But I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, that I often purposed to come to you, and was hindered hitherto, that I might have some fruit also among you, as among the other gentiles.

because having known God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful, but became vain in their reasonings and their ignorant mind was darkened.

and in like manner also the males, leaving the natural enjoyment of the female, became the subjects of inordinate desires for each other, males with males committing indecency, and receiving in return the recompense of their error which was fit.

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak as a man;??6 by no means;??ince [if he was] how shall God judge the world?

For if Abraham was justified by works he has [occasion for] boasting, but not before God.

For what says the Scripture? And Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Is this blessedness then on the circumcision? or also on the uncircumcision? [Also on the uncircumcision.] For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

How then was it accounted? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

And he received the symbol of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which was in uncircumcision, so that he became the father of all that believe in uncircumcision, that righteousness may also be accounted to them,

and a father of circumcision not to those of the circumcision only, but to those also who walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which was in uncircumcision.

For the promise to Abraham and his posterity that he should inherit the world was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

and he did not doubt the promise of God by unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,

being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able to perform.

Wherefore also it was accounted to him for righteousness.

But it was not written for his sake alone, that it was accounted to him,

who was delivered up for our sins and raised for our justification.

Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so came upon all men because all sinned,??13 for till the law there was sin in the world, but sin is not accounted where there is no law

but death reigned from Adam till Moses even over those that sinned not after the similitude Adam's transgression, who is a type of him that was to come;

and not as through one that sinned is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the gift was from many sins to a righteous ordinance;

For the law supervened that the fall might abound; but where the sin abounded the grace was superabundant,

We have been buried therefore with him through baptism in death, that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life.

knowing this that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer serve sin;

for he that died was justified from sin.

So, my brothers, you have also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you should be married to another, to him that was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

But Sin having taken occasion through the commandment wrought in me every inordinate desire; for without the law sin was dead.

And I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died,

and the commandment which was for life was found to be for death.

For what the law could not do because it was weak through the flesh, God having sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned the sin in the flesh,

For the creation was subjected to a perishable condition, not willingly, but by him that subjected it, in hope

for I have wished that I was myself accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kindred according to the flesh,

For this was the word of promise; According to this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.

And not only this, but Rebecca also being with child by one, by our father Isaac??11 for the children not yet being born, nor having done any thing good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might continue, not of works but of him that calls,??12 it was said to her that the older shall serve the younger;

as he says also in Hosea, I will call them that were not my people, my people, and her that was not beloved, beloved,

and in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there they shall be called children of the living God.

But Isaiah is more bold and says, I was found by them that sought me not, I was made manifest to them that inquired not after me.

For who knew the mind of the Lord? or who was his counsellor?

For I say that Christ was made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises of the fathers,

And I have been anxious so to preach where Christ was not named, that I might not build on another's foundation;

but as it is written, They shall see to whom nothing was told concerning him, and they who have not heard shall understand.

Wherefore I was also much hindered from coming to you;