May
YOU
have
undeserved kindness and peace+
from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.+
8 First of all, I give thanks+
to my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of
YOU,
because
YOUR
faith is
talked about+
throughout the whole world.
9 For God, to whom I render
sacred service*
with my spirit in connection with the good news about his Son, is my witness+
of how without ceasing I always make mention of
YOU
in my
prayers,+
10 begging that if at all
possible I may now at last be prospered in the will+
of God so as to come to
YOU.
11 For I am longing to see
YOU,+
that I may impart some spiritual gift+
to
YOU
in order for
YOU
to be made
firm;
12 or, rather, that there may
be an interchange of encouragement*+
among
YOU,
by each one through the other’s faith,+
both
YOURS
and mine.
13 But I do not want
YOU
to fail to
know, brothers,+
that I many times purposed to come to
YOU,+
but I have been hindered until now, in order that I might acquire some fruitage+
also among
YOU
even as among
the rest of the nations.
14 Both to Greeks and to
Barbarians,*
both to wise+
and to senseless ones I am a debtor:
15 so there is eagerness on my
part to declare the good news+
also to
YOU
there in
Rome.+
16 For I am not ashamed+
of the good news; it is, in fact, God’s power+
for salvation to everyone having faith,+
to the Jew first*+
and also to the Greek;+
17 for in it God’s
righteousness+
is being revealed by reason of faith+
and toward faith, just as it is written: “But the righteous one—by means of
faith he will live.”+
18 For God’s wrath+
is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness+
of men who are suppressing the truth+
in an unrighteous way,+
19 because what may be known
about God is manifest among them,+
for God made it manifest to them.+
20 For his invisible+
[qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s*
creation onward,+
because they are perceived by the things made,+
even his eternal power+
and Godship,*+
so that they are inexcusable;+
21 because, although they knew
God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him,+
but they became empty-headed+
in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened.+
22 Although asserting they
were wise, they became foolish+
23 and turned the glory+
of the incorruptible God into something like the image+
of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things.+
24 Therefore God, in keeping
with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness,+
that their bodies+
might be dishonored among them,+
25 even those who exchanged
the truth+
of God for the lie+
and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One
who created, who is blessed forever. Amen.*
26 That is why God gave them
up to disgraceful sexual appetites,+
for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary
to nature;+
27 and likewise even the males
left the natural use of the female+
and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with
males,+
working what is obscene*+
and receiving in themselves the full recompense,+
which was due for their error.+
28 And just as they did not
approve of holding God in accurate knowledge,+
God gave them up to a disapproved mental state,+
to do the things not fitting,+
29 filled as they were with
all unrighteousness,+
wickedness,+
covetousness,+
badness,+
being full of envy,+
murder,+
strife,+
deceit,+
malicious disposition,+
being whisperers,+
30 backbiters,+
haters of God, insolent,+
haughty,+
self-assuming,+
inventors of injurious things,+
disobedient to parents,+
31 without understanding,+
false to agreements,*+
having no natural affection,+
merciless.+
32 Although these know full
well the righteous decree of God,+
that those practicing such things are deserving of death,+
they not only keep on doing them but also consent+
with those practicing them.
2
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man,+
whoever you are, if you judge;+
for in the thing in which you judge another, you condemn yourself, inasmuch as
you that judge+
practice the same things.+
2 Now we know that the
judgment of God is, in accord with truth,+
against those who practice such things.
