What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what the benefit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. For first, indeed, they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 For what, if some were faithless? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 Let it not be! And let God be true, and every person false, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words and may overcome when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness shows the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts the wrath? I speak in human manner. 6 Let it not be! For how shall God judge the world?[fn]The point here is that God must first hold his own people accountable before he may with integrity judge the pagan world.[/fn] 7 For if the truth of God abounded in my falsehood to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? 8 And should we not (as we are reviled and as some say that we say) do evil things that good things may come? Their judgment is just.
9 What then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. For we charged beforehand that Jews indeed and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it has been written[fn]Paul quotes Old Testament texts that speak of the sinfulness of Israel. The focus is specifically on Jewish failing.[/fn] that “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 there is none with understanding, there is none seeking after God. 12 All turned aside, together they became worthless; there is not doing good, [there is] not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an opened tomb; with their tongues they deceived”; “venom of asps is under their lips”; 14 whose “mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness”; 15 “their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 and a way of peace they did not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 And we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those in the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become under judgment to God;[fn]Here again we see Paul’s eschatological logic: the Jews are answerable to the Law so that the world may be judged.[/fn] 20 for which reason all flesh will not be justified before him by works of the Law, for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been made known, attested by the Law and the prophets, 22 but a righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all those believing.[fn]The argument is still aimed at the Jew. Israel stands condemned by the Law and faces a final judgment in history, but God has provided a solution independently of the Law in the faithful actions of Jesus.[/fn] For there is no differentiation; 23 for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as an expiation through faithfulness by his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness because of the overlooking of previously committed sins 26 in the tolerance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the now time in order that he himself might be righteous and justifying the one out of the faithfulness of Jesus.[fn]The solution is found in the death of Jesus, which God regards as an act of atonement for the sins of Israel. But anyone, Jew or Greek, who believes that Jesus’ death had this significance and that he has been raised to a position of royal authority at the right hand of God is in the right and will be reckoned to be in the right when the day of God’s wrath comes.[/fn]
27 Where then the boasting? It was excluded. Through what law? Of works? No, but through a law of faith. 28 For we reckon a person to be justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God of Jews only? Not also of the Gentiles? Yes, and the Gentiles also, 30 if indeed God is one, who will justify circumcision from faith and uncircumcision through faith.[fn]The God of Israel will prove himself to be God of the nations also in two stages: first, some Gentiles become part of the community of eschatological witness by virtue of their belief in the significance of Jesus; secondly, the lordship of Jesus will eventually be confessed by the nations as nations.[/fn] 31 Do we then make the Law of no effect through the faith? Let it not be! But we make the Law stand.
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