Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



What special privilege, then, has the Jew? Or what is the use of circumcision? Much in every way. First of all, because to them were entrusted the oracles of God. Supposing some of them have proved faithless? read more.
By no means! Be sure that God is ever true, though all mankind prove false. As it is written, That thou mayest be found just in thine argument, And gain thy cause when thou contendest. But if our unrighteousness thus brings out God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous?? speak after the manner of men??hen he inflicts his anger on us? Be it far from us; for in that case how could God judge the world? But if by a falsehood of mine the truthfulness of God has been made to redound to his glory, why am I still tried as a sinner? And why not say (as I myself am slanderously reported to say), "Let us do evil that good may come out of it"? Such arguments are rightly condemned. What then? Are we Jews in a better position? Not at all, for I have already charged all, both Jews and Gentiles, with being under sin. As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none that understands, none that seeks for God! All have swerved from the right path; Every one of them has become corrupt. There is none that practices good, no, not one. Their throat is an open grave; With their tongues they have used deceit. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and ruin are in their paths; And the path of peace they have not known. Reverence for God is not before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be shut, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. For no man will be justified in God's sight by works of the Law; for through the Law comes the consciousness of sin. But now, quite apart from any law, a righteousness coming from God has been fully brought to light, continually witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets. I mean a righteousness coming from God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe. For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, since all have sinned and lack the glory which comes from God;

What then shall we say of Abraham, our ancestor in the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to be proud of, but not before God. For what does Scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was set down to his account as righteousness. read more.
Now if a man earn his pay by his work, it is not counted to him as a favor, but it is paid him as a debt; but a man who does not "work," but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, has his faith imputed to him for righteousness. Just as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from actions. Blessed he says are they whose iniquities have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Is this blessing, then, for the circumcised alone? or for the uncircumcised also? Abraham's faith, I say, was imputed to him for righteousness. How then was it imputed to him? When he was circumcised? or uncircumcised? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision; and he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the faith-righteousness which he had while he was in uncircumcision; in order that he might be the father of all who believe, even though they are uncircumcised; so that righteousness might be imputed to them. He is the father of circumcision to those who are not merely circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he held while he was as yet uncircumcised. For the promise that he should be heir of the world did not come to Abraham or to his posterity through law, but through faith-righteousness. For if those who are righteous through law are heirs, faith is empty and the promise becomes void. For law works wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. This is why righteousness is of faith, that it may be a free gift; so that the promise stands firm to all Abraham's posterity; not to his children of his faith. For in the sight of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which is not, Abraham is the father of us all both Jews and Gentiles,

Now these words were not written simply for his sake, but for us as well. For it will be "reckoned for righteousness." to us also, who believe on him that raised from the dead our Lord Jesus; who was betrayed to death for our transgressions, and raised again to life for our justification.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ. In him there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

"Master," said John, "we saw a man who was casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Forbid him not, for he who is not against you is for you."

"Master," said John, "we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he did not follow us." "Do not try to stop him," Jesus answered, "for there is no one who performs a miracle in my name who can soon speak evil of me. He who is not against us is for us. read more.
For whoever gives you even a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, in solemn truth I tell you, that he shall certainly not lose his reward.

"So if God gave them the same gift as he gave to us, when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" On hearing this they held their peace and glorified God, saying, "Forsooth then, to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life."

But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses' custom, you cannot be saved." Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. read more.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them. But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider the matter; and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us; "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith. "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? "On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved." Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. When they had finished speaking, James said: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name. "And this is in harmony with the language of the prophets, which says. "After these things I will return, And I will rebuild David's fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up; "So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, "Says the Lord, who has been making this known from the beginning of the world. "My judgment therefore, is against troubling those who turn to God from among the Gentiles; "but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood. "For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the synagogues." Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia; "as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us; "we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; "men who have risked their very lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. "So we have sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. "For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; "that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell." So they, when they had been dispatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter, and when they had read it they rejoiced at the comfort it brought.

From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God, which through his prophets he promised beforetime, in holy writings; this gospel is concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of David's posterity in respect of his bodily nature, read more.
but was by his resurrection from the dead instated as Son of God, with power, in respect of his spirit of holiness. It is through him, even Jesus Christ our Lord, that I received grace and apostleship to promote obedience to the faith among all the Gentiles, for his name's sake; among whom you also are called to be Jesus Christ's. To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. May God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, bless you, and give you peace.

To Greeks and to barbarians, to the cultured and to the uncultured, I have a debt to discharge. So much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. FOR I AM PROUD OF THE GOSPEL. IT IS GOD'S SAVING POWER FOR EVERY ONE WHO BELIEVES. FOR THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO FOR THE GENTILE.

