For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.