3 But do you have this idea, O
man,+
while you judge those who practice such things and yet you do them, that you
will escape the judgment of God?+
4 Or do you despise the riches
of his kindness+
and forbearance+
and long-suffering,+
because you do not know that the kindly
[quality] of God is trying to lead you to repentance?*+
2Pet.3:9
5 But according to your
hardness+
and unrepentant heart+
you are storing up wrath+
for yourself on the day of wrath+
and of the revealing+
of God’s righteous judgment.+
6 And
he will render to each one according to
his works:+
Rev.2:23;
22:12
7 everlasting
life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness+
by endurance in work that is good;
8 however, for those who are
contentious+
and who disobey the truth+
but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger,+
9 tribulation and distress,
upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious, of the Jew+
first and also of the Greek;+
10 but glory and honor and
peace for everyone who works what is good,+
for the Jew first+
and also for the Greek.+
11 For there is no partiality
with God.+
12 For instance, all those who
sinned without law will also perish without law;+
but all those who sinned under law+
will be judged by law.+
13 For the hearers of law are
not the ones righteous before God, but the doers+
of law will be declared righteous.+
14 For whenever people of the
nations+
that do not have law+
do by nature the things of the law,+
these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves.
15 They are the very ones who
demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts,+
while their conscience+
is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being
accused+
or even excused.
16 This will be in the day
when God through Christ Jesus judges+
the secret+
things of mankind,+
according to the good news I declare.+
17 If, now, you are a Jew in
name+
and are resting upon law+
and taking pride in God,+
18 and you know his will+
and approve of things that are excellent*
because you are orally instructed out of the Law;+
19 and you are persuaded that
you are a guide of the blind,+
a light for those in darkness,+
20 a corrector of the
unreasonable ones,+
a teacher of babes,+
and having the framework*+
of the knowledge and of the truth+
in the Law—
21 do you, however, the one
teaching someone else, not teach yourself?+
You, the one preaching “Do not steal,”+
do you steal?+
22 You, the one saying “Do not
commit adultery,”*+
do you commit adultery? You, the one expressing abhorrence of the idols, do you
rob+
temples?
23 You, who take pride in law,
do you by your transgressing of the Law+
dishonor God?
24 For “the name of God is
being blasphemed on account of
YOU
people among
the nations”;+
just as it is written.
25 Circumcision+
is, in fact, of benefit only if you practice law;+
but if you are a transgressor of law, your circumcision+
has become uncircumcision.+
26 If, therefore, an
uncircumcised+
person keeps the righteous requirements+
of the Law, his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision, will it not?+
27 And the uncircumcised
[person] that is such by nature will, by carrying out the Law, judge you+
who with its written code and circumcision are a transgressor of law.
28 For he is not a Jew who is
one on the outside,+
nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh.+
29 But he is a Jew who is one
on the inside,+
and [his] circumcision is that of the
heart+
by spirit, and not by a written code.+
The praise+
of that one comes, not from men, but from God.+
3
What, then, is the superiority of the Jew,+
or what is the benefit of the circumcision?+
2 A great deal in every way.
First of all, because they were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements*
of God.+
3 What, then, [is the case]?
If some did not express faith,+
will their lack of faith perhaps make the faithfulness+
of God without effect?+
4 Never may that happen! But
let God be found true,+
though every man be found a liar,+
even as it is written: “That you might be proved righteous in your words and
might win when you are being judged.”+
5 However, if our
unrighteousness brings God’s righteousness+
to the fore, what shall we say? God is not unjust+
when he vents his wrath, is he? (I am speaking as a man+
does.)
6 Never may that happen! How,
otherwise, will God judge the world?+
7 Yet if by reason of my lie
the truth of God+
has been made more prominent to his glory, why am I also yet being judged as a
sinner?+
8 And [why] not [say], just as
it is falsely charged+
to us and just as some men state that we say: “Let us do the bad things that the
good things may come”?+
The judgment+
against those [men] is in harmony with justice.+
9 What then? Are we in a
better position?+
Not at all! For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are
all under sin;*+
10 just as it is written:
“There is not a righteous [man], not even one;+
11 there is no one that has
any insight, there is no one that seeks for God.+
12 All [men] have deflected,
all of them together have become worthless; there is no one that does kindness,
there is not so much as one.”+
13 “Their throat is an opened
grave, they have used deceit with their tongues.”+
“Poison of asps is behind their lips.”+
14 “And their mouth is full of
cursing and bitter expression.”+
15 “Their feet are speedy to
shed blood.”+
16 “Ruin and misery are in
their ways,+
17 and they have not known the
way of peace.”+
18 “There is no fear of God
before their eyes.”*+
19 Now we know that all the
things the Law*+
says it addresses to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped+
and all the world may become liable+
to God for punishment.+
20 Therefore by works of law
no flesh will be declared righteous+
before him, for by law+
is the accurate knowledge of sin.+
21 But now apart from law
God’s righteousness+
has been made manifest, as it is borne witness+
to by the Law+
and the Prophets;+
22 yes, God’s righteousness
through the faith in Jesus*
Christ,+
for all those having faith.+
For there is no distinction.+
23 For
all have sinned+
and fall short of the glory of God,+
24 and it is as a free gift+
that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness+
through the release by the ransom+
[paid] by Christ*
Jesus.
