What should we say then? Do we Jews have any advantage? Not at all! We have already claimed that Jews and Gentiles are sinners. Everyone is under the power of sin.

这却怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？决不是的！因我们已经证明：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。

那又怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？绝不是！因我们已经指证：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。

那又怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？绝不是！因我们已经指证：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。

那么，我们犹太人比别人优越吗？绝对不是！我们已经说过，无论是犹太人还是希腊人，所有的人都身陷罪中。

那又怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？绝不是的。因为我们已经控诉过，无论是犹太人或是希腊人，都在罪恶之下，

那么怎么样呢？我们犹太人比别人好吗？当然不是！我们已经指出：犹太人和外邦人都在罪孽之下。

這卻怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？決不是的！因我們已經證明：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。

那又怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？絕不是！因我們已經指證：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。

那又怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？絕不是！因我們已經指證：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。

那麼，我們猶太人比別人優越嗎？絕對不是！我們已經說過，無論是猶太人還是希臘人，所有的人都身陷罪中。

那又怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？絕不是的。因為我們已經控訴過，無論是猶太人或是希臘人，都在罪惡之下，

這卻怎麼樣呢？我們猶太人比他們外國人強麼？完全不是。我們已經起訴：萬人都在罪之下，不但希利尼人，猶太人也在內；

那麼怎麼樣呢？我們猶太人比別人好嗎？當然不是！我們已經指出：猶太人和外邦人都在罪孽之下。

然則何歟、我儕愈於彼乎、曰、否、不然、我曾證猶太人、希利尼人、咸在罪下、

曰、是何歟、我儕有勝乎、曰、無、我曾明言猶太希利尼人、咸服罪、

然則何歟、我儕猶太人有所、勝乎、無有、我已明證猶太人、希拉人、皆服罪、

然則吾人視他族果無所勝乎？實無所勝也！蓋無論猶太人與希臘人、其為罪人則一也。此為吾儕向所主張者；

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.

What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;

What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

What then? are we better[ than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin. It does so in order that what was promised might be given to those who believe. The promise comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by the law but by God’s grace? Not at all!

What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God.

They say,‘ Keep away! Don’t come near us! We are too sacred for you!’ Those people are like smoke in my nose. They are like a fire that keeps burning all day.

