For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong.

They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,

Although they know full well God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them

Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the spoken words of God.

All have turned away;
all alike have become useless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.

Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.

and the path of peace they have not known.

They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.

Neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants. On the contrary, your offspring will be traced through Isaac.

For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—

And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not My people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.

Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Because they disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness.

But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!

But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did:

Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.

Lord, they have killed Your prophets
and torn down Your altars.
I am the only one left,
and they are trying to take my life!

Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent continually.

I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now may receive mercy.

Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me.

for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.