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Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God! on them which fell, 22 severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still 23 in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and 24 wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive-tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this 25 mystery, (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, “There shall come out 26 of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for 27 this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. ..." As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touch- 28 ing the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts 29 and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have 30 not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they 31 also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, 32 that he might have mercy upon all.

The adorable wis

O THE depth of the riches both of the wisdom and 33 dom of the divine knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, government. and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the 34 mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath 35 first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of 36 him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever! Amen.

Exhortation to holi

ness;-to the proper

use of the gifts of the Spirit;-to various duties.

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I BESEECH therefore, brethren, by the mercies 12 of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the 3 grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another; having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us; whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith or ministry, let us wait on our ministering or he that teacheth, on teaching: or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he 8 that giveth, let him do it with simplicity: he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimu- 9 lation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be 10 kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the 11 Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in 12 prayer; ' distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 13 Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. ' Rejoice with 14 them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same 16 mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 'Recompense to no 17 man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 'If it 18 be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly 19 beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is

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written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." There- 20 fore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome 21 of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Exhortation to be

obedient to lawful

magistrates;-to be governed by mutual

love;-and to imi

tate Christ.

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LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. 13 For there is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the 2 power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers 3 are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if 4 thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For, for this cause pay ye tribute 6 also for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that 8 loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," ," "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal," "Thou shalt not bear false witness,' ‚""Thou shalt not covet ;" and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Love worketh no ill to his 10 neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing 11 the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day 12 is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in riot- 13 ing and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make hot pro- 14 vision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Exhortation to treat

those who are scru

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HIM that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to 14 with forbearance doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may 2 eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let 3 not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth: for

pulous; even to ab

stain from lawful things, if indulging in them offended weak brethren;

to aim at every thing God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest 4

which would pro- another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or

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mote Christian love. falleth yea, he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another 5 esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he 6 that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, 8 we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end 9 Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost 10 thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. For it is written, "As I live, saith the Lord, every 11 knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then 12 every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not there- 13

fore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, 14 and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou 15 not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 'Let not then your good be evil spoken of: ' for the kingdom of God is 16 not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, 18 and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make 19 for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy 20 not the work of God. All things indeed are pure: but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to 21 drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. 22 Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: 23 for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. We then that are strong ought to 15 bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell on me." For whatsoever things were written afore- 4 time, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and 5 consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, 6 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one 7 another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

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Recapitulation of the foregoing argument.

Paul again characterizes himself as

the Apostle to the

GENTILES. He purposes to visit

them, but must first

go up to Jerusalem.

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NOW I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the 8 CIRCUMCISION for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: and that the GENTILES might 9 glorify God for his mercy: as it is written, "For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name." And again he saith; "Rejoice, ye 10 Gentiles, with his people." And again, "Praise the 11 Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people." And again Esaias 12 saith; "There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of 13 hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

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AND I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are 14 full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto 15 you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the 16 Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have there- 17 fore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ, in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things 18 which Christ, hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,' through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the 19 Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to 20 preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: but as it is written, "To whom he was not 21 spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”

For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 22 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire 23 these many years to come unto you; whensoever I take my journey into 24 Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the 25 saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a 26 certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath 27 pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. When therefore I have performed 28 this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. And I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness 29 of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, 30 for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be 31 delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem, may be accepted of the saints; that I may 32 come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

the letter, com

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Phebe, the bearer of I COMMEND unto you Phebe our sister, which is a 16 mended to their at- servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye re- 2 tention. Salutation. ceive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succorer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus: (who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles) likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ. 'Greet Mary, who bestowed so much labor on us. 'Salute Andronicus 6, 7

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and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the Apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my 8 beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Salute Apelles, approved in Christ. 'Salute them which 9 are of Aristobulus' household. Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet 11 them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. Salute 12 Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord. Salute Rufus, chosen in the 13 Lord, and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, 14 Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Phi- 15 lologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 'Salute one another with a holy kiss. The 16 churches of Christ salute you.

Caution against Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause 17 deceivers. divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our 18 Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come 19 abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. ' And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The 20 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

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TIMOTHEUS, my work-fellow, and Lucius, and Jason, 21

Other salutations. and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who 22 wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the 23 whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth

you, and Quartus a brother. with you all. Amen.

Paul commends these Gentiles to the grace of God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be 24

Now to him that is of power to establish you according 25 to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures 26 of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to ALL NATIONS for the obedience of faith: To God only 27 wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever! Amen.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE

PAUL and Sosthenes

ian church.

CORINTHIANS.

PAUL, called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ through 1 salute the Corinth- the will of God, and SOSTHENES our brother, unto the 2 church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord 3 Jesus Christ.

Paul congratulates

ing various spiritual gifts.

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I THANK My God always on your behalf, for the grace them, on the receiv- of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in 5 every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end,' that ye may 8 be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by 9 whom ye were called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

He reprobates the

discord which had

arisen in the Corinthian church:

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NOW I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our 10 Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which 11 are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now 12 this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified 13 for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I 14 baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I 15 had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household 16 of Stephanus; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

and rebukes the

teachers who drew

them away from the simplicity of the gospel, as preached

by himself.

FOR Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the 17 gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching 18 of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is 19 written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? where is 20 the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God 21 the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and 22

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