Romans

1Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

2Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.

3For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?

4May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written,“that you might be justified in your words,and might prevail when you come into judgment.”

5But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

6May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

7For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

8Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

9What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

10As it is written,“There is no one righteous;no, not one.

11There is no one who understands.There is no one who seeks after God.

12They have all turned away.They have together become unprofitable.There is no one who does good,no, not so much as one.”

13“Their throat is an open tomb.With their tongues they have used deceit.”“The poison of vipers is under their lips.”

14“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16Destruction and misery are in their ways.

17The way of peace, they haven’t known.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25whom God sent to be an atoning sacrificethrough faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

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 wordsof God.

3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speakand victorious when You judge.”

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.

10As it is written: “There is no one righteous,not even one.

11There is no one who understands,no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away,they have together become worthless;there is no one who does good,not even one.”

13“Their throats are open graves;their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”

14“Their mouths are fullof cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery lie in their wake,

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

18“There is no fear of Godbefore 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 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 an atoning sacrificein His blood through faith, 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.