JEWISH VIOLATION OF THE LAW

17 Now ifM you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,af and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,ag being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truthah in the law—21 you then, who teach another,ai don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?aj 23 You who boast in the law,ak do you dishonor God by breaking the law?* 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.N,al

CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART

25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.am 26 So if an uncircumcisedan man keeps the law’s requirements,ao will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge youap who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,aq and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,ar and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.O,as That person’s praise is not from people but from God.at

PAUL ANSWERS AN OBJECTION

3 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusteda with the very words of God.b 3 What then? If some were unfaithful,c will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Absolutely not!d Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar,e as it is written:

That you may be justified in your words

and triumph when you judge.A,f

5 But if our unrighteousness highlightsB God’s righteousness,g what are we to say?h I am using a human argument:C,i Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? 6 Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?j 7 But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?k 8 And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”?l Their condemnation is deserved!