What shall we say then? we say that the gentiles which followed not righteousness, have overtaken righteousness I mean the righteousness which cometh of faith. But Israel which followed the law of righteousness, could not attain unto the law of righteousness. And wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith: but as it were by the works of the law. For they have stumbled at the stumbling stone. As it is written: Behold I put in Syon a stumbling stone, and a rock which shall make men fall. And none that believe on him, shall be ashamed.
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Brethren my heart's desire, and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a fervent mind to Godward, but not according to knowledge. For they are ignorant of the righteousness which is allowed before God, and go about to establish their own righteousness and therefore are not obedient unto the righteousness which is of value before God. For Christ is the end of the law to justify all that believe.
Moses describeth the righteousness which cometh of the law, how that the man which doth the things of the law shall live therein. But the righteousness which cometh of faith, speaketh on this wise: Say not in thine heart: who shall ascend into heaven? (That is nothing else than to fetch Christ down.) Other who shall descend into the deep? That is nothing else but to fetch up Christ from death. But what saith the scripture? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thine heart.
This word is the word of faith which we preach. For if thou shalt knowledge with thy mouth that Iesus is the lord, and shalt believe with thine heart that God raised him up from death, thou shalt be safe. For the belief of the heart justifieth: and to knowledge with the mought maketh a man safe. For the scripture saith: whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed.
There is no difference between the jewe and the gentile. For one is lord of all, which is rich unto all that call on him. For whosoever shall call on the name of the lord shall be safe. How shall they call on him, on whom they believed not? how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? how shall they hear with out a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written: how beautiful are the feet of them which bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. But they have not all obeyed to the gospell. For Esaias saith: lord who shall believe our sayings? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing cometh by the word of God. But I ask: have they not heard? No doubt, their sound went out into all lands: and their words into the ends of the world.
But I demand whether Israhel did know or not? First Moses saith: I will provoke you for to envy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. Esaias after that is bold and saith. I am found of them that sought me not, and have appeared to them that asked not after me. And against Israhel he saith: All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a people that believeth not, but speaketh against me.
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I say then: hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For even I verily am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, and of the tribe of Benjamin, God hath not cast away his people which he knew before. Other wot ye not what the scripture saith by the mouth of Helias, how he spake to God against Israhel, saying: lord they have killed thy prophets and digged down thine altars: and I am left only, and they seek my death. But what saith the answer of God to him again? I have reserved unto me seven thousand men which have not bowed their knees to baal. Even so at this time is there a remnant left thorow the election of grace. If it be of grace then is it not by the deserving of works. For then were faveour no more faveour. If it be by the deserving of works, then is there no faveour. For then were deserving no deserving.
What then? Israhel hath not obtained that that he sought. No but yet the election hath obtained it. The remnant are blinded, according as it is written: God hath given them the spirit of unquietness: eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, even unto this day. And David saith: Let their table be made a snare to take them with all, and an occasion to fall, and a reward unto them. Let their eyes be blinded that they see not: and ever bow down their backs.