that I might have some fruit among you, as also among other Gen14 tiles. I am a debtor to both Greeks and Barbarians, to both the 15 learned and the unlearned: such being the case, I am ready, ac

16

cording to my ability, to preach the gospel even to you who are at Rome.

Subjects of consideration proposed, which constitute the distinguishing traits of the gospel. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, since it is the power of God unto the salvation of every one that believeth; to the Jew 17 first, and then to the Greek. For the justification which is of God,

is revealed by it, [justification] by faith, in order that we may be18 lieve; as it is written : The just shall live by faith." Moreover the wrath of God from heaven is revealed against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men who hinder the truth by unrighteous

ness.

19

Universal depravity and guilt of the Gentiles.

Because that which might be known concerning God, is manifest 20 to them; for God hath manifested it to them; ' (for the invisible things of him, since the creation of the world, are clearly seen by the things which are made, even his eternal power and Godhead); 21 so that they are without excuse: because, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their inconsiderate mind was dark22 ened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and 23 exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image like to mor24 tal man, and fowls, and four-footed beasts, and reptiles. Wherefore

God even gave them up, in the lusts of their hearts, to uncleanness, 25 to dishonour their own bodies among themselves; who exchanged the true God for a false one, and worshipped and served the crea26 ture more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen! On account of this, God gave them up to base passions; for their women 27 changed their natural use into that which is against nature. And in like manner also the males, leaving the natural use of the female, burned in their lust toward each other, males with males do

ing that which is shameful, and receiving in themselves the reward 28 of their error which is due. And inasmuch as they did not like to re

tain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, 29 to do those things which are base; being filled with all iniquity, un

cleanness, malice, covetousness, mischief; full of envy, murder, 30 strife, deceit, malevolence; backbiters, open slanderers, haters of

God, railers, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to 31 parents, inconsiderate, covenant-breakers, destitute of natural af32 fection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the ordinance of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only do the same things, but even bestow commendation on those who do them.

II.

The Jews equally guilty with the Gentiles.

THEREFORE thou art without excuse, O man, whoever thou art that condemnest; for in condemning another thou passest sentence upon thyself, since thou who condemnest, doest the same things. 2 Now we know that the judgment of God is according to truth, 3 against those who do such things. Dost thou think then, O man, who condemnest those that do such things, and doest the same, that 4 thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or dost thou despise his abounding goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering? not acknowledging that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance, 5 but according to thy hard and impenitent heart, treasuring up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath, when the righteous judgment of 6 God shall be revealed; who will render to every man according to 7 his works to those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek 8 for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life; but to those

who are contentious and disobey the truth and obey unrighteous9 ness, indignation and wrath. Affliction and distress [shall be] upon

every soul of man that doeth evil, first of the Jew and then of the Greek; 10 but glory and honour and peace [shall be] to every one who doeth 11 good, first to the Jew and then to the Greek; (for with God there 12 is no respect of persons; since so many as have sinned without law

will perish without law, and so many as have sinned under the law

13 will be condemned by the law, because it is not those that hear the law who are just with God, but those that obey the law who will 14 be justified; for when the Gentiles who have no law, do in a natural state such things as the law requireth, these being destitute of the 15 law, are a law to themselves; who shew that the work which the law requireth, is written upon their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or excusing); in the 16 day when God shall judge the secret things of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

17 If now thou art called a Jew, and dost rest upon the law, and 18 make thy boast of God, and art acquainted with [his] will, and canst distinguish things which differ, being instructed by the law; 19 thou art confident, too, of being thyself a guide to the blind, a light 20 to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the ignorant, a teach

er of little children, one having the representation of true knowledge 21 in the law; dost thou, then, who teachest another, not instruct thy25 self? Dost thou who preachest against stealing, thyself steal? ' Dost

thou who forbiddest to commit adultery, thyself commit adultery? Dost thou who abhorrest idols, thyself commit robbery in holy 23 things? Dost thou who makest thy boast of the law, thyself dishon24 our God by transgressing the law? "For the name of God is 25 blasphemed by you among the Gentiles;" as it is written. Circum

cision indeed is profitable, if thou dost obey the law; but if thou art a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision becometh uncircumci26 sion. If then he who is uncircumcised keep the precepts of the 27 law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? Yea,

he who keepeth the law, in his natural uncircumcised state, will condemn thee, who, in possession of the Scriptures and a partaker of 28 circumcision, art a transgressor of the law. For he is not a Jew,

who is one outwardly; nor is that which is outward, [merely] in the 29 flesh, circumcision. But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, spiritual not literal; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

III.

2

3

4

5

Answer to some objections. Further confirmation of the depravity and guilt of the Jews. General conclusion from the facts stated.

'WHAT then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what the profit of circumcision?'

Much, in divers respects; the most important however is, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

'What then if some did not believe? Will their unbelief render the faithfulness of God of no effect?'

By no means; but let God be [counted] true, although every man [be counted] false; as it is written: "That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and overcome when thou judgest."

'But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, who inflicteth punishment?" 6 (I speak after the manner of men). By no means; otherwise, how shall God judge the world?

7

'Still, if God's faithfulness to his word has, on account of my deceitfulness, abounded more unto his glory, why am I any longer condemned as a sinner?'

8 Shall we then [say], (as it is slanderously reported and as some affirm that we do say): Let us do evil that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

9

'What then? Have we any pre-eminence? None at all; for we have already made the accusation against both Jews and Gen10 tiles, that they are all under sin. As it is written: "There is none 11 righteous, not even one; there is none who understandeth, there is 12 none who seeketh after God; all have gone out of the way, together have they become corrupt; there is none who doeth good, not even 13 one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues do 14 they deceive. The poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth 15 is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood;

17

15} destruction and misery attend their steps;' the way of peace 18 they know not. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that whatsoever things the law saith, it speaketh

to those who have the law; so that every mouth must be stopped, 20 and the whole world become guilty before God. Wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be justified before him; for by law is the knowledge of sin.

21

Gratuitous Justification by Christ is the only way of salvation.

But now, the justification which is of God, without law, is revealed; to which testimony is given by the law and the prophets; 22 a justification, moreover, which is of God by faith in Jesus Christ, [offered] to all and [bestowed] on all who believe; for there is no 23 distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory which 24 God bestows, being justified freely by his grace through the re25 demption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth as a propitiatory [sacrifice] by faith in his blood, in order to declare his justification with respect to the remission of sins formerly committed 26 during the forbearance of God; in order to declare his justification at the present time; so that he might be just and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.

27

Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of 28 works? Nay, but by the law of faith; for we have come to the con29 clusion, that a man is justified by faith, without works of law. Is he

the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yea, of 30 the Gentiles also; since it is one and the same God who will justify 31 the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised by faith. Do we then make void the law, through faith? By no means; we confirm the law.

The Scriptures of the Old Test., i.e. the law, teach the doctrine of Justification by grace only. IV. 'WHAT then shall we say that Abraham our father obtained, in respect to the flesh?'

2

[Much]; if, however, Abraham was justified by works, he hath 3 ground for glorying; but [this he hath] not before God. For what saith the Scripture? "And Abraham believed God, and it