Study Desk

But when the Jews opposed this, I was forced to appeal to the Emperor, even though I had no accusation to make against my own people.

But we would like to hear your ideas, because we know that everywhere people speak against this party to which you belong."

Some of them were convinced by his words, but others would not believe.

For he said, ‘Go and say to this people: You will listen and listen, but not understand; you will look and look, but not see,

You must remember, my friends, that many times I have planned to visit you, but something has always kept me from doing so. I want to win converts among you also, as I have among other Gentiles.

They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness.

They say they are wise, but they are fools;

They know that God's law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.

But you, my friend, do those very things for which you pass judgment on others! Do you think you will escape God's judgment?

But you have a hard and stubborn heart, and so you are making your own punishment even greater on the Day when God's anger and righteous judgments will be revealed.

But God will give glory, honor, and peace to all who do what is good, to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles.

For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.

The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law.

You teach others—why don't you teach yourself? You preach, "Do not steal"—but do you yourself steal?

You say, "Do not commit adultery"—but do you commit adultery? You detest idols—but do you rob temples?

You boast about having God's law—but do you bring shame on God by breaking his law?

If you obey the Law, your circumcision is of value; but if you disobey the Law, you might as well never have been circumcised.

And so you Jews will be condemned by the Gentiles because you break the Law, even though you have it written down and are circumcised; but they obey the Law, even though they are not physically circumcised.

But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful?

But what if our doing wrong serves to show up more clearly God's doing right? Can we say that God does wrong when he punishes us? (This would be the natural question to ask.)