You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?”

For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.

For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.

so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also a mother to me.

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them.

They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them,

This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them.

Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

Through him we have received grace and our apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name.

Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?

For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”