1Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? 2Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 4Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”

5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? 7For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? 8And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)

The Condemnation of the World

9What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 10just as it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one,

11there is no one who understands,

there is no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away,

together they have become worthless;

there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”

13“Their throats are open graves,

they deceive with their tongues,

the poison of asps is under their lips.”

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16ruin and misery are in their paths,

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

18“There 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, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – 22namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. 26This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! 28For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. 29Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! 30Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.