The New Testament Part 34

9 [3:1]What then is the preeminence of the Jew? or what the profit of circ.u.mcision? [3:2]Much in every way. For first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of G.o.d. [3:3]For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief destroy the faith of G.o.d? [3:4]By no means; but let G.o.d be true, and every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings and overcome when thou art judged.

10 [3:5]But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of G.o.d, what shall we say? Is G.o.d unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak as a man;-- [3:6] by no means;--since [if he was] how shall G.o.d judge the world? [3:7]For if the truth of G.o.d abounded by my falsehood to his glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner? [3:8]And as we are falsely accused and as some declare that we say, [do we say] Let us do evil that good may come? Whose judgment is just.

11 [3:9]What defense then have we? None at all; for we before a.s.serted that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, [3:10]as it is written, There is none righteous not one, [3:11]there is none that understands, there is none that seeks G.o.d; [3:12]all have turned aside, they have together become unprofitable; there is no one that does good, there is not even one; [3:13]their throat is an opened tomb, with their tongues they practise deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips.

[3:14]Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. [3:15] Their feet are swift to shed blood, [3:16]destruction and misery are in their ways, [3:17]and the way of peace they have not known. [3:18]There is no fear of G.o.d before their eyes. [3:19]But we know that whatever the law says, it says to those having the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before G.o.d. [3:20]Wherefore by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified is his sight, for by the law there is an acknowledgment of sin.

CHAPTER III.

G.o.d'S RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH SAVES BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES.

1 [3:21]BUT now G.o.d's righteousness has been made manifest without the law, being testified to by the law and the prophets, [3:22]but G.o.d's righteousness is through the faith of Jesus Christ, in all and upon all that believe. For there is no difference; [3:23]for all have sinned and come short of the glory of G.o.d, [3:24]being justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, [3:25]whom G.o.d set forth [to be] a propitiator through faith in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the pa.s.sing by of the errors committed previously in the forbearance of G.o.d, [3:26]to show his righteousness at the present time, that he may be righteous and justify him that is of faith.

2 [3:27]Where then is the boasting [of the Jew]? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No; but by the law of faith. [3:28]We conclude then that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law. [3:29]Is G.o.d [a G.o.d] of the Jews alone? and not also of the gentiles? Yes, also of the gentiles, [3:30] since there is one G.o.d who will justify the circ.u.mcision by faith and the uncirc.u.mcision through the [same] faith.

[3:31]Do we then abrogate the law by the faith? By no means; but we establish the law.

3 [4:1]What shall we say then that Abraham our father found according to the flesh? [4:2]For if Abraham was justified by works he has [occasion for] boasting, but not before G.o.d. [4:3]For what says the Scripture? And Abraham believed G.o.d and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [4:4]But to one that works the reward is not accounted by grace but by debt. [4:5]But to one that works not, but believes on him that justifies the wicked, his faith is [accounted] for righteousness. [4:6]As David describes the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord accounts righteousness without works, [4:7]Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered; [4:8]blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not account sin.

4 [4:9]Is this blessedness then on the circ.u.mcision? or also on the uncirc.u.mcision? [Also on the uncirc.u.mcision.] For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. [4:10]How then was it accounted? when he was in circ.u.mcision, or in uncirc.u.mcision? Not in circ.u.mcision, but in uncirc.u.mcision. [4:11]And he received the symbol of circ.u.mcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which was in uncirc.u.mcision, so that he became the father of all that believe in uncirc.u.mcision, that righteousness may also be accounted to them, [4:12]and a father of circ.u.mcision not to those of the circ.u.mcision only, but to those also who walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which was in uncirc.u.mcision.

5 [4:13]For the promise to Abraham and his posterity that he should inherit the world was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. [4:14]For if the subjects of the law are heirs, the faith is done away and the promise abrogated. [4:15]For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. [4:16]Therefore it is by faith that it may be by grace, that the promise may be sure to all the posterity, not to that of the law only but to that of the faith of Abraham, who is a father of us all, [4:17]as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations before G.o.d in whom he believed, who makes the dead alive and calls things which do not exist as existing.-- [4:18]who against hope believed in hope that he should become a father of many nations according to the saying shall your posterity be. [4:19]

And being not weak in faith, he did not regard himself as dead, being now about a hundred years old, nor Sarah's incapacity for child-bearing, [4:20]and he did not doubt the promise of G.o.d by unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to G.o.d, [4:21]being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able to perform.

