebecca had conceived by one, even our father Isaac,

And as Isaiah said before: Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a posterity, we should have been like Sodom, and been made like Gomorrah.

so earnestly desirous have I been to preach the gospel, not where Christ had been named, lest I should build on another man's foundation;

But now, having no longer a place in these regions, and having had for many years a strong desire to come to you,