God Remains Faithful

1What then is the superiority of the Jew? Or what is the profit of the circumcision? 2Much in every way. For first indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles† of God.

3For what If some disbelieved? Will their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 4Never may it be! But let God be true and every man a liar, as it has been written:

“So that You may be justified in Your words,

and you will be victorious in Your judging.Ӡ

5But if our unrighteousness proves God’s righteousness, what will we say? God, inflicting the wrath, is unrighteous? I speak according to man. 6Never may it be! Otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7But† if the truth of God in my falsehood abounded to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8And is it not, as we are slandered and as some affirm us to say, “Let us do evil so that the good may come”? Their judgment is just.

There Is No One Righteous
(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)

9What then? Are we better? Not at all. For we charged before both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin. 10As it has been written:

“There is no one righteous,

not even one;

11there is no one understanding;

there is no one seeking out God.

12All turned away;

together they became worthless;

there is none who is doing kindness,

there is not even one.Ӡ

13“Their throat is a grave having been opened;

they keep practicing deceit with their tongues;Ӡ

“the poison of vipers is under their lips,”†

14“of whom the mouth is full

of cursing and of bitterness;Ӡ

15“their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery are in their paths;

17and a way of peace they did not know.Ӡ

18“There is no fear of God

before their eyes.Ӡ

19Now we know that as much as the law says, it speaks to those in the law, so that every mouth may be shut, and all the world may be under judgment to God. 20Therefore by works of the law, not any flesh will be justified before Him; for through the law is knowledge of sin.

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

21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified to by the Law and the Prophets. 22And the righteousness of God is through faith from Jesus Christ toward all† those believing. 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 set forth as a propitiation† through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins having taken place beforehand in the forbearance of God, 26for the demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for Him to be just and justifying the one of the faith from Jesus.

27Where then is the boasting? It was excluded. By what kind of law? That of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For† we reckon a man to be justified by faith apart from works of law.

29Or is He the God of Jews only, not also of Gentiles? Yes, also of Gentiles, 30since indeed God is one, who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through the same faith.

31Do we, then, nullify the law through faith? Never may it be! Rather, we uphold the law.

Footnotes:

2 Or the very words
4 Or when You are judged; Psalm 51:4 (see also LXX)
7 BYZ and TR For
12 Psalm 14:1–3 and Psalm 53:1–3 (see also LXX)
13 Psalm 5:9
13 Psalm 140:3
14 Psalm 10:7 (see also LXX)
17 Isaiah 59:7–8 (see also LXX)
18 Psalm 36:1
22 BYZ and TR include and upon all.
25 Or as an atoning sacrifice
28 BYZ and TR Therefore