Romans 2:25–3:9

²⁵For circumcision indeed is of value ⁿif you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ²⁶So, if ^oa man who is uncircumcised keeps ^pthe precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded² as circumcision? ²⁷Then he who is physically³ uncircumcised but keeps the law ^qwill condemn you who have ^rthe written code⁴ and circumcision but break the law. ²⁸For ^sno one is a Jew ^twho is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹But a Jew is one ^uinwardly, and ^vcircumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. ^wHis praise is not from man but from God.

God’s Righteousness Upheld

3Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ²Much in every way. To begin with, ^xthe Jews were entrusted with ^ythe oracles of God. ^3zWhat if some were unfaithful? ^aDoes their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? ⁴By no means! ^bLet God be true though ^cevery one were a liar, as it is written,

^d“That you may be justified in your words,

and prevail when you ^eare judged.”

⁵But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict ^fwrath on us? (^gI speak in a human way.) ⁶By no means! For then how could ^hGod judge the world? ⁷But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, ⁱwhy am I still being condemned as a sinner? ⁸And why not ^jdo evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

⁹What then? Are we Jews¹ any better off?² No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both ^kJews and ^lGreeks, are ^munder sin,