Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



What preferment, then, hath the Jew? Other, what advantageth circumcision? Surely, very much. First: unto them was committed the word of God. What, then, though some of them did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the promise of God without effect? read more.
God forbid. Let God be true, and all men liars, as it is written, "That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings and shouldest overcome when thou art judged." If our unrighteousness make the righteousness of God more excellent: what shall we say? Is God unrighteous which taketh vengeance? I speak after the manner of men. God forbid. For how then shall God judge the world? If the verity of God appear more excellent through my lie, unto his praise, why am I henceforth judged as a sinner? And say not rather - as men evil-speak of us, and as some affirm that we say - "Let us do evil, that good may come thereof." Whose damnation is just. What say we then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise. For we have already proved how that both Jews and gentiles are all under sin, as it is written, "There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God, they are all gone out of the way, they are all made unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no not one." "Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have deceived." "The poison of Asps is under their lips." "Whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and wretchedness are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Yea and we know that whatsoever the law saith, he saith it to them which are under the law: That all mouths may be stopped, and all the world be subdued to God, because that by the deeds of the law, shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God. For by the law cometh the knowledge of sin. Now, verily, is the righteousness that cometh of God declared without the fulfilling of the law: having witness yet of the law, and of the prophets. The righteousness, no doubt, which is good before God cometh by the faith of Jesus Christ: unto all, and upon all them that believe. There is no difference: For all have sinned, and lack the praise that is of valour before God:

What shall we say, then, that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, did find? If Abraham were justified by deeds, then hath he wherein to rejoice: but not with God. For what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." read more.
To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of favour: but of duty. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, is his faith counted for righteousness. Even as David describeth the blessedfulness of the man, unto whom God ascribeth righteousness without deeds, "Blessed are they, whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is that man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin." Came this blessedness then upon the circumcised or upon the uncircumcised? We say verily how that faith was reckoned to Abraham, for righteousness. How was it reckoned? In the time of circumcision? Or in the time before he was circumcised? Not in time of circumcision: but when he was yet uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness which is by faith: which faith he had, yet being uncircumcised, that he should be the father of all them that believe: though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also; And that he might be the father of the circumcised: not because they are circumcised only: but because they walk also in the steps of that faith, that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision. For the promise that he should be heir of the world was not given to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law: but through the righteousness which cometh of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, then is faith but vain, and the promise of none effect. Because the law causeth wrath. For where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore by faith is the inheritance given, that it might come of favour: and that the promise might be sure to all the seed. Not to them only which are of the law: but also to them which are of the faith of Abraham, which is the father of us all.

It is not written for him only, that it was reckoned to him for righteousness: but also for us, to whom it shall be counted for righteousness so we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from death. Which was delivered for our sins, and rose again for to justify us.