2 ARST { Then I would say,“Being a Jew benefits a person} in many ways!”{ This is} certainly{ true} because, first of all, God trusted the Jews with preserving what he had said{ in the Scriptures}. BSB BSB: Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 ARST { So you might say,}“Some of these{ Jews} were certainly unfaithful{ to God}! How unfaithful those people are certainly cannot invalidate how faithful God is!” BSB BSB: What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
4 ARST { Then I would say,}“Of course not!” On the contrary, God{ is always} truthful, but everyone else is not. This is what{ David meant when} he wrote{ in the Scriptures},“The result{ of my sin} is that people will acknowledge that you{, God,} are right when you speak and victorious when people{ try to} judge you.” BSB BSB: Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
5 ARST But{ you might say,}“Suppose{ this is true and} how unrighteous we{ Jews} are{ actually} confirms how righteous God is.{ That} could not{ possibly mean} that God is unrighteous because he punishes{ us}!”(When I talk like this, I am expressing how human beings think.) BSB BSB: But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.
6 ARST { Then I would say,}“Of course not! If God were unrighteous when he punishes us, then he could not{ possibly} judge{ anyone in} the world!” BSB BSB: Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?
7 ARST But{ then you might say,}“Suppose{ this is true, and} my lying further glorifies God{ and} how truthful he is.{ If that is so,} then{ surely} God should not still judge me as if I were sinning! BSB BSB: However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?
8 ARST And{ if this is true, then} you should{ just} tell us to act wickedly in order that good things can happen!”(This is exactly what some people say falsely about me and claim that I say. It is right{ for God} to condemn people{ who speak and act} this way!) BSB BSB: Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!
9 ARST { You Jews might then say,}{“If what you have said is true,} then we are surely not superior{ to non- Jewish people}!”{ And I would say that} indeed we are not.{ I say this} because I have previously charged that all Jews and non- Jewish people cannot stop being sinful. BSB BSB: What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.
10 ARST This is what{ the prophets meant when} they wrote{ in the Scriptures},“No one is righteous, no one at all!” BSB BSB: As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 ARST “No one thinks wisely. No one is even trying to know God! BSB BSB: There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
12 ARST Everyone has refused to obey{ God}. As a whole, they are worthless{ for doing what God wants}. No one is kind, no one at all!” BSB BSB: All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
13 ARST “What people say is morally corrupt{ like the smell of rotten corpses in} a grave! They constantly deceive{ people} by what they say!”“What they say hurts people, like the venom of venomous snakes!” BSB BSB: “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
14 ARST “They constantly curse{ others} and speak harshly{ against them}.” BSB BSB: “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 ARST “They rush eagerly to murder people. BSB BSB: “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ARST Wherever they go, they destroy lives and make people suffer. BSB BSB: ruin and misery lie in their wake,
17 ARST They do not understand how to live peacefully{ with others}.” BSB BSB: and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 ARST “They do not fear God{ at all}!” BSB BSB: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 ARST Certainly, we Jews know all that God says in his laws applies to{ the Jews,} to whom God gave his laws. This is in order that no one can excuse themselves{ from being judged by God.}{ This is} also in order that God can justly punish everyone in the world as guilty. BSB BSB: Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 ARST { This is true} because God will not make anyone righteous with himself{ simply} because they obey the laws{ he gave the Jews}.{ This is so} because those laws{ only} make people aware of how sinful they are. BSB BSB: Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
22 ARST How God makes people righteous is by trusting in Jesus the Messiah.{ God will make} all{ types of} people{ righteous} if they trust in{ Jesus}.{ This is} because God does not distinguish{ between different types of people}. BSB BSB: And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
24 ARST God makes{ these sinful people} righteous as a gift because he is so kind.{ People receive this gift from God} when God unites them to Jesus the Messiah, who redeemed them{ from being punished for being sinful}. BSB BSB: and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
26 ARST { God did this} because he is so tolerant.{ God also did this} in order to show how he makes people righteous during our time.{ This is} for the purpose of showing that God is righteous and that he makes people righteous{ if} they trust in Jesus. BSB BSB: He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 ARST { You Jews might say,}{“If what you have said is true,} then surely no one can boast!”{ Then I would say,}“Indeed, no one can!”{ Then you might say,}“Surely{ we can become righteous} by obeying the laws{ God gave the Jews}! Surely doing{ those things}{ will make us righteous}!”{ Then I would say,}“Absolutely not! On the contrary,{ people become righteous} by trusting{ in Jesus the Messiah}. BSB BSB: Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. 29 ARST { Or you might say,}“Surely God is not only the God of the Jews. Surely he is the God of{ all} the nations too!”{ So I would say,}“Absolutely! He is the God of{ all} the nations too. BSB BSB: Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
30 ARST { This is true} because there is certainly{ only} one God{ for all people}. He will make righteous{ both} the Jews who trust{ in Jesus} and the non- Jewish people who trust in{ Jesus}.” BSB BSB: since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.