because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed --

What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter?

For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about -- but not before God.

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

(For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)

We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?"

Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?

But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?

And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory --

even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"

But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?

For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.

The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person's foundation,

so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.

Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.

but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith --