17 1But if you bear the name of Jew, and rest upon the law, and 2boast in God,
18 And know the will, and 1approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19 And have confidence that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness,
20 One who disciplines the foolish, a teacher of 1babes, having the proper form of the knowledge and truth in the law;
21 1You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal?
22 You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob their temples?
23 You who boast in the law, do you by transgression of the law dishonor God?
24 For a“the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” even as it is written.
25 For circumcision profits if you practice the law; but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 If therefore the uncircumcision keeps the 1ordinances of the law, will not his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?
27 And the uncircumcision by nature, if he fulfills the law, will judge you who through the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law.
28 1For he is anot a Jew who is one 2outwardly; neither is bcircumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 1But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, 2ain spirit, not 2in letter, whose praise is not 3from men, but 3from God.
CHAPTER 3
1 What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way. First, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
3 For what if some disbelieved? Shall their unbelief annul the faithfulness of God?
4 1Absolutely not! But let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written, a“That You may be 2declared righteous in Your words and may overcome when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? I speak according to man.
6 Absolutely not! Otherwise how shall God judge the world?
7 But if the 1atruthfulness of God has abounded in my lie unto His glory, why still am I also being judged as a sinner?
8 And why not say (as we are slanderously charged and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil that good may come? whose 1judgment is just.