[4:22]Wherefore also it was accounted to him for righteousness. [4:23]

But it was not written for his sake alone, that it was accounted to him, [4:24] but also for our sakes, to whom it is about to be accounted if we believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, [4:25]who was delivered up for our sins and raised for our justification.

6 [5:1]Having been justified therefore by faith, we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ, [5:2]through whom also we have been introduced into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of G.o.d. [5:3]And not only [this], but we rejoice also in afflictions, knowing that affliction works out patience, [5:4]and patience, experience, and experience, hope; [5:5] and the hope makes not ashamed, because the love of G.o.d has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given us. [5:6]For when we were yet weak, in due time Christ died for the wicked; [5:7]for scarcely for a righteous man will one die, but for a good man some one perhaps would even dare to die; [5:8]but G.o.d commends his love to us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us; [5:9]much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved through him from wrath. [5:10]For if when enemies we were reconciled to G.o.d through the death of his Son, much more having become reconciled we shall be saved in his life. [5:11]And not only so, but we also rejoice in G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we received the present reconciliation.

7 [5:12]Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so came upon all men because all sinned,-- [5:13]for till the law there was sin in the world, but sin is not accounted where there is no law [5:14]but death reigned from Adam till Moses even over those that sinned not after the similitude Adam's transgression, who is a type of him that was to come; [5:15]but not as the fall so also is the gift; for if by the fall of one the many died, much more the grace of G.o.d and the gift by grace which is of the one man Jesus Christ, abounded to the many; [5:16]and not as through one that sinned is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the gift was from many sins to a righteous ordinance; [5:17]for if by one fall death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of the grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ;-- [5:18]therefore, as through the fall of one [judgment came] on all men to condemnation, so also through the righteous ordinance of one [the gift comes] on all men to justification of life; [5:19]for as through the disobedience of the one man the many were const.i.tuted sinners, so also through the obedience of the one shall the many be const.i.tuted righteous. [5:20]For the law supervened that the fall might abound; but where the sin abounded the grace was superabundant, [5:21]that as sin reigned in death, so the grace shall reign through righteousness in life eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord.

CHAPTER IV.

SIN IS ON NO ACCOUNT TO BE ALLOWED.

1 [6:1]WHAT shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that the grace may abound? [6:2]By no means. How shall we who died to sin any longer live in it? [6:3]Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized in Christ were baptized in his death? [6:4]We have been buried therefore with him through baptism in death, that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life. [6:5]For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall much more be of his resurrection; [6:6]knowing this that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer serve sin; [6:7] for he that died was justified from sin. [6:8]And if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; [6:9]knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no longer a lordship over him.

[6:10]For [the death] which he died, he died to sin once; but [the life] which he lives, he lives to G.o.d. [6:11]So also account yourselves dead indeed to sin, but living to G.o.d in Christ Jesus.

2 [6:12]Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to obey its desires, [6:13]neither present your members as instruments of wickedness to sin, but present yourselves to G.o.d as living from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to G.o.d.

[6:14]For sin shall not have a Lordship over you; for you are not under the law but under the grace.

3 [6:15]What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under the grace? By no means. [6:16]Know you not that to whom you present yourselves servants for obedience, his servants you are whom you obey, whether of sin in death or of obedience in righteousness?

[6:17]But thanks be to G.o.d that you were servants of sin, but obeyed from the heart the form of teaching in which you were instructed, [6:18]and having become free from sin you served righteousness. [6:19]I speak after the manner of men on account of the weakness of your flesh.

For as you presented your members servants to impurity and to wickedness in wickedness, so now present your members servants to righteousness in sanctification. [6:20]For when you were servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. [6:21]What fruit had you therefore then in things of which you are now ashamed? for the end of them is death. [6:22]But now having been made free from sin and made servants to G.o.d, you have your fruit in sanctification, and the end eternal life. [6:23]For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of G.o.d is eternal life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

CHAPTER V.

