Paul Answers an Objection
1So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
2Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted3:2 Dt 4:8; Ps 147:19; Rm 9:4 with the very words of God.3:2 Ac 7:38
That you may be justified in your words
5But if our unrighteousness highlights3:5 Or shows, or demonstrates God’s righteousness,3:5 Rm 5:8; 2Co 6:4; Gl 2:18 what are we to say?3:5 Rm 4:1; 7:7; 8:31; 9:14,30 I am using a human argument:3:5 Lit I speak as a man3:5 Rm 6:19; 1Co 9:8; 15:32; Gl 3:15 Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?
The Whole World Guilty before God
9What then? Are we any better off?3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews3:9 Rm 2:1–29 and Greeks3:9 Rm 1:18–32 are all under sin,3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion3:9 Rm 3:19,23; 11:32; Gl 3:22
10as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11
There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12
All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
13
Their throat is an open grave;
15
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16
ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
19Now we know that whatever the law says,3:19 Jn 10:34 it speaks to those who are subject to the law,3:19 Lit those in the law3:19 Rm 2:12 so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God3:19 Rm 2:9
The Righteousness of God through Faith
21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,3:21 Rm 1:17; 9:30 attested by the Law and the Prophets.3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT3:21 Ac 10:43; Rm 1:2
22The righteousness of God is through faith3:22 Rm 4:5 in Jesus Christ3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ3:22 Ac 3:16; Gl 2:16,20; 3:22; Eph 3:12 to all who believe,3:22 Rm 4:11,16; 10:4 since there is no distinction.3:22 Rm 10:12; Gl 3:28; Col 3:11
24they are justified freely by his grace3:24 Rm 4:4,16; Eph 2:8 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.3:24 1Co 1:30; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:15
25God presented him as the mercy seat3:25 Or propitiation, or place of atonement3:25 1Jn 2:2; 4:10 by his blood,3:25 1Co 5:7; Heb 9:14,28; 1Pt 1:19; Rv 1:5 through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God3:25 Rm 2:4 passed over the sins previously committed.3:25 Ac 17:30; 14:16
26God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27Where, then, is boasting?3:27 Rm 2:17,23; 4:2; 1Co 1:29–31 It is excluded. By what kind of law?3:27 Or what principle?3:27 Rm 9:31 By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law3:27 Or a principle of faith.
28For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.3:28 Ac 13:39; Rm 9:31; Eph 2:9; Jms 2:20,24,26
29Or is God the God of Jews only?3:29 Ac 10:34; Rm 9:24; 10:12; 15:9; Gl 3:28 Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
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