Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Bigotry » Paul's argument against
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;
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 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.