THOSE IN CHRIST DEAD TO THE LAW, THE FLESH THE PRINCIPLE OF SIN, ITS DOMINION OVER THE MIND, ETC.

1 [7:1]ARE you ignorant, brothers, for I speak to them who understand law, that the law has authority over a man as long as he lives?

[7:2]For a woman under a husband is bound by law to a living husband; but if the husband has died she is released from the law of the husband. [7:3]Therefore while the husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress if she is married to another man; but if the husband has died, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if married to another man. [7:4]So, my brothers, you have also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you should be married to another, to him that was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to G.o.d.

[7:5]For when we were in the flesh, the sinful affections operated through the law in our members to bear fruit to death; [7:6]but now we are released from the law by which we were held having died, that we should serve [G.o.d] in newness of spirit, not in the old age of a writing.

2 [7:7]What shall we say then? Is the law sin? By no means. On the contrary I knew not sin except through the law; for I had not known inordinate desire, unless the law had said, You shall not desire inordinately. [7:8]But Sin having taken occasion through the commandment wrought in me every inordinate desire; for without the law sin was dead.

3 [7:9]And I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died, [7:10]and the commandment which was for life was found to be for death. [7:11]For sin having taken occasion through the commandment deceived me, and through it killed me.

[7:12]The law therefore is holy, and the commandment holy and righteous and good. [7:13]Did then that which is good become death to me? By no means, but sin; that sin might be made manifest, producing death to me through that which is good, that sin might become exceedingly sinful through the commandment. [7:14]For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. [7:15]For what I do this I approve not; for I do not what I wish, but what I hate, this I do. [7:16]But if what I wish not this I do, I consent to the law that it is good; [7:17]and now I no longer do it, but the sin that dwells in me.

[7:18]For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, there dwells no good.

For to wish is present with me, but to do the good is not; [7:19]for the good which I wish I do not, but the evil which I wish not this I do.

4 [7:20]But if what I wish not this I do, I no longer do it, but sin which dwells in me. [7:21]I find therefore the law, that when I wish to do good evil is present with me; [7:22]for I consent to the law of G.o.d as to my inward man, [my soul], [7:23]but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin which is in my members. [7:24] Miserable man that I am; who will deliver me from the body of this death? [7:25] Thanks be to G.o.d through Jesus Christ our Lord; therefore I myself with the mind serve the law of G.o.d, and with the flesh the law of sin.

CHAPTER VI.

THOSE IN CHRIST NOT SUBJECT TO CONDEMNATION, NOR TO THE FLESH, BUT RULED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, ETC.

1 [8:1]THERE is no condemnation therefore to those in Christ Jesus; [8:2]for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death. [8:3]For what the law could not do because it was weak through the flesh, G.o.d having sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned the sin in the flesh, [8:4]that the righteous ordinance of the law may be performed by us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. [8:5]For they who are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, but they who are according to the spirit the things of the spirit; [8:6]

for the minding of the flesh is death, but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace. [8:7]Because the minding of the flesh is enmity against G.o.d; for it is not subject to the law of G.o.d; for it can not be.

[8:8]And they that are in the flesh cannot please G.o.d. [8:9]But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of G.o.d dwells in you. And if any man has not the spirit of Christ he is not his.

[8:10]But if Christ is in you, the body is dead on account of sin, but the spirit is life on account of righteousness. [8:11]And if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall make alive your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.

2 [8:12]Therefore, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. [8:13]For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the spirit you kill the deeds of the body, you shall live. [8:14]For as many as are led by the Spirit of G.o.d they are sons of G.o.d. [8:15]For you received not the spirit of servitude again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption, by which we cry; Abba, Father. [8:16]The Spirit itself is a co-witness with our spirits that we are children of G.o.d. [8:17]And if children, [we are] also heirs, heirs indeed of G.o.d and co-heirs with Christ, if we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him.

