God Remains Faithful

1What advantage then has the Jew, or what profit has circumcision? 2Much in every respect; but chiefly that the oracles of God were intrusted to them. 3What, indeed, if some have been unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness overthrow the faithfulness of God?

4It can not be. But let God be true, though every man be a liar, as it is written: That thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5But if our unrighteousness causes God's plan of justifying men to be better known, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who inflicts punishment? I speak as a man. 6It can not be: for if so, how shall God judge the world? 7Yet, if the truth of God has, through my lie, been greatly advanced to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? 8Then, why not say, (as we are slanderously reported as saying, and, as some affirm, that we do say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Of such persons the condemnation is just.

There Is No One Righteous

9What then? Do we, Jews, excel? Not at all: for we have already convicted all, both Jews and Greeks, of being under sin,

10as it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one;

11there is none that understands; there is none that seeks after God;

12they have all turned out of the way; they have alike become unprofitable; there is none that does good, not even one;

13their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips;

14their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;

15their feet are swift to shed blood;

16destruction and misery are in their ways;

17and the way of peace they have not known;

18there is no fear of God before their eyes.

19Now we know that what the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God. 20Wherefore, by works of law, no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by law is the knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Philippians 3:1–11)

21But now, God's plan of justifying men without law is revealed, being attested by the law and the prophets; 22I repeat it, God's plan of justifying men through faith in Jesus Christ, which is for all, and on all that believe; for there is no difference; 23for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, 24yet may be justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25whom God has set forth as a propitiatory sacrifice, through faith in his blood, in order to manifest his righteousness, in passing by the sins that were formerly committed through the forbearance of God; 26in order to manifest his righteousness at the present time, that he might be just, while he justifies him who believes in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No; but by the law of faith. 28For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without deeds of law. 29Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30since there is one God, who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith.

31Do we, then, make law void through the faith? It can not be. On the other hand, we establish law.