Romans 2:26
 Romans 2:26 
New International Version (©2011)
So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?

New Living Translation (©2007)
And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people?

English Standard Version (©2001)
So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law's requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision?

International Standard Version (©2012)
So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision, won't it?

NET Bible (©2006)
Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
But if he of the uncircumcision will observe the commandments of The Written Law, behold, is not the uncircumcision accounted for circumcision?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So if a man does what Moses' Teachings demand, won't he be considered circumcised even if he is uncircumcised?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Therefore if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

American King James Version
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

American Standard Version
If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?

Douay-Rheims Bible
If, then, the uncircumcised keep the justices of the law, shall not this uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Darby Bible Translation
If therefore the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision,

English Revised Version
If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore, if the uncircumcision keepeth the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Weymouth New Testament
In the same way if an uncircumcised man pays attention to the just requirements of the Law, shall not his lack of circumcision be overlooked, and,

World English Bible
If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won't his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?

Young's Literal Translation
If, therefore the uncircumcision the righteousness of the law may keep, shall not his uncircumcision for circumcision be reckoned?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:25-29 No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Therefore if the uncircumcision keep,.... These words are spoken hypothetically; if any such persons could be found among the Gentiles who keep the whole law of God; and can only be absolutely understood of such, who from a principle of grace act in obedience to the law; as in the hands of Christ, and who look to Christ as the fulfilling end of it, for righteousness; in whom they keep

the righteousness of the law perfectly:

shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? by this question it is suggested, that an uncircumcised Gentile, who keeps the law as in the hands of Christ, and under the influences of his Spirit and grace, and keeps it in Christ, is reckoned a circumcised person in a spiritual sense, and must be preferable to a circumcised Jew that breaks it.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

26. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the … law, &c.—Two mistaken interpretations, we think, are given of these words: First, that the case here supposed is an impossible one, and put merely for illustration [Haldane, Chalmers, Hodge]; second that it is the case of the heathen who may and do please God when they act, as has been and is done, up to the light of nature [Grotius, Olshausen, &c.]. The first interpretation is, in our judgment, unnatural; the second, opposed to the apostle's own teaching. But the case here put is, we think, such as that of Cornelius (Ac 10:1-48), who, though outside the external pale of God's covenant, yet having come to the knowledge of the truths contained in it, do manifest the grace of the covenant without the seal of it, and exemplify the character and walk of Abraham's children, though not called by the name of Abraham. Thus, this is but another way of announcing that God was about to show the insufficiency of the mere badge of the Abrahamic covenant, by calling from among the Gentiles a seed of Abraham that had never received the seal of circumcision (see on [2184]Ga 5:6); and this interpretation is confirmed by all that follows.


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The Jews and the Law
25For circumcision truly profits, if you keep the law: but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law? …

Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
Romans 2:27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
Romans 3:30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Romans 8:4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
Galatians 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)--