3:1 Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? 3:2 Actually, there are many advantages. 1 First of all, 2 the Jews 3 were entrusted with the oracles of God. 4 3:3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 3:4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being 5 shown up as a liar, 6 just as it is written: “so that you will be justified 7 in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” 8
3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates 9 the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? 10 (I am speaking in human terms.) 11 3:6 Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? 3:7 For if by my lie the truth of God enhances 12 his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? 3:8 And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say. 13 (Their 14 condemnation is deserved!)
3:9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 3:10 just as it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one,
3:11 there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.
3:12 All have turned away,
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” 15
3:13 “Their throats are open graves, 16
they deceive with their tongues,
the poison of asps is under their lips.” 17
3:14 “Their mouths are 18 full of cursing and bitterness.” 19
3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
3:16 ruin and misery are in their paths,
3:17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 20
3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 21
3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under 22 the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 3:20 For no one is declared righteous before him 23 by the works of the law, 24 for through the law comes 25 the knowledge of sin. 3:21 But now 26 apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) 27 has been disclosed – 3:22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ 28 for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 3:24 But they are justified 29 freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 3:25 God publicly displayed 30 him 31 at his death 32 as the mercy seat 33 accessible through faith. 34 This was to demonstrate 35 his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. 36 3:26 This was 37 also to demonstrate 38 his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just 39 and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness. 40
3:27 Where, then, is boasting? 41 It is excluded! By what principle? 42 Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! 3:28 For we consider that a person 43 is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. 44 3:29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! 3:30 Since God is one, 45 he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 3:31 Do we then nullify 46 the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead 47 we uphold the law.