3 [8:18]For I think that the sufferings of the present time are of no account in comparison with the glory to be revealed in us. [8:19]For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revelation of the sons of G.o.d. [8:20] For the creation was subjected to a perishable condition, not willingly, but by him that subjected it, in hope [8:21]that the same creation will be delivered from the servitude of destruction and [brought] into the glorious liberty of the sons of G.o.d.

[8:22]For we know that all the creation groans and is in pain till now; [8:23]and not only it, but we ourselves also who have the first fruit of the Spirit, even ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies. [8:24]For we are saved by hope; but a hope that is seen is not a hope; for why does one hope for what he sees? [8:25]but if we hope for what we see not, we wait for it with patience.

4 [8:26]And in like manner also the Spirit helps our weakness. For we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings unutterable; [8:27]and he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because it makes intercession with G.o.d for the saints. [8:28]And we know that all things work together for good to those who love G.o.d, to those who are called according to [his] purpose. [8:29]For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he may be a first-born among many brothers; [8:30]and whom he predestinated them he also called; and whom he called them he also justified; and whom he justified them he also glorified.

5 [8:31]What shall we say then to these things? If G.o.d is for us, who is against us? [8:32]He who spared not his Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?

[8:33]Who will bring a charge against G.o.d's elect? It is G.o.d that justifies; [8:34]who is he that condemns? Is it Christ who died, and still more, who has also been raised, and who is on the right hand of G.o.d, and who makes intercession for us? [8:35]Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall affliction or distress, persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? [8:36]As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day; we are accounted as sheep for slaughter. [8:37]But in all these things we more than conquer, through him who loved us. [8:38]For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor princ.i.p.alities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [8:39]nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of G.o.d in Christ Jesus our Lord.

CHAPTER VII.

THE REJECTION OF THE UNBELIEVING JEWS.

1 [9:1]I SPEAK the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness with the Holy Spirit, [9:2]that I have great grief and continual pain in my heart; [9:3]for I have wished that I was myself accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kindred according to the flesh, [9:4]who are Israelites, whose are the adoption and the glory, and the covenants and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises, [9:5]whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ, according to the flesh. He who is over all is G.o.d blessed forever, amen. [9:6]

Not that the word of G.o.d has failed of being accomplished. For all are not Israel who are of Israel; [9:7]neither, because they are a posterity of Abraham, are they all children; but in Isaac shall your posterity be called; [9:8]that is, the children of the flesh are not the children of G.o.d, but the children of the promise are accounted the posterity. [9:9]For this was the word of promise; According to this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son. [9:10]And not only this, but Rebecca also being with child by one, by our father Isaac-- [9:11]for the children not yet being born, nor having done any thing good or evil, that the purpose of G.o.d according to election might continue, not of works but of him that calls,-- [9:12]it was said to her that the older shall serve the younger; [9:13]as it is written; Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

2 [9:14]What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with G.o.d? By no means. [9:15]For he says to Moses, I will be merciful to him to whom I may be merciful, and I will compa.s.sionate him whom I may compa.s.sionate. [9:16] Therefore, it is not of him that wills nor of him that runs, but of G.o.d that exercises mercy. [9:17]For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this same cause I raised you up, to show my power in you, and that my name may be declared in all the earth. [9:18]He therefore has mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens.

[9:19]You will say to me then, Why then does he yet find fault? for who has resisted his will? [9:20]Yes indeed, O man, who are you that reply against G.o.d? Shall the work say to him that made it, Why did you make me thus? [9:21]or has not the potter a right, in respect to the clay, to make of the same ma.s.s one vessel to honor and another to dishonor?

[9:22]But if G.o.d wishing to show his wrath and to make known his power endured with much long suffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, [9:23]and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he before prepared for glory, [9:24]whom he also called, us not of the Jews only but also of the gentiles, [9:25]as he says also in Hosea, I will call them that were not my people, my people, and her that was not beloved, beloved, [9:26]and in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there they shall be called children of the living G.o.d. [9:27]But Isaiah cries concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel is as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved; [9:28]for he executes and performs his word in righteousness, for a finished work will the Lord perform on the earth. [9:29]As also Isaiah said before, Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a posterity, we should have been like Sodom, and should have resembled Gomorrah.