For no man will be justified in God's sight by works of the Law; for through the Law comes the consciousness of sin. But now, quite apart from any law, a righteousness coming from God has been fully brought to light, continually witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets. I mean a righteousness coming from God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe. For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, read more.
since all have sinned and lack the glory which comes from God; but they are now being justified by his free grace through the deliverance that is in Christ Jesus. For God openly set him forth for himself as an offering of atonement through faith, by means of his blood, in order to show forth his righteousness??ince in his forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed??o show forth his righteousness, I say, at this present time; that he himself might be just, and yet the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is shut out. What sort of law forbids it? A law of works? No, but a law of faith. For I conclude that a man is justified by faith, altogether apart from the deeds of the Law. Is God then the God of the Jews alone, and not of the Gentiles also? He is God of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised through faith, and by their faith will he justify the uncircumcised. Do we then render law invalid through faith? Certainly not; on the contrary we make it stand.

Since we stand justified as the result of faith, let us continue to enjoy the peace we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him also we have had our access into this grace in which we have taken our stand, and are exulting in hope of the glory of God.

For he is our Peace, who has made the two of us Jew and Gentile one, and has broken down the party-wall of partition between us. In his own body he abolished the cause of our enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, in order to make the two into one new man in himself, so making peace. Thus he reconciled us both in one body to God by his cross, on which he slew our enmity. read more.
So he came preaching "Peace" to you Gentiles who were afar off, and "Peace" to us Jews who were near;

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In it that new creation there is no "Greek and Jew," "circumcised and uncircumcised," "barbarian," "Scythian," "slave," "free man," but Christ is all, and in us all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, consecrated and beloved, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindness, humility, gentleness, good temper; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as Christ the Lord forgave you, so must you forgive. read more.
Over them all bind on love, which is the girdle of completeness. Let the peace of Christ, to which also you were called in one body, rule in your hearts, and show yourselves thankful.




Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. None who are immoral, or idolaters, or adulterers, or catamites, or sodomites, or thieves, or avaricious men, or drunkards, or foul-mouthed men, or extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you, but you have washed away your stains, you have been consecrated, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

For we were ourselves once foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various lusts and pleasures, passing our lives in malice and envy. We were hateful, and we hated one another. But when the kindness of God our Saviour, And his love toward men shined forth, He saved us, not because of any deeds that we had done in righteousness, But because of his own pity for us. He saved us by that washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit read more.
which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; In order that being justified by his grace, We might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


"how that God fulfilled it for us their children in raising up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, "Thou art my son, today have I become thy Father. "And as to his having raised him from among the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has said this, "I will give thee the holy and sure blessings of David. "Because in another psalm he says, "Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption. read more.
"For David, after he had served his own generation according to the will of God, fell on sleep, and was gathered to his forefathers, and did see corruption; but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. "Be it known unto you therefore, brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through this man; "and that by him every one that believes is justified from all things from which you could never be justified by the law of Moses.

since all have sinned and lack the glory which comes from God; but they are now being justified by his free grace through the deliverance that is in Christ Jesus.

For while we were still without strength, Christ died in due time for the ungodly. Why, a man will hardly give his life for another, even for a righteous man, though perchance for a good man one might even take it upon himself to die. But God gives proof of his love to us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. read more.
By how much more, then, being now justified in his blood, shall we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved in his life. And not only that, but we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now obtained our reconciliation. Thus, then, sin came into the world through one man, and through sin came death and so death spread to all men, because all had sinned. For prior to the Law, sin actually existed in the world, but sin was not set down to man's account when there was no law. Nevertheless, from Adam to Moses death reigned as king, even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression. Now Adam is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression; for if through the transgression of that one man the rest on men died, much more did the grace of God and the gift given in his grace in the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow unto the rest of men. And it is not with the free gift as it was through the one that sinned; for the judgment came from one transgression unto condemnation; but the free gift came from many transgressions unto acquittal. For if through the transgression of the one, death reigned as king through the one, much more shall those who receive the overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in life through One, through Jesus Christ. It follows then, as through the transgression of one man came condemnation unto all men, even so through the act of righteousness of One came acquittal and life to all men. For just as through the disobedience of one man the rest were made sinners; even so by the obedience of One shall all the rest be made righteous.

"yet because we know that no man is justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we ourselves also have put our faith in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for "By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves also have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Far from it! For if I am rebuilding the very things which I destroyed, I am proving myself a transgressor. read more.
For it is through law I died to law, in order to live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who am living, but it is Christ who is living in me; and the life I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.

(offerings regularly made under the law), and then it is added, Lo, I come to do thy will, he does away with the first, in order that he may establish the second. And it is by this will that we have been sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For while every priest stands, day after day, at his ministrations, and many times repeats the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, read more.
this Priest, after offering one Sacrifice for sins, sat down forever on God's right hand; henceforth waiting until his enemies be put as the footstool of his feet. For by one single offering he has perfected forever those whom he is sanctifying.