Romans 2:17–29

JEWISH VIOLATION OF THE LAW

¹⁷Now if^F you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,^af and boast in God, ¹⁸and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,^ag being instructed from the law, ¹⁹and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth^ah in the law—²¹you then, who teach another,^ai don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? ²²You 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?^{G 24}For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.^Hal

CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART

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