Romans 2:17-29

17But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely on the Law [for your salvation] and boast in [your special relationship to] God,

18and [if you claim to] know His will and approve the things that are essential or have a sense of what is excellent, based on your instruction from the Law,

19and [if you] are confident that you are a [qualified] guide to the blind [those untaught in theology], a light to those who are in darkness,

20and [that you are] a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the [spiritually] childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth—

21well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]?

22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]?

23You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by breaking the Law?

24For, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written [in Scripture].

25Circumcision [the sign of the covenant of Abraham] is indeed of value if you practice the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [it is meaningless in God’s sight].

26So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded [by God] as circumcision?

27Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps [the spirit of] the Law will judge you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, break the Law.

28For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical.

29But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and [true] circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by [the fulfillment of] the letter [of the Law]. His praise is not from men, but from God.