The New Testament Part 35

3 [9:30]What shall we say then? That nations who did not pursue righteousness attained a righteousness, but the righteousness which is by faith; [9:31]but Israel who pursued the law of righteousness did not attain to the law of righteousness. [9:32]For what reason? Because they are not of faith, but as it were of works of the law; for they stumbled at the stone of stumbling, [9:33]as it is written; Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.

4 [10:1]Brothers, the earnest desire and prayer of my heart for Israel is for their salvation. [10:2]For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for G.o.d but not according to knowledge; [10:3]for not knowing G.o.d's righteousness, and seeking to set up their righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to G.o.d's righteousness. [10:4]For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.

[10:5]For Moses describes the righteousness of the law, that the man that does these things shall live by them. [10:6]But the righteousness by faith speaks thus; Say not in your mind, who shall ascend into heaven?--that is, to bring Christ down,-- [10:7]or who shall descend into the abyss?--that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. [10:8]But what does it say? The word is nigh you, in your mouth and in your mind; that is, the word of the faith which we preach. [10:9]For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe with your mind that G.o.d raised him from the dead, you shall be saved; [10:10]for with the mind we believe to righteousness, and with the mouth we confess to salvation. [10:11]For the Scripture says, No one that believes in him shall be ashamed. [10:12]For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich to all that call upon him.

[10:13]For every one that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

[10:14]How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without one preaching? [10:15]and how shall they preach unless they have been sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those that publish good news of peace, that publish good news of good things.

5 [10:16]But all did not obey the gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who believed our report? [10:17]Faith therefore comes by the report, and the report by the word of G.o.d. [10:18]But I say, Did they not hear? Yes indeed; their voice went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. [10:19]But I say, did not Israel know? First, Moses says, I will provoke you by that which is not a nation, and by a foolish nation will I excite you to anger. [10:20]But Isaiah is more bold and says, I was found by them that sought me not, I was made manifest to them that inquired not after me. [10:21]But in respect to Israel he says, All the day I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SALVATION OF BELIEVING JEWS AND THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES.

1 [11:1]I SAY then, has G.o.d cast away his people? By no means; for I also am an Israelite, of the race of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

[11:2]G.o.d has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know you not what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he intercedes with G.o.d against Israel? [11:3]Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [11:4]But what says the response to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. [11:5]So then also at the present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace; [11:6] but if by grace, no longer by works; for otherwise grace is no longer grace; but if by works, it is no longer grace; for otherwise a work is no longer a work. [11:7]What then? What Israel seeks, this it did not obtain, but the election obtained; and the rest were hardened,-- [11:8]as it is written, G.o.d gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear--to this day. [11:9]And David says, Let their table become a trap and a snare and an offense and a stumbling block to them; [11:10]let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always.

2 [11:11]I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? By no means; but by their fall the nations have salvation to excite them to emulation. [11:12] But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of nations, how much more will their fullness be. [11:13]For I speak to you, gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle of the gentiles, I glorify my ministry, [11:14]if perhaps I may excite my flesh [race] to emulation and save some of them. [11:15]For if their falling away is the reconciling of the world, what will their recovery be but life from the dead? [11:16]And if the first fruit is holy, the ma.s.s is also; and if the root is holy, the branches also are.

3 [11:17]But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker of the root and excellence of the olive, [11:18]boast not against the branches; but if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.

[11:19]You will say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. [11:20]Well; they were broken off by unbelief, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; [11:21]for if G.o.d spared not the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. [11:22]See then the goodness and severity of G.o.d; towards those that fell, severity, but towards you, the goodness of G.o.d, if you continue in goodness, for otherwise you also will be cut off. [11:23]And they, if they continue not in unbelief, will be grafted in; for G.o.d is able to graft them in again. [11:24] For if you have been cut from an olive wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive, how much more shall they according to nature be grafted into their own olive.

4 [11:25]For I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery; that you may not be wise in your own conceit. For hardness in part has come upon Israel, till the fullness of the gentiles shall come in, [11:26]and so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, A deliverer shall come from Zion, he shall turn away impiety from Jacob. [11:27]And this is the promise to them from me, when I take away their sins.

[11:28]As to the gospel, they are enemies on your account, but as to the election, they are beloved on account of the fathers; [11:29]for the gifts and calling of G.o.d are without a change of mind. [11:30]For as you once disobeyed G.o.d, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, [11:31]so also they now have disobeyed that they may obtain mercy by your mercy. [11:32] For G.o.d has concluded all in disobedience that he may have mercy on all. [11:33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of G.o.d! how inscrutable are his judgments, and his ways can not be explored! [11:34]For who knew the mind of the Lord? or who was his counsellor? [11:35]or who first gave to him, and it shall be repaid him? [11:36]For of him and through him, and in him are all things; to him be glory forever; amen.

CHAPTER IX.

MORAL AND POLITICAL DUTIES.

