God's Judgment and the Law

¹² For all who have sinned ^(A)without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For ^(B)it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, ^(C)by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the work of the law is ^(D)written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ^16 (E)on that day when, ^(F)according to my gospel, God judges ^(G)the secrets of men ^(H)by Christ Jesus.

¹⁷ But if you call yourself a Jew and ^(I)rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸ and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹ and if you are sure that you yourself are ^(J)a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law ^(K)the embodiment of ^(L)knowledge and truth— ^21 (M)you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you ^(N)rob temples? ²³ You who ^(O)boast in the law ^(P)dishonor God by breaking the law. ²⁴ For, ^(Q)as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed ^(R)among the Gentiles because of you.”

²⁵ For circumcision indeed is of value ^(S)if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ²⁶ So, if ^(T)a man who is uncircumcised keeps ^(U)the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded^[a] as circumcision? ²⁷ Then he who is physically^[b] uncircumcised but keeps the law ^(V)will condemn you who have ^(W)the written code^[c] and circumcision but break the law. ²⁸ For ^(X)no one is a Jew ^(Y)who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹ But a Jew is one ^(Z)inwardly, and ^(AA)circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. ^(AB)His praise is not from man but from God.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever ^(A)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, ^(B)so that every mouth may be stopped, and ^(C)the whole world may be held accountable to God.

²⁰ Now ^(A)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^(B)grace abounded all the more,

The Law and Sin

⁷ What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, ^(A)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if ^(B)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(A)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

⁸ Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?

^34 (A)the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but ^(B)should be in submission, as ^(C)the Law also says.