Study Desk

He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God.

Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God.

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

By no means! Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, "That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged."

But if our wickedness serves to show the justice of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

By no means! For then how could God judge the world?

no one understands, no one seeks for God.

"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;

since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins;

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" --in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,