Study Desk

And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right;

Hated by God, full of pride, without respect, full of loud talk, given to evil inventions, not honouring father or mother,

Who, though they have knowledge of the law of God, that the fate of those who do these things is death, not only go on doing these things themselves, but give approval to those who do them.

And we are conscious that God is a true judge against those who do such things.

Or is it nothing to you that God had pity on you, waiting and putting up with you for so long, not seeing that in his pity God's desire is to give you a change of heart?

For one man is not different from another before God.

For it is not the hearers of the law who will be judged as having righteousness before God, but only the doers:

In the day when God will be a judge of the secrets of men, as it says in the good news of which I am a preacher, through Jesus Christ.

But as for you who have the name of Jew, and are resting on the law, and take pride in God,

You who say that a man may not be untrue to his wife, are you true to yours? you who are a hater of images, do you do wrong to the house of God?

You who take pride in the law, are you doing wrong to the honour of God by behaviour which is against the law?

For the name of God is shamed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is said in the holy Writings.

But he is a Jew who is a secret one, whose circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Much in every way: first of all because the words of God were given to them.

And if some have no faith, will that make the faith of God without effect?

In no way: but let God be true, though every man is seen to be untrue; as it is said in the Writings, That your words may be seen to be true, and you may be seen to be right when you are judged.

But if the righteousness of God is supported by our wrongdoing what is to be said? is it wrong for God to be angry (as men may say)?

In no way: because if it is so, how is God able to be the judge of all the world?

But if, because I am untrue, God being seen to be true gets more glory, why am I to be judged as a sinner?

Not one who has the knowledge of what is right, not one who is a searcher after God;