Chapter 3

What advantage then remains to the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision?

Much in every respect. First, indeed, because the oracles of God were entrusted to them.

For what if some of them have not believed? Will their unbelief make void the fidelity of God? By no means!

For God is true, and every man is a liar, as it is written, "That thou mayest be justified in thy words, And mayest be victorious when thou art judged."

But if our wickedness show forth the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts punishment?

(I speak after a purely human manner.) By no means! Otherwise, how is God to judge the world?

But if through my lie the truth of God has abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged a sinner?

And why should we not, as some calumniously accuse us of teaching, do evil that good may come from it? The condemnation of such is just. The Scriptures Attest Universal Sin

What then? Are we better off than they? Not at all. For we have argued that Jews and Greeks are all under sin,

as it is written, "There is not one just man;

there is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.

All have gone astray together; they have become worthless. There is none who does good, no, not even one.

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

their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Their feet are swift to shed blood;

destruction and misery are in their ways.

And the path of peace they have not known.

There is no fear of God before their eyes." This Concerns the Jews

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it is speaking to those who are under the Law; in order that every mouth may be shut, and the whole world may be made subject to God.

For by the works of the Law no human being shall be justified before him, for through law comes the recognition of sin. Justice Comes through Faith in Christ

But now the justice of God has been made manifest independently of the Law, being attested by the Law and the Prophets;

the justice of God through faith in Jesus Christ upon all who believe. For there is no distinction,

as all have sinned and have need of the glory of God.

They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

whom God has set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith, to manifest his justice, God in his patience remitting former sins;

to manifest his justice at the present time, so that he himself is just, and makes just him who has faith in Jesus. Justification Excludes Boasting

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

For we reckon that a man is justified by faith independently of the works of the Law.

Is God the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles also?

For there is but one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through the same faith.

Do we therefore through faith destroy the Law? By no means! Rather we establish the Law.