Letters to the Churches

Swift are their feet to shed blood.

Ruin and misery are in their ways.

And a way of peace they did not know.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.'

And we have known that as many things as the law saith, to those in the law it doth speak, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;

wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets,

and the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, --for there is no difference,

for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God--

being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God--

for the shewing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who is of the faith of Jesus.

Where then is the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith:

therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.

The God of Jews only is He , and not also of nations?

yes, also of nations; since one is God who shall declare righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith.

Law then do we make useless through the faith? let it not be! yea, we do establish law.

What, then, shall we say Abraham our father, to have found, according to flesh?

for if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath to boast--but not before God;

for what doth the writing say? `And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him--to righteousness;'

and to him who is working, the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt;

and to him who is not working, and is believing upon Him who is declaring righteous the impious, his faith is reckoned--to righteousness:

even as David also doth speak of the happiness of the man to whom God doth reckon righteousness apart from works:

`Happy they whose lawless acts were forgiven, and whose sins were covered;

happy the man to whom the Lord may not reckon sin.'