God Remains Faithful

1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what benefit is there from circumcision? 2much every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God. 3for what if some betrayed their trust? shall their unfaithfulness render

4the faithfulness of God of no effect? by no means; yea, let God be acknowledged to be true, tho' men should be all deceivers; as it is written, " that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged."

5but say you, "if our unfaithfulness displays the veracity of God, what shall we say? is it not injustice in God to inflict punishment?" 6not at all: for then how could God judge the world? 7"but, say you, if the veracity of God hath appeared more illustrious thro' my unfaithfulness, why then am I condemned as a sinner? 8and why may we not do evil, that good may come?" which is slanderously reported to be our maxim, by some, whose condemnation is just.

There Is No One Righteous

9"how then are we better than they?" why, not at all: for we have already convicted both Jews and Gentiles, of being all under the guilt of sin.

10as it is written, " there is none righteous, no not one:

11there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doth good, no not one.

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

14whose 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 have they not known.

18there is no fear of God before their eyes."

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God. 20for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin.

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

21but the divine justification certified by the law and the prophets, is now clearly proposed independently of the law: 22that divine justification, which by faith in Jesus Christ is extended to all, that believe; for there is no distinction: 23for all having sinned, all have forfeited eternal glory: 24being justified by his unmerited favour through the redemption that is by Jesus Christ: 25whom God had ordained, thro' faith, to be the propitiatory victim by his blood, for the manifestation of his goodness, by patiently passing over their past transgressions: to manifest, 26I say, his goodness at this time: that he might appear to be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

27what reason then is there for boasting? it is excluded, what, by the ceremonial law? no: but by the law of faith. 28for we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without observing the legal rites. 29is God the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles? surely he is of the Gentiles too; 30since it is one God, who will justify both the Jews and the Gentiles, through faith.

31do we then make the law useless by our doctrine of faith? by no means; on the contrary, it is we that observe the law.