Dual Panel1Therefore <3767> what <5101> advantage <4053> does the Jew <2453> have, or <2228> what <5101> is the value <5622> of circumcision <4061>?
2Actually, there are many <4183> advantages <5158>. First <4412> of all <3956>, the Jews were entrusted <4100> with the oracles <3051> of God <2316>.
3What <5101> then? If <1487> some <5100> did <569> not <3361> believe <569>, does their <846> unbelief <570> nullify <2673> the faithfulness <4102> of God <2316>?
4Absolutely not <3361>! Let God <2316> be proven true <227>, and <1161> every <3956> human being <444> shown up as a liar <5583>, just as <2509> it is written <1125>: “so that <3704> you will be justified <1344> in <1722> your <4675> words <3056> and <2532> will prevail <3528> when you <4571> are judged <2919>.”
5But <1161> if <1487> our <2257> unrighteousness <93> demonstrates <4921> the righteousness <1343> of God <2316>, what <5101> shall we say <2046>? The God <2316> who inflicts <2018> wrath <3709> is not <3361> unrighteous <94>, is he? (I am speaking <3004> in <2596> human terms <444>.)
6Absolutely <1096> not <3361>! For otherwise <1893> how could <4459> God <2316> judge <2919> the world <2889>?
7For if <1487> by <1722> my <1699> lie <5582> the truth <225> of God <2316> enhances <4052> his <846> glory <1391>, why <5101> am <2919> I <2504> still <2089> actually being judged <2919> as <5613> a sinner <268>?
8And <2532> why not <3361> say, “Let us <2248> do <4160> evil <2556> so that <2443> good <18> may come <2064> of it”?– as some <5100> who slander us allege that we say <5346>. (Their condemnation <2917> is <1510> deserved <1738>!)
9What <5101> then <3767>? Are we better off <4284>? Certainly not <3756>, for <1063> we have already charged <4256> that Jews <2453> and <2532> Greeks <1672> alike are <1510> all <3956> under <5259> sin <266>,
10just as <2531> it is written <1125>: “There is <1510> no one <3756> righteous <1342>, not even <3761> one <1520>,
11there is <1510> no one <3756> who understands <4920>, there is <1510> no one <3756> who seeks <1567> God <2316>.
12All <3956> have turned away <1578>, together <260> they have become worthless <889>; there is <1510> no one <3756> who shows <4160> kindness <5544>, not <3756> even one <1520>.”
13“Their <846> throats <2995> are open <455> graves <5028>, they deceive <1387> with their <846> tongues <1100>, the poison <2447> of asps <785> is under <5259> their <846> lips <5491>.”
14“Their mouths <4750> are full <1073> of cursing <685> and <2532> bitterness <4088>.”
15“Their <846> feet <4228> are swift <3691> to shed <1632> blood <129>,
16ruin <4938> and <2532> misery <5004> are in <1722> their <846> paths <3598>,
17and <2532> the way <3598> of peace <1515> they have <1097> not <3756> known <1097>.”
18“There is <1510> no <3756> fear <5401> of God <2316> before <561> their <846> eyes <3788>.”
19Now <1161> we know <1492> that <3754> whatever <3745> the law <3551> says <3004>, it says <2980> to those who are under <1722> the law <3551>, so that <2443> every <3956> mouth <4750> may be silenced <5420> and <2532> the whole <3956> world <2889> may be <1096> held accountable <5267> to God <2316>.
20For <1360> no one <3756> is declared righteous <1344> before <1799> him <846> by <1537> the works <2041> of the law <3551>, for <1063> through <1223> the law <3551> comes the knowledge <1922> of sin <266>.
21But <1161> now <3570> apart <5565> from the law <3551> the righteousness <1343> of God <2316> (which is attested <3140> by <5259> the law <3551> and <2532> the prophets <4396>) has been disclosed <5319>–
22namely, the righteousness <1343> of God <2316> through <1223> the faithfulness <4102> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> for <1519> all <3956> who believe <4100>. For <1063> there is <1510> no distinction <1293>,
23for <1063> all <3956> have sinned <264> and <2532> fall short <5302> of the glory <1391> of God <2316>.
24But they are justified <1344> freely <1432> by his <846> grace <5485> through <1223> the redemption <629> that is in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424>.
25God <2316> publicly displayed <4388> him at <1722> his <846> death <129> as the mercy seat <2435> accessible through <1223> faith <4102>. This was to <1519> demonstrate <1732> his <846> righteousness <1343>, because <1223> God in his forbearance had passed over <3929> the sins <265> previously committed <4266>.
26This was also to demonstrate <1732> his <846> righteousness <1343> in <1722> the present <3568> time <2540>, so that he would be <1510> just <1342> and <2532> the justifier <1344> of the one who lives because of <1537> Jesus <2424>’ faithfulness <4102>.
27Where <4226>, then <3767>, is boasting <2746>? It is excluded <1576>! By <1223> what <4169> principle <3551>? Of works <2041>? No <3780>, but <235> by <1223> the principle <3551> of faith <4102>!
28For <1063> we consider <3049> that a person <444> is declared righteous <1344> by faith <4102> apart from <5565> the works <2041> of the law <3551>.
29Or <2228> is God the God of the Jews <2453> only <3440>? Is <3780> he not the God <2316> of the Gentiles <1484> too? Yes <3483>, of the Gentiles <1484> too!
30Since <1512> God <2316> is one <1520>, he will justify <1344> the circumcised <4061> by <1537> faith <4102> and <2532> the uncircumcised <203> through <1223> faith <4102>.
31Do we <2673> then <3767> nullify <2673> the law <3551> through <1223> faith <4102>? Absolutely <1096> not <3361>! Instead <235> we uphold <2476> the law <3551>.