18if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.26If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?27The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

God Remains Faithful

1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

5But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.6Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?7However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

There Is No One Righteous

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.

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 held accountable to God.20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.25God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.29Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”4Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

9Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.10In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Abraham Receives the Promise

13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”19Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,21being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

The Triumph of Faith

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4perseverance, character; and character, hope.5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Christ’s Sacrifice for the Ungodly

6For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.