I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
Parallel translations
- KJV I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
- BSB I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
- NKJV I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
- NASB I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
- NLT With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul solemnly affirms before God that he is telling the truth, with his conscience confirming it in the Holy Spirit. He prepares to express deep grief over Israel's unbelief.
Overview
Turning from the heights of chapter 8 to the painful question of Israel's rejection of Christ, Paul opens with a triple assurance of sincerity. He speaks the truth in Christ, does not lie, and his Spirit-led conscience bears witness. This earnest oath underscores how genuine his coming sorrow is and refutes any charge that he is indifferent to his own people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 2:7to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
- Rom 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
- Gal 1:20Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
- 2 Cor 11:10As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
- Phil 1:8For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Tim 1:5but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith;
- 2 Cor 12:19Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
- Rom 8:16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
- 1 Th 2:5For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
- 1 Tim 5:21I command you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
- 1 Jn 3:19–21And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,
- 2 Cor 11:31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.
- Rom 2:15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
- 2 Cor 1:23But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 9:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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