For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”

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

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?

just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

“This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;

Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.