I speak in our everyday language--when He inflicts punishment?
003:006 No indeed; for in that case how shall He judge all mankind?)
003:007 If, for instance, a falsehood of mine has made God's truthfulness
more conspicuous, redounding to His glory, why am I judged
all the same as a sinner?
003:008 And why should we not say--for so they wickedly misrepresent us,
and so some charge us with arguing--"Let us do evil that good
may come"? The condemnation of those who would so argue is just.
003:009 What then? Are we Jews more highly estimated than they?
Not in the least; for we have already charged all Jews
and Gentiles alike with being in thraldom to sin.
003:010 Thus it stands written, "There is not one righteous man.
003:011 There is not one who is really wise, nor one who is a diligent
seeker after God.
003:012 All have turned aside from the right path; they have every
one of them become corrupt. There is no one who does what
is right--no, not so much as one."
003:013 "Their throats resemble an opened grave; with their tongues
they have been talking deceitfully." "The venom of vipers
lies hidden behind their lips."
003:014 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
003:015 "Their feet move swiftly to shed blood.
003:016 Ruin and misery mark their path;
003:017 and the way to peace they have not known."
003:018 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
003:019 But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed
to those who are living under the Law, in order that every
mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await
sentence from God.
003:020 For on the ground of obedience to Law no man living will be