Romans 2–3

Chapter 2

¹Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one who judgest, for in that in which thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. ²But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who do such things. ³And thinkest thou this, O man, who judgest those that do such things, and practisest them thyself, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? ⁴or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance? ⁵but, according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up to thyself wrath, in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶who shall render to each according to his works: ⁷to them who, in patient continuance of good works, seek for glory and honour and incorruptibility, life eternal. ⁸But to those that are contentious, and are disobedient to the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there shall be wrath and indignation, ⁹tribulation and distress, on every soul of man that works evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek; ¹⁰but glory and honour and peace to every one that works good, both to Jew first and to Greek: ¹¹for there is no acceptance of persons with God. ¹²For as many as have sinned without law shall perish also without law; and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law, ¹³(for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. ¹⁴For when those of the nations, which have no law, practise by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves; ¹⁵who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or else excusing themselves between themselves;) ¹⁶in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my glad tidings, by Jesus Christ.

¹⁷But if thou art named a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in God, ¹⁸and knowest the will, and discerningly approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; ¹⁹and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law: ²¹thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal? ²²thou that sayest man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? ²³thou who boastest in law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God? ²⁴For the name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, according as it is written. ²⁵For circumcision indeed profits if thou keep the law; but if thou be a law-transgressor, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. ²⁶If therefore the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision, ²⁷and uncircumcision by nature, fulfilling the law, judge thee, who, with letter and circumcision, art a law-transgressor? ²⁸For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither that circumcision which is outward in flesh; ²⁹but he is a Jew who is so inwardly; and circumcision, of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Chapter 3

¹What then is the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision? ²Much every way: and first, indeed, that to them were entrusted the oracles of God. ³For what? if some have not believed, shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect? ⁴Far be the thought: but let God be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment. ⁵But if our unrighteousness commend God’s righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man. ⁶Far be the thought: since how shall God judge the world? ⁷For if the truth of God, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? ⁸and not, according as we are injuriously charged, and according as some affirm that we say, Let us practise evil things, that good ones may come? whose judgment is just. ⁹What then? are we better? No, in no wise: for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin: ¹⁰according as it is written, There is not a righteous man, not even one; ¹¹there is not the man that understands, there is not one that seeks after God. ¹²All have gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one: ¹³their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; asps’ poison is under their lips: ¹⁴whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; ¹⁵swift their feet to shed blood; ¹⁶ruin and misery are in their ways, ¹⁷and way of peace they have not known: ¹⁸there is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁹Now we know that whatever the things the law says, it speaks to those under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be under judgment to God. ²⁰Wherefore by works of law no flesh shall be justified before him; for by law is knowledge of sin. ²¹But now without law righteousness of God is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets; ²²righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who believe: for there is no difference; ²³for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; ²⁵whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶for the shewing forth of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just, and justify him that is of the faith of Jesus. ²⁷Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by law of faith; ²⁸for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law. ²⁹Is God the God of Jews only? is he not of the nations also? Yea, of nations also: ³⁰since indeed it is one God who shall justify the circumcision on the principle of faith, and uncircumcision by faith. ³¹Do we then make void law by faith? Far be the thought: no, but we establish law.