1 [12:1]I EXHORT you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of G.o.d, to present your bodies a living sacrifice; holy, well pleasing to G.o.d, your reasonable service; [12:2]and be not conformed to this life, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is the will of G.o.d which is good and well-pleasing and perfect. [12:3]For I say through the grace given me, to every one among you, not to be higher-minded than he ought to be, but to think soberly, as G.o.d has distributed to each the measure of faith. [12:4]For as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office, [12:5]so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and each one members one of another; [12:6]but having different gifts according to the grace given us, if prophecy [let us prophesy] according to the a.n.a.logy of the faith, [12:7]if a service [let us labor] in the service, if one teaches, in teaching, [12:8]if one exhorts in the exhortation, he that gives, with simplicity, he that rules, with diligence, he that exercises mercy, with cheerfulness.

2 [12:9]Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor evil, adhere to that which is good, [12:10]be kindly disposed one to another with brotherly love, in honor prefer one another, [12:11]be not slothful in business, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord, [12:12]rejoice in the hope, be patient in affliction, be persevering in prayer, [12:13]contribute to the necessity of saints, practise hospitality. [12:14]Bless those that persecute, bless and curse not. [12:15] Rejoice with the rejoicing, weep with the weeping. [12:16]Desire the same thing one for another; desire not the high, but be satisfied with the humble. Be not wise in your own conceit. [12:17]Render evil for evil to no one, provide things honorable in the sight of all men; [12:18]if possible, as much as may be in your power, live peaceably with all men, [12:19]not vindicating yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath; for it is written, Judgment is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. [12:20]If therefore your enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for doing this you shall heap coals of fire on his head. [12:21]Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

3 [13:1]Let every soul be subject to the superior powers. For there is no power except from G.o.d, and the [powers] which exist have been ordained by G.o.d. [13:2] So that he who resists the power resists the ordinance of G.o.d; and those who resist shall receive judgment on themselves. [13:3]For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Will you not fear the power? Do good, and you shall have praise from it; [13:4]for [the power] is G.o.d's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is G.o.d's minister of justice for punishment to him that does evil.

[13:5]Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only on account of punishment, but also on account of conscience.

4 [13:6]For on this account also you pay taxes; for [magistrates] are servants of G.o.d attending constantly to this same thing. [13:7]Pay to all their dues; a tax to whom a tax is due, a toll to whom a toll is due, fear to whom fear, and honor to whom honor. [13:8]Owe no man any thing, except to love one another; for he that loves another has fully performed the law. [13:9]For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not desire inordinately, and if there is any other commandment, it is summarily comprehended in this word; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [13:10] Love does no evil to a neighbor; love therefore is the sum of the law. [13:11]

And [do] this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour that we should be waked from sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [13:12] The night is far advanced, and the day is at hand; let us lay aside therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. [13:13]Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelries and drinking, not in lewdness and excesses, not in strife and envy; [13:14]but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for desires of the flesh.

CHAPTER X.

DUTIES TO THE WEAK, ETC.

1 [14:1]RECEIVE the weak in faith, not to doubtful reasonings.

[14:2]For one has faith to eat all things, but he that is weak eats vegetables. [14:3]Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats; for G.o.d has accepted him. [14:4]Who are you that judge another man's servant? To his master he stands or falls; and he shall be made to stand, for G.o.d is able to make him stand.

2 [14:5]One judges one day to be better than another, but another judges every day [to be alike]. Let each one be fully persuaded in his mind. [14:6]He that observes the day observes it to the Lord, and he that observes not the day observes it not to the Lord. And he that eats eats to the Lord, for he gives G.o.d thanks; and he that eats not eats not to the Lord, and gives G.o.d thanks. [14:7] For no one of us lives for himself; and no one dies for himself; [14:8]for if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; whether therefore we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord's. [14:9]For this end Christ died and lived again, that he might exercise lordship over the dead and living. [14:10]But why do you judge your brother? why do you set at nought your brother? for we must all stand at the tribunal of G.o.d.

[14:11]For it is written, [As] I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess to G.o.d. [14:12]Each of us therefore shall give account of himself to G.o.d.

3 [14:13]Let us not therefore judge one another, but judge this rather, not to place a stumbling-block or an offense before a brother. [14:14]I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is defiled in itself, except to him that thinks any thing to be defiled; to him it is defiled. [14:15]For if your brother is grieved by your food, you no longer walk in love. Destroy not with your food him for whom Christ died. [14:16]Let not your good therefore be injuriously spoken of.

[14:17]For the kingdom of G.o.d is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; [14:18]for he that in this serves Christ is well pleasing to G.o.d and approved by men.

[14:19]Let us therefore pursue the things of peace and those which edify one another. [14:20]On account of food destroy not the work of G.o.d. All things indeed are pure, but evil is to the man that eats with offense; [14:21]it is good not to eat meat nor drink wine, nor [do] any thing by which your brother stumbles. [14:22]You have faith; have it for yourself before G.o.d, Blessed is he that condemns not himself in what he approves; [14:23]but he that doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not of faith; and every thing which is not of faith is sin.