25 God set him forth as an
offering for propitiation*+
through faith in his blood.+
This was in order to exhibit his own righteousness, because he was forgiving the
sins+
that occurred in the past while God was exercising forbearance;+
26 so as to exhibit his own
righteousness+
in this present season, that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous+
the man that has faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is the
boasting?+
It is shut out. Through what law?+
That of works?+
No indeed, but through the law of faith.+
28 For we reckon that a man is
declared righteous*
by faith apart from works of law.+
29 Or is he the God of the
Jews only?+
Is he not also of people of the nations?+
Yes, of people of the nations also,+
30 if truly God is one,+
who will declare circumcised+
people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised+
people righteous by means of their faith.
31 Do we, then, abolish law by
means of our faith?+
Never may that happen! On the contrary, we establish law.+
4
That being so, what shall we say about Abraham our
forefather+
according to the flesh?*
2 If, for instance, Abraham
were declared righteous as a result of works,+
he would have ground for boasting; but not with God.
3 For what does the scripture
say? “Abraham exercised faith in
Jehovah,*
and it was counted to him as righteousness.”+
4 Now to the man that works+
the pay is counted,*
not as an undeserved kindness,+
but as a debt.+
5 On the other hand, to the
man that does not work but puts faith+
in him who declares the ungodly one righteous, his faith is counted as
righteousness.+
6 Just as David also speaks of
the happiness*
of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Happy are those whose
lawless deeds have been pardoned+
and whose sins have been covered;+
8 happy is the man whose sin
Jehovah*
will by no means take into account.”+
9 Does this happiness, then,
come upon circumcised people or also upon uncircumcised people?+
For we say: “His faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.”+
10 Under what circumstances,
then, was it counted? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision?+
Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And
he received a sign,+
namely, circumcision, as a seal*
of the righteousness by the faith he had while in his uncircumcised state, that
he might be the father+
of all those having faith+
while in uncircumcision, in order for righteousness to be counted to them;
12 and a father of circumcised
offspring, not only to those who adhere to circumcision, but also to those who
walk orderly in the footsteps of that faith while in the uncircumcised state
which our father+
Abraham had.
13 For it was not through law
that Abraham or his seed had the promise+
that he should be heir of a world, but it was through the righteousness by
faith.+
14 For if those who adhere to
law are heirs, faith has been made useless and the promise has been abolished.+
15 In reality the Law produces
wrath,+
but where there is no law, neither is there any transgression.+
16 On this account it was as a
result of faith, that it might be according to undeserved kindness,+
in order for the promise+
to be sure to all his seed,+
not only to that which adheres to the Law, but also to that which adheres to the
faith of Abraham. (He is the father+
of us all,
17 just as it is written: “I
have appointed you a father of many nations.”)+
This was in the sight of the One in whom he had faith, even of God, who makes
the dead alive+
and calls*
the things that are not as though they were.+
18 Although beyond hope, yet
based on hope he had faith,+
that he might become the father of many nations+
in accord with what had been said: “So your seed will be.”+
19 And, although he did not
grow weak in faith, he considered his own body, now already deadened,+
as he was about one hundred years old,+
also the deadness of the womb of Sarah.+
20 But because of the promise+
of God he did not waver in a lack of faith,+
but became powerful by his faith,+
giving God glory
21 and being fully convinced
that what he had promised he was also able to do.+
22 Hence “it was counted to
him as righteousness.”+
23 That “it was counted+
to him” was written, however, not for his sake only,+
24 but also for the sake of us
to whom it is destined to be counted, because we believe on him who raised Jesus
our Lord up from the dead.+
25 He was delivered up for the
sake of our trespasses+
and was raised up for the sake of declaring us righteous.+
5
Therefore, now that we have been
declared righteous as a result of faith,+
let us enjoy peace+
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have
gained our approach+
by faith*
into this undeserved kindness in which we now stand; and let us exult, based on
hope+
of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but let
us exult while in tribulations,+
since we know that tribulation produces endurance;+
4 endurance, in turn, an
approved condition;+
the approved condition, in turn, hope,+
5 and the hope does not lead
to disappointment;*+
because the love of God+
has been poured out into our hearts+
through the holy spirit,+
which was given us.
6 For, indeed, Christ, while
we were yet weak,+
died for ungodly men*
at the appointed time.+
7 For hardly will anyone die
for a righteous [man];+
indeed, for the good+
[man], perhaps, someone even dares to die.+
8 But God recommends his own
love+
to us in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.+
9 Much more, therefore, since
we have been declared righteous now by
his blood,+
shall we be saved through him from wrath.+
10 For if, when we were
enemies,+
we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son,+
much more, now that we have become reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.+
11 And not only that, but we
are also exulting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,*
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.+
12 That is why, just as
through one man+
sin entered into the world and death+
through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned+—.
13 For until the Law sin was
in the world, but sin is not charged
against anyone when there is no law.+
14 Nevertheless, death ruled
as king from Adam down to Moses,+
even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of the transgression by
Adam,+
who bears a resemblance to him*
that was to come.+
15 But it is not with the gift
as it was with the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, the
undeserved kindness of God and his free gift with the undeserved kindness by the
one man+
Jesus Christ abounded much more to many.+
16 Also, it is not with the
free gift+
as it was with the way things worked through the one [man] that sinned.+
For the judgment+
resulted from one trespass in condemnation,+
but the gift resulted from many trespasses in a declaration of righteousness.*+
17 For if by the trespass of
the one [man]+
death ruled as king+
through that one, much more will those who receive the abundance of the
undeserved kindness+
and of the free gift*+
of righteousness rule as kings+
in life through the one [person], Jesus Christ.+
18 So, then, as through one
trespass the result to men of all sorts was condemnation,+
likewise also through one act of
justification*+
the result to men of all sorts+
is a declaring of them righteous for life.+
19 For just as through the
disobedience of the one man many+
were constituted sinners, likewise also through the obedience+
of the one [person] many+
will be constituted righteous.+
20 Now the Law+
came in beside*
in order that trespassing might abound.+
But where sin+
abounded, undeserved kindness+
abounded still more.
21 To what end? That, just as
sin ruled as king with death,+
likewise also undeserved kindness+
might rule as king through righteousness with everlasting life+
in view through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6
Consequently, what shall we say? Shall
we continue in sin, that undeserved kindness may abound?+
2 Never may that happen!
Seeing that we died with reference to sin,+
how shall we keep on living any longer in it?+
3 Or do
YOU
not know that
all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus*+
were baptized into his death?+
4 Therefore we were buried+
with him through our baptism into his death, in order that, just as Christ was
raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father,+
we also should likewise walk in a newness of life.+
5 For if we have become united
with him*
in the likeness of his death,+
we shall certainly also be [united with him in the likeness] of his
resurrection;+
6 because we know that our old
personality*
was impaled with [him],+
that our sinful body*
might be made inactive,+
that we should no longer go on being slaves to sin.+
7 For he who has died has been
acquitted*
from [his] sin.+
8 Moreover, if we have died
with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.+
9 For we know that Christ, now
that he has been raised up from the dead,+
dies no more;+
death is master over him no more.
10 For [the death] that he
died, he died with reference to sin once for all time;+
but [the life] that he lives, he lives with reference to God.+
11 Likewise also
YOU:
reckon yourselves to be dead+
indeed with reference to sin but living+
with reference to God by Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin
continue to rule as king+
in
YOUR
mortal bodies
that
YOU
should obey
their desires.+
13 Neither go on presenting
YOUR
members to
sin+
as weapons of unrighteousness,+
but present yourselves to God as those alive+
from the dead, also
YOUR
members to
God as weapons+
of righteousness.
14 For sin must*
not be master over
YOU,
seeing that
YOU
are not under
law+
but under undeserved kindness.+
15 What follows? Shall we
commit a sin because we are not under law+
but under undeserved kindness?+
Never may that happen!
16 Do
YOU
not know that
if
YOU
keep
presenting yourselves to anyone as slaves to obey him,
YOU
are slaves of
him because
YOU
obey him,+
either of sin+
with death in view+
or of obedience+
with righteousness+
in view?
17 But thanks to God that
YOU
were the
slaves of sin but
YOU
became obedient from the heart to that
form of teaching to which
YOU
were handed
over.+
18 Yes, since
YOU
were set free+
from sin,
YOU
became slaves+
to righteousness.+
19 I am speaking in human
terms because of the weakness of
YOUR
flesh:+
for even as
YOU
presented
YOUR
members+
as slaves to uncleanness+
and lawlessness with lawlessness in view,*
so now present
YOUR
members as
slaves to righteousness with holiness in view.+
20 For when
YOU
were slaves
of sin,+
YOU
were free as
to righteousness.
21 What, then, was the fruit+
that
YOU
used to have
at that time? Things*+
of which
YOU
are now
ashamed. For the end*
of those things is death.+
22 However, now, because
YOU
were set free
from sin but became slaves to God,+
YOU
are having
YOUR
fruit+
in the way of holiness, and the end everlasting life.+
23 For
the wages*
sin pays is death,+
but the gift*+
God gives is everlasting life+
by Christ Jesus our Lord.+
7
Can it be that
YOU
do not know,
brothers, (for I am speaking to those who know law,) that the Law is master over
a man as long as he lives?+
2 For instance,
a married woman*
is bound by law to her husband while he is alive; but if her husband
dies, she is discharged from the law of her husband.+
3 So, then, while her husband
is living, she would be styled an adulteress*
if she became another man’s.+
But if her husband dies, she is free from his law, so that she is not an
adulteress if she becomes another man’s.+
4 So, my brothers,
YOU
also were
made dead to the Law+
through the body of the Christ, that
YOU
might become another’s,+
the one’s who was raised up from the dead,+
that we should bear fruit+
to God.
5 For when we were in accord
with the flesh,+
the sinful passions that were excited by the Law were at work in our members
that we should bring forth fruit to death.+
6 But now we have been
discharged from the Law,+
because we have died+
to that by which we were being held fast, that we might be slaves*+
in a new sense by the spirit,+
and not in the old sense by the written code.+
7 What, then, shall we say? Is
the Law sin?+
Never may that become so! Really I would not have come to know sin+
if it had not been for the Law; and, for example, I would not have known
covetousness+
if the Law had not said: “You must*
not covet.”+
8 But sin, receiving an
inducement through the commandment,+
worked out in me covetousness of every sort, for apart from law sin was dead.+
9 In fact, I was once alive
apart from law;+
but when the commandment arrived,+
sin came to life again, but I died.+
10 And the commandment which
was to life,+
this I found to be to death.+
11 For sin, receiving an
inducement through the commandment, seduced+
me and killed me through it.
12 Wherefore, on its part, the
Law is holy,+
and the commandment is holy and righteous+
and good.+
13 Did, then, what is good
become death to me? Never may that happen! But sin did, that it might be shown
as sin working out death for me through that which is good;+
that sin might become far more sinful through the commandment.+
14 For we know that the Law is
spiritual;+
but I am fleshly, sold under sin.+
15 For what I am working out I
do not know. For what I wish,*
this I do not practice; but what I hate is what I do.
16 However, if what I do not
wish is what I do,+
I agree that the Law is fine.+
17 But now the one working it
out is no longer I, but sin that resides in me.+
18 For I know that in me, that
is, in my flesh, there dwells nothing good;+
for ability to wish+
is present with me, but ability to work out+
what is fine is not [present].
19 For the good that I wish I
do not do,+
but the bad that I do not wish is what I practice.
20 If, now, what I do not wish
is what I do, the one working it out is no longer I, but the sin dwelling in me.+
21 I find, then, this law in
my case: that when I wish to do what is right,+
what is bad is present with me.+
22 I really delight+
in the law of God according to the man+
I am within,
23 but I behold in my members+
another law warring+
against the law of my mind+
and leading me captive to sin’s law+
that is in my members.
24 Miserable*
man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death?+
25 Thanks to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord!+
So, then, with [my] mind I myself am a slave to God’s law,+
but with [my] flesh to sin’s law.+
8
Therefore those in union with Christ
Jesus have no condemnation.+
2 For the law+
of that spirit+
which gives life+
in union with Christ Jesus has set you free+
from the law of sin and of death.+
3 For, there being an
incapability on the part of the Law,+
while it was weak+
through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son+
in the likeness of sinful flesh+
and concerning sin,+
condemned sin in the flesh,
4 that the righteous
requirement of the Law might be fulfilled+
in us who walk, not in accord with the flesh, but in accord with the spirit.+
5 For those who are in accord
with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,+
but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit.+
6 For the minding of the flesh
means death,+
but the minding of the spirit+
means life and peace;
7 because the minding of the
flesh means enmity+
with God, for it is not under subjection+
to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be.
8 So those who are in harmony
with the flesh+
cannot please God.
9 However,
YOU
are in
harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit,+
if God’s spirit truly dwells in
YOU.+
But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit,+
this one does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in union
with
YOU,+
the body indeed is dead on account of sin, but the spirit is life+
on account of righteousness.
11 If, now, the spirit of him
that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in
YOU,
he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead+
will also make
YOUR
mortal bodies
alive+
through his spirit that resides in
YOU.
12 So, then, brothers, we are
under obligation, not to the flesh to live in accord with the flesh;+
13 for if
YOU
live in
accord with the flesh
YOU
are sure to
die;+
but if
YOU
put the
practices of the body to death+
by the spirit,
YOU
will live.
14 For all who are led by
God’s spirit, these are God’s sons.+
15 For
YOU
did not
receive a spirit of slavery causing fear+
again, but
YOU
received a
spirit+
of adoption+
as sons,*
by which spirit we cry out:
“Abba,*+
Father!”
16 The spirit+
itself bears witness+
with our spirit+
that we are God’s children.+
17 If, then, we are children,
we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs+
with Christ, provided we suffer+
together that we may also be glorified together.+
18 Consequently I reckon that
the sufferings+
of the present season do not amount to anything in comparison with the glory+
that is going to be revealed in us.
19 For the eager expectation+
of the creation+
is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.+
20 For the creation was
subjected to futility,+
not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope+
21 that*
the creation+
itself also will be set free+
from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of
God.
22 For we know that
all creation keeps on groaning together
and being in pain together until now.
23 Not only that, but we
ourselves also who have the firstfruits,+
namely, the spirit, yes, we ourselves groan+
within ourselves, while we are earnestly waiting for adoption as sons,*+
the release from our bodies by ransom.
24 For we were saved in [this]
hope;+
but hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing, does he hope for
it?
25 But if we hope+
for what we do not see,+
we keep on waiting for it with endurance.+
26 In like manner the spirit+
also joins in with help for our weakness;+
for the [problem of] what we should pray for as we need to we do not know,+
but the spirit+
itself pleads for us with groanings unuttered.*
27 Yet he who searches the
hearts+
knows what the meaning*
of the spirit+
is, because it is pleading in accord with God for holy ones.+
28 Now we know that
God*
makes all his works+
cooperate together for the good of those who love God, those who are
the ones called according to his purpose;+
29 because those whom he gave
his first recognition*+
he also foreordained*+
to be patterned+
after the image+
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn+
among many brothers.+
30 Moreover, those whom he
foreordained+
are the ones he also called;+
and those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous.+
Finally those whom he declared righteous are the ones he also glorified.+
31 What, then, shall we say to
these things? If God is for us, who will be*
against us?+
32 He who did not even spare
his own Son+
but delivered him up for us all,+
why will he not also with him kindly give us all other things?+
33 Who will file accusation
against God’s chosen ones?+
God is the One who declares [them] righteous.+
34 Who is he that will
condemn? Christ Jesus*
is the one who died, yes, rather the one who was raised up from the dead,*
who is on the right hand+
of God, who also pleads for us.+
35 Who
will separate us from the love of the Christ?*+
Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or
sword?+
36 Just as it is written: “For
your sake we are being put to death all day long, we have been accounted as
sheep for slaughtering.”+
37 To the contrary, in all
these things we are coming off completely victorious+
through him that loved us.
38 For I am convinced that
neither death nor life+
nor angels+
nor governments+
nor things now here nor things to come nor powers+
39 nor height nor depth nor
any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.+
9
I am telling the truth+
in Christ; I am not lying,+
since my conscience bears witness with me in holy spirit,
2 that I have great grief and
unceasing pain in my heart.+
3 For I could wish that I
myself were separated as the cursed one*
from the Christ in behalf of my brothers,+
my relatives according to the flesh,+
4 who, as such, are
Israelites,+
to whom belong the adoption as sons+
and the glory+
and the covenants+
and the giving of the Law+
and the sacred service*+
and the promises;+
5 to whom the forefathers+
belong and from whom the Christ [sprang] according to the flesh:+
God,+
who is over all,*
[be] blessed forever. Amen.
6 However, it is not as though
the word of God had failed.+
For not all who [spring] from Israel are
really “Israel.”+
7 Neither because they are
Abraham’s seed are they all children,+
but: “What will be called ‘your seed’ will be through Isaac.”+
8 That is, the children in the
flesh+
are not really the children of God,+
but the children by the promise+
are counted as the seed.
9 For the word of promise was
as follows: “At this time I will come and Sarah will have a son.”+
10 Yet not that case alone,
but also when Rebekah conceived twins+
from the one [man], Isaac our forefather:
11 for when they had not yet
been born nor had practiced anything good or vile,+
in order that the purpose of God respecting the choosing might continue
dependent, not upon works, but upon the One who calls,+
12 it was said to her: “The
older will be the slave of the younger.”+
13 Just as it is written: “I
loved Jacob, but Esau I hated.”+
14 What shall we say, then? Is
there injustice with God?+
Never may that become so!
15 For he says to Moses: “I
will have mercy upon whomever I do have mercy, and I will show compassion to
whomever I do show compassion.”+
16 So, then, it depends, not
upon the one wishing nor upon the one running, but upon God,+
who has mercy.+
17 For the Scripture says to
Pharaoh: “For this very cause I have let you remain,*
that in connection with you I may show my power, and that my name may be
declared in all the earth.”+
18 So, then, upon whom he
wishes he has mercy,+
but whom he wishes he lets become obstinate.+
19 You will therefore say to
me: “Why does he yet find fault? For who has withstood his express will?”+
20 O man,+
who, then, really are you to be answering back to God?+
Shall the thing molded say to him that molded it, “Why did you make me this
way?”+
21 What? Does not the potter+
have authority over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for an
honorable use, another for a dishonorable use?+
22 If, now, God, although
having the will to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, tolerated
with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction,+
23 in order that he might make
known the riches+
of his glory upon vessels+
of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,+
24 namely, us, whom he called
not only from among Jews but also from among nations,+
[what of it]?
25 It is as he says also in
Hosea: “Those not my people+
I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved ‘beloved’;+
26 and in the place where it
was said to them, ‘YOU
are not my
people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”+
27 Moreover, Isaiah cries out
concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand
of the sea,+
it is the remnant that will be saved.+
28 For Jehovah*
will make an accounting on the earth, concluding it and cutting it short.”*+
29 Also, just as Isaiah had
said aforetime: “Unless Jehovah*
of armies+
had left a seed to us, we should have become just like Sodom, and we should have
been made just like Gomorrah.”+
30 What shall we say, then?
That people of the nations, although not pursuing righteousness, caught up with
righteousness,+
the righteousness that results from faith;+
31 but Israel, although
pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to the law.+
32 For what reason? Because he
pursued it, not by faith, but as by works.+
They stumbled on the “stone of stumbling”;+
33 as it is written: “Look! I
am laying in Zion a stone+
of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense,+
but he that rests his faith on it*
will not come to disappointment.”*+
10
Brothers, the goodwill of my heart and my supplication to
God for them are, indeed, for their salvation.+
2 For I bear them witness*
that they have a zeal+
for God; but not according to accurate knowledge;+
3 for, because of not knowing
the righteousness of God+
but seeking to establish their own,+
they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.+
4 For Christ is the end*
of the Law,+
so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness.+
5 For Moses writes that the
man that has done the righteousness of the Law will live by it.+
6 But the righteousness
resulting from faith speaks in this manner: “Do not say in your heart,+
‘Who will ascend into heaven?’+
that is, to bring Christ+
down;
7 or, ‘Who will descend into
the abyss?’+
that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.”+
8 But what does it say? “The
word is near you, in your own mouth and in your own heart”;+
that is, the “word”+
of faith, which we are preaching.*+
9 For if you publicly declare
that ‘word in your own mouth,’+
that Jesus is Lord,*+
and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead,+
you will be saved.+
10 For with the heart+
one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public
declaration+
for salvation.
11 For the Scripture says:
“None that rests+
his faith on him will be disappointed.”*+
12 For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek,+
for there is the same Lord over all, who is rich+
to all those calling upon him.
13 For “everyone who calls on
the name of Jehovah*
will be saved.”+
14 However, how will they call
on him in whom they have not put faith?+
How, in turn, will they put faith in him of whom they have not heard? How, in
turn, will they hear without someone to preach?+
15 How, in turn, will they
preach unless they have been sent forth?+
Just as it is written: “How comely are the feet of those who declare good news
of good things!”+
16 Nevertheless, they did not
all obey the good news.+
For Isaiah says: “Jehovah,*
who put faith in the thing heard from us?”+
17 So faith follows the thing
heard.+
In turn the thing heard is through the word about Christ.*+
18 Nevertheless I ask, They
did not fail to hear, did they? Why, in fact, “into all the earth their sound
went out,+
and to the extremities*
of the inhabited earth*
their utterances.”+
19 Nevertheless I ask, Israel
did not fail to know, did they?+
First Moses says: “I will incite
YOU
people to
jealousy through that which is not a nation; I will incite
YOU
to violent
anger through a stupid nation.”+
20 But Isaiah becomes very
bold and says: “I was found by those who were not seeking me;+
I became manifest to those who were not asking for me.”+
21 But as respects Israel he
says: “All day long I have spread out my hands toward a people that is
disobedient+
and talks back.”+
11
I ask, then, God did not reject his people, did he?+
Never may that happen! For I also am an Israelite,+
of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.+
2 God did not reject his
people, whom he first recognized.*+
Why, do
YOU
not know what
the Scripture says in connection with Elijah, as he pleads with God against
Israel?+
3 “Jehovah,*
they have killed your prophets, they have dug up your altars, and I alone am
left