for what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

For since the creation of the world his invisible nature, even his eternal power and deity, has been clearly seen, being understood by the things that have been made. So they are without excuse;

Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

Then what advantage has the Jew, or what is the value of circumcision?

But now the righteousness of God has been revealed apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,

and it was to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For if those who are of the law are to be the heirs, faith has no value and the promise is void,

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For he who has died has been freed from sin.

For we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Do you not know, brethrenfor I am speaking to those who know the lawthat the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?

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

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in birth pangs together until now.

Therefore he has mercy on whom he wills, and he hardens the heart of whom he wills.

in order to make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory,

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

but Israel, who pursued the law of righteousness, has not attained that law.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"

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

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

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

So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? Certainly not! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

For God has bound all men over to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"

For by the grace given to me I say to every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.

Therefore he who resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

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

Let not him who eats despise him who does not, and let not him who does not eat pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted him.

But he who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

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

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed

And so I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation,

that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she has need from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those workers in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.

For your obedience has become known to all, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.