Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Bigotry » Paul's argument against
What then is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much, every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their incredulity make the faithfulness of God of no effect? read more.
God forbid: yea, let God be acknowledged true, though every man be a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest overcome, when thou judgest. "But if our unrighteousness confirm the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous, who inflicteth his wrath?" (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? "But, say you, if the truth of God hath abounded unto his glory through my falshood, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? and why may we not do evil that good may come?"---as we are injuriously charged, and as some affirm that we say; whose condemnation is just. "What then are we the better?" Not at all, in point of justification; for we have before proved that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin: as it is written, "There is none righteous, no not one; there is none that understandeth; there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are become unprofitable, there is none that practiseth goodness, no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace they have not known; and the fear of God is not before their eyes." Now we know that whatsoever the law saith, it saith to those under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world obnoxious to the justice of God. Wherefore by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before Him: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now, without the law, righteousness before God is manifested, being attested by the law and the prophets; and this righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all believers; for there is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;
God forbid: yea, let God be acknowledged true, though every man be a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest overcome, when thou judgest. "But if our unrighteousness confirm the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous, who inflicteth his wrath?" (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? "But, say you, if the truth of God hath abounded unto his glory through my falshood, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? and why may we not do evil that good may come?"---as we are injuriously charged, and as some affirm that we say; whose condemnation is just. "What then are we the better?" Not at all, in point of justification; for we have before proved that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin: as it is written, "There is none righteous, no not one; there is none that understandeth; there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are become unprofitable, there is none that practiseth goodness, no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace they have not known; and the fear of God is not before their eyes." Now we know that whatsoever the law saith, it saith to those under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world obnoxious to the justice of God. Wherefore by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before Him: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now, without the law, righteousness before God is manifested, being attested by the law and the prophets; and this righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all believers; for there is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;
What shall we say then that Abraham our father obtained according to the flesh? for if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something to boast of; but this he hath not before God: for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." read more.
Now to him that worketh the reward is not reckoned as a favor, but as a debt: but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. As David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom: God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered: blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin." Now is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted to him? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all that believe though not circumcised, that righteousness may be imputed to them also: and the father of circumcision to those, who not only are of the circumcision, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. For the promise made to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of faith: for if they only that are of the law be heirs, faith is made useless, and the promise is become of no effect. Now the law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. And therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that so the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
Now to him that worketh the reward is not reckoned as a favor, but as a debt: but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. As David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom: God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered: blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin." Now is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted to him? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all that believe though not circumcised, that righteousness may be imputed to them also: and the father of circumcision to those, who not only are of the circumcision, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. For the promise made to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of faith: for if they only that are of the law be heirs, faith is made useless, and the promise is become of no effect. Now the law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. And therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that so the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
Now it was not written on his account only, that it was imputed to him: but for our sakes also, to him it will be imputed, as we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead: who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.