and their mutual reasonings at intervals bringing accusations or forming excuses;) (16)in the day when God shall judge the hidden things of men, according to my gospel by Jesus Christ. (17)Lo! thou art named a Jew, and restest on the law, and boastest in God, (18)and knowest the will of God, and bringest to the test the things that are different, being instructed out of the law; (19)and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, (20)an instructor of the uninformed, a teacher of babes, holding the form of knowledge and of truth in the law. (21)Thou therefore who teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that proclaimest aloud that a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (22)thou that sayest, Do not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that holdest idols in abomination, dost thou commit sacrilege? (23)thou who gloriest in the law, dishonourest thou God by the transgression of the law? (24)for the name of God is blasphemed through you among the heathen, as it is written[50]. (25)For circumcision indeed is advantageous, if thou practise the law: but if thou art a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision becomes uncircumcision, (26)If then the uncircumcision observe the righteous judgments of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be accounted for circumcision? (27)And the uncircumcision by nature which fulfilleth the law shall condemn thee, who through the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law. (28)For not he who is outwardly such, is the Jew; neither is that which is outward in the flesh, circumcision. (29)But he is a Jew who is such inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God. CHAP. III. WHAT then is the superiority of the Jew? or what is the advantage of circumcision? (2)Much in every view: the principal one indeed is, that the oracles of God were entrusted to them. (3)For what if some were unbelievers? shall their unbelief render the faithfulness of God ineffectual? (4)God forbid: but let God be true, though every man were a liar; as it is written, "That thou mayest be acknowledged just in thy sayings, and overcome when thou art judged[51]." (5)But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous in inflicting wrath? (I speak humanly).