The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

What advantage then hath the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

Much every way. First indeed, because the words of God were committed to them.

For what if some of them have not believed? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid.

But God is true; and every man a liar, as it is written, That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and mayest overcome when thou art judged.

But if our injustice commend the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, who executeth wrath?

(I speak according to man.) God forbid: otherwise how shall God judge this world?

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie, unto his glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner?

And not rather (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say) let us do evil, that there may come good? whose damnation is just.

There Is No One Righteous

(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)

What then? Do we excel them? No, not so. For we have charged both Jews, and Greeks, that they are all under sin.

As it is written: There is not any man just.

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

All have turned out of the way; they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good, there is not so much as one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have dealt deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Their feet swift to shed blood:

Destruction and misery in their ways:

And the way of peace they have not known:

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Now we know, that what things soever the law speaketh, it speaketh to them that are in the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be made subject to God.

Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before him. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

(Philippians 3:1–11)

But now without the law the justice of God is made manifest, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

Even the justice of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe in him: for there is no distinction:

For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God.

Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus,

Whom God hath proposed to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to the shewing of his justice, for the remission of former sins,

Through the forbearance of God, for the shewing of his justice in this time; that he himself may be just, and the justifier of him, who is of the faith of Jesus Christ.

Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

For we account a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law.

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

For it is one God, that justifieth circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Do we, then, destroy the law through faith? God forbid: but we establish the law.

Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.

For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?

May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”(a)

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

There Is No One Righteous

(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”(b)

“Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.”(c) “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”(d)

“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”(e)

“Their feet are swift to shed blood.

Destruction and misery are in their ways.

The way of peace, they haven’t known.”(f)

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”(g)

Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

(Philippians 3:1–11)

But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice(h) through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

Footnotes

(a)3:4 ℘ Psalms 51:4

(b)3:12 ℘ Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20

(d)3:13 ℘ Psalms 140:3

(e)3:14 ℘ Psalms 10:7

(f)3:17 ℘ Isaiah 59:7-8

(g)3:18 ℘ Psalms 36:1

(h)3:25 or, a propitiation