4 [15:1]And we, the strong, ought to bear the infirmities of those who are not strong, and not to please ourselves. [15:2]Let us each please our neighbor in that which is good for edification; [15:3]for Christ also pleased not himself, but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached thee fell on me. [15:4]For those things which were written before were written for our instruction, that through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures we may have hope.

[15:5]And the G.o.d of patience and consolation grant you to have the same mind one to another, according to Christ Jesus, [15:6]that being of one mind you may glorify the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mouth.

5 [15:7]Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of G.o.d. [15:8]For I say that Christ was made a minister of the circ.u.mcision for the truth of G.o.d, to confirm the promises of the fathers, [15:9]and that the nations should glorify G.o.d for mercy; as it is written, For this cause will I praise thee among nations, and sing to thy name. [15:10]And again he says, Rejoice nations with his people.

[15:11]And again, Praise the Lord, all nations, and let all peoples praise him. [15:12]And again, Isaiah says, There shall be a root of Jesse and he shall stand up to rule nations, in him shall nations hope.

[15:13]And may the G.o.d of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

6 [15:14]And I am persuaded, my brothers, even I myself, concerning you, that you are full of kindness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another; [15:15]but I have written more boldly to you in part, to refresh your minds on account of the grace given me by G.o.d [15:16]that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the nations, administering as a priest the gospel of G.o.d, that the offering of the nations may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [15:17]I have therefore cause of boasting in Christ Jesus in respect to things relating to G.o.d; [15:18]for I dare not to speak of what Christ has not performed by me for the obedience of the nations, by word and work, [15:19]by the power of miracles and prodigies, by the power of the Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyric.u.m I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. [15:20]And I have been anxious so to preach where Christ was not named, that I might not build on another's foundation; [15:21]but as it is written, They shall see to whom nothing was told concerning him, and they who have not heard shall understand.

7 [15:22]Wherefore I was also much hindered from coming to you; [15:23]but now having no longer a place in these regions, and having a desire to come to you for many years, [15:24]should I go to Spain I will come to you; for I hope, going by, to see you, and to be sent forward by you there, when first I am in part filled with you.

[15:25]But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. [15:26]For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor of the saints at Jerusalem. [15:27]They have been pleased indeed, and their debtors they are; for if the nations have partic.i.p.ated in their spiritual things, they ought also to serve them in things pertaining to the flesh. [15:28]Having therefore performed this, and sealed to them this service, I will go by you to Spain; [15:29]and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. [15:30]But I exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to G.o.d for me, [15:31]that I may be delivered from those that obey not in Judea, and that my service which is for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, [15:32]that I may come to you with joy by the will of G.o.d, and be refreshed together with you. [15:33]And may the G.o.d of peace be with you all; amen.

CHAPTER XI.

COMMENDATION OF PHOEBE, SALUTATIONS, ETC.

1 [16:1]AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea, [16:2]that you receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and a.s.sist her in any thing in which she may have need of you; for she has been an a.s.sistant of many, and of myself also.

2 [16:3]Salute Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila my co-laborers in Christ Jesus, [16:4]who exposed their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the nations; [16:5]and [salute] the a.s.sembly at their house. Salute Epenetus my beloved, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ. [16:6]Salute Mary, who labored much for us.

[16:7]Salute Andronicus and Junius, my relatives and my fellow-captives, who are distinguished among the apostles, and who were before me in Christ. [16:8]Salute Amplias my beloved in the Lord.

[16:9]Salute Urba.n.u.s our co-laborer in Christ, and Stachus my beloved.

[16:10]Salute Apelles, the approved in Christ. Salute those of the [family] of Aristobulus. [16:11]Salute Herodion, my relative. Salute those of the [family] of Narcissus who are in the Lord. [16:12]Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. [16:13]Salute Rufus the elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine. [16:14]Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.

[16:15]Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them. [16:16]Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

3 [16:17]I exhort you, brothers, to observe those that cause dissensions and offenses contrary to the teaching which you learned, and avoid them; [16:18]for such serve not our anointed Lord, but themselves, And by kind and complimentary words deceive the minds of the simple. [16:19]For your obedience has come to all; I rejoice in you therefore, but I wish you to be wise for that which is good, and simple for evil. [16:20]And the G.o.d of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

4 [16:21]Timothy my co-laborer salutes you, and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. [16:22]I, Tertius, who wrote the epistle, salute you in the Lord. [16:23]Gaius my entertainer, and the entertainer of all the church, salutes you. Erastus the treasurer of the city and Quartus the brother salute you. [16:24]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all; amen.

5 [16:25]And to him that is able to confirm you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery not revealed in ancient times, [16:26]but made manifest now by the scriptures of the prophets, by the command of the eternal G.o.d, for the obedience of the faith among all nations, [16:27]to the only wise G.o.d, through Jesus Christ, to him be the glory forever; amen.

THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25:4.)