Chapter XXXII.—We are
Justified Not by Our Own Works, But by Faith.
Whosoever will candidly consider each particular, will
recognise the greatness of the gifts which were given by him.
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For from him
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have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar
of God. From him also [was descended] our Lord Jesus Christ
according to the flesh.
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From him
[arose] kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah. Nor are
his other tribes in small glory,
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inasmuch as
God had promised, “Thy seed shall be as the stars of
heaven.”
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All these,
therefore, were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own
sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they
wrought, but through the operation of His will. And we, too,
being called by His will
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in Christ Jesus,
are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or
understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness
of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty
God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
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The meaning here
is very doubtful. Some translate, “the gifts which were
given to Jacob by Him,”
i.e
. God.
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ms.
αὐτῶν
, referring to the
gifts: we have followed the emendation
αὐτοὔ
, adopted by most
editors. Some refer the word to
God
, and not
Jacob
.
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Comp.
Rom. ix. 5
.
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I.
τάξει
(rank).
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Gen. xxii. 17, xxviii. 4
.
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I. omits.