17 But if you’re a Jew and trusting in the law and boasting about being chosen by God 18 and knowing his will and knowing what’s important because of familiarity with the law, 19 and if you’ve persuaded yourself that you’re a guide for the blind and a light to those who’re in darkness, 20 and that you’re an instructor to foolish people and a teacher of children, and that you appear to be knowledgeable about the truth of the law, 21 then why do you teach others when you haven’t even taught yourself? You announce that stealing is wrong, but you’re a thief. 22 You teach about not messing with other people’s spouses, yet you do it yourself. You detest idols, but you sneak money out of the temple. 23 You boast about being a student of the law, but you dishonour God by breaking the laws. 24 [ref]Yes, it’s been written: ‘God’s name is slandered among the nations because of you all.’

25 Circumcision is of value if you’re keeping the law, but if you’re breaking the laws, then your circumcision is just the same as if you’re uncircumcised, 26 so if uncircumcised peoples act justly according to the law, even though they’re not physically circumcised, God will consider them as his people. 27 Yes, those peoples who’re not circumcised but keep the law, will be judging you who were given the law in writing and are circumcised, yet break those laws. 28 A true Jew is not just a Jew on the outside, and circumcision isn’t just on the outside of the body, 29 [ref]but is a Jew even in their private life and through circumcision of their heart—by the spirit and not by the letter of the law—earning praise not from people, but from God.

3 So what advantage is it in being a Jew and what’s the benefit of circumcision? 2 A lot in every way. Firstly, Jews were entrusted with the writing down of God’s messages. 3 But what if some didn’t believe? Wouldn’t the unbelief of Jews make faith that comes from God worthless? 4 [ref]Absolutely not. Even if every person was a liar, God is true just like it’s been written about him:

‘You will be proved right about what you say,

and you’ll prevail when you’re judged in court.’

5 But if our sinfulness highlights God’s sinlessness, what can we say about that? So isn’t God, the one inflicting the severe anger, wrong to punish us. (Of course this is reasoning from a human perspective.) 6 Of course not, otherwise how could God be able to judge the world?

7 But if my lie exposes God’s truth and so brings him honour, why would he still judge me as a sinner? 8 Some people falsely accuse us of saying, ‘Let’s do evil things so that good might follow.’ Those who say that deserve their punishment.