Much in every way. This to begin with ??Jews were entrusted with the scriptures of God.

For when we were still in weakness, Christ died in due time for the ungodly. For the ungodly!

But God proves his love for us by this, that Christ died for us when we were still sinners.

If we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son when we were enemies, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Nevertheless, from Adam to Moses death reigned even over those whose sins were not like Adam's transgression. Adam prefigured Him who was to come,

Thank God, though you did serve sin, you have rendered whole-hearted obedience to what you were taught under the rule of faith;

When you served sin, you were free of righteousness.

For when we were unspiritual, the sinful cravings excited by the Law were active in our members and made us fruitful to Death;

We were saved with this hope in view. Now when an object of hope is seen, there is no further need to hope. Who ever hopes for what he sees already?

and though the children were still unborn and had done nothing either good or bad (to confirm the divine purpose in election which depends upon the call of God, not on anything man does),

As indeed he says in Hosea, Those who were no people of mine, I will call 'my People,' and her 'beloved' who was not beloved;

on the very spot where they were told, 'You are no people of mine,' there shall they be called 'sons of the living God.'

They would not surrender to the righteousness of God, because they were ignorant of his righteousness and therefore essayed to set up a righteousness of their own.

You will say, "But branches were broken off to let me be grafted in!"

Granted. They were broken off ??for their lack of faith. And you owe your position to your faith. You should feel awed instead of being uplifted.

Christ certainly did not please himself, but, as it is written, The reproaches of those who denounced Thee have fallen upon me. ??4 All such words were written of old for our instruction, that by remaining stedfast and drawing encouragement from the scriptures we may cherish hope.