The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

What, then, [is] the superiority of the Jew? Or what the profit of the circumcision?

Much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God;

for what, if certain were faithless? Will their faithlessness make the faithfulness of God useless?

Let it not be! And let God become true, and every man false, according as it has been written: “That You may be declared righteous in Your words, and may overcome in Your being judged.”

And if our unrighteousness establishes God’s righteousness, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (I speak after the manner of a man.)

Let it not be! Since how will God judge the world?

For if the truth of God in my falsehood abounded more to His glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner?

And not, as we are spoken evil of, and as certain affirm us to say, “We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?” Whose judgment is righteous.

There Is No One Righteous

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

What, then? Are we better? Not at all! For we charged before both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,

according as it has been written: “There is none righteous, not even one;

there is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.

All went out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one.

Their throat [is] an opened grave; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of cobras [is] under their lips—

whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Their feet [are] swift to shed blood.

Ruin and misery [are] in their ways.

And a way of peace they did not know.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

And we have known that as many things as the Law says, to those in the Law it speaks, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;

for this reason by works of law will no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

(Philippians 3:1–11)

And now apart from law the righteousness of God has been revealed, testified to by the Law and the Prophets,

and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and on all those believing—for there is no difference,

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God—

being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that [is] in Christ Jesus,

whom God set forth [as] a propitiatory covering, through faith in His blood, for the showing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the former sins in the forbearance of God—

for the showing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who [is] of the faith of Jesus.

Where then [is] the boasting? It was excluded; by what law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith:

therefore we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.

[Is He] only the God of Jews, and not also of nations?

Yes, also of nations; since [there is] one God who will declare righteous circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Do we then make law useless through faith? Let it not be! Indeed, we establish 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