and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

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

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;

for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,

And just as Isaiah foretold,
“Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity,
We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.”

but as it is written,
“They who had no news of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard shall understand.”

but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you