Romans 2:25–3:9

²⁵For circumcision is of value if you do the law, but if you should be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶Therefore, if the uncircumcised person follows the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be credited for circumcision? ²⁷And the uncircumcised person by nature who carries out the law will judge you who, though provided with the precise written code^f and circumcision are a transgressor of the law. ²⁸For the Jew is not one outwardly^g, nor is circumcision outwardly^h, in the flesh. ²⁹But the Jew is one inwardlyⁱ, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, whose praise is not from people but from God.

Jews Still Have an Advantage

3Therefore, what is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision? ²Much in every way. For first, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. ³What is the result^a if some refused to believe? Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? ⁴May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written,

“In order that you may be justified in your words,

and may prevail when you are^* judged.”^b

⁵But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.) ⁶May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? ⁷But if by my lying, the truth of God abounded to his glory, why am I also still condemned as a sinner? ⁸And why not (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, in order that good may come of it”? Their^c condemnation is just!

The Entire World Guilty of Sin

⁹What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,