God shows his anger from heaven. It is against all the godless and evil things people do. They are so evil that they say no to the truth.The truth about God is plain to them. God has made it plain.Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I’m talking about his eternal power and about the fact that he is God. Those things can be seen in what he has made. So people have no excuse for what they do.They knew God. But they didn’t honor him as God. They didn’t thank him. Their thinking became worthless. Their foolish hearts became dark.They claimed to be wise. But they made fools of themselves.They would rather have statues of gods than the glorious God who lives forever. Their statues of gods are made to look like people, birds, animals and reptiles.So God let them go. He allowed them to do what their sinful hearts wanted to. He let them commit sexual sins. They made one another’s bodies impure by what they did.They chose a lie instead of the truth about God. They worshiped and served created things. They didn’t worship the Creator. But he is praised forever. Amen.So God let them continue to have their shameful desires. Their women committed sexual acts that were not natural.In the same way, the men turned away from their natural love for women. They burned with sexual desire for each other. Men did shameful things with other men. They suffered in their bodies for all the wrong things they did.They didn’t think it was important to know God. So God let them continue to have evil thoughts. They did things they shouldn’t do.They are full of every kind of sin, evil and ungodliness. They want more than they need. They commit murder. They want what belongs to other people. They fight and cheat. They hate others. They say mean things about other people.They tell lies about them. They hate God. They are rude and proud. They brag. They think of new ways to do evil. They don’t obey their parents.They do not understand. They can’t be trusted. They are not loving and kind.They know that God’s commands are right. They know that those who do evil things should die. But they continue to do those very things. They also approve of others who do them.If you judge someone else, you have no excuse for it. When you judge another person, you are judging yourself. You do the same things you blame others for doing.We know that when God judges those who do evil things, he judges fairly.Though you are only a human being, you judge others. But you yourself do the same things. So how do you think you will escape when God judges you?Do you disrespect God’s great kindness and favor? Do you disrespect God when he is patient with you? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is meant to turn you away from your sins?But you are stubborn. In your heart you are not sorry for your sins. You are storing up anger against yourself. The day of God’s anger is coming. Then his way of judging fairly will be shown.God“ will pay back each person in keeping with what they have done.”( Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12)God will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good. They want glory, honor, and life that never ends.But there are others who only look out for themselves. They don’t accept the truth. They go astray. God will pour out his great anger on them.There will be trouble and suffering for everyone who does evil. That is meant first for the Jews. It is also meant for the Gentiles.But there will be glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good. That is meant first for the Jews. It is also meant for the Gentiles.God treats everyone the same.Some people do not know God’s law when they sin. They will not be judged by the law when they die. Others do know God’s law when they sin. They will be judged by the law.Hearing the law does not make a person right with God. People are considered to be right with God only when they obey the law.Gentiles do not have the law. Sometimes they just naturally do what the law requires. They are a law for themselves. This is true even though they don’t have the law.They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts. The way their minds judge them proves this fact. Sometimes their thoughts find them guilty. At other times their thoughts find them not guilty.This will happen on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge people’s secret thoughts. That’s part of my good news.Suppose you call yourself a Jew. You trust in the law. You brag that you know God.You know what God wants. You agree with what is best because the law teaches you.You think you know so much more than the people you teach. You think you’re helping blind people. You think you are a light for those in the dark.You think you can make foolish people wise. You act like you’re teaching little children. You think that the law gives you all knowledge and truth.You claim to teach others, but you don’t even teach yourself! You preach against stealing. But you steal!You say that people should not commit adultery. But you commit adultery! You hate statues of gods. But you rob temples!You brag about the law. But when you break it, you rob God of his honor!It is written,“ The Gentiles say evil things against God’s name because of you.”( Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22)Circumcision has value if you obey the law. But if you break the law, it is just as if you hadn’t been circumcised.And sometimes those who aren’t circumcised do what the law requires. Won’t God accept them as if they had been circumcised?Many are not circumcised physically, but they obey the law. They will prove that you are guilty. You are breaking the law, even though you have the written law and are circumcised.A person is not a Jew if they are a Jew only on the outside. And circumcision is more than just something done to the outside of a man’s body.No, a person is a Jew only if they are a Jew on the inside. And true circumcision means that the heart has been circumcised by the Holy Spirit. The person whose heart has been circumcised does more than obey the written law. The praise that matters for that kind of person does not come from other people. It comes from God.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself,“ If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!”

Do I mean that food sacrificed to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything?

Doesn’t the fact that we are wrong prove more clearly that God is right? Then what can we say? Can we say that God is not fair when he brings his anger down on us? As you can tell, I am just using human ways of thinking.

So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit. But I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with my spirit. But I will also sing with my understanding.

What should we say then? The people of Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. Those Israelites who were chosen did receive it. But the rest of the people were made stubborn.

Jesus told a story to some people who were sure they were right with God. They looked down on everyone else.He said to them,“ Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed.‘ God, I thank you that I am not like other people,’ he said.‘ I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things. I am not like those who commit adultery. I am not even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week. And I give a tenth of all I get.’“ But the tax collector stood farther away than the Pharisee. He would not even look up to heaven. He brought his hand to his heart and prayed. He said,‘ God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.’“ I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.”

God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.

All who depend on obeying the law are under a curse. It is written,“ May everyone who doesn’t continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law be under God’s curse.”( Deuteronomy 27:26)

We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for the Gentiles.Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory.

Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you brag as though you did not?

But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for right or wrong reasons, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad. And I will continue to be glad.