2 ¹⁷ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 2 ¹⁸ And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 2 ¹⁹ And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 2 ²⁰ An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 2 ²¹ Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 2 ²² Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 2 ²³ Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 2 ^{24 [ Is.52.5, Eze.36.20. ]} For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

2 ²⁵ For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 2 ²⁶ Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 2 ²⁷ And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 2 ²⁸ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 2 ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

3 ¹ What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 3 ² Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 ³ For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 3 ^{4 [ Ps.51.4. ]} God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

3 ⁵ But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 3 ⁶ God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 3 ⁷ For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 3 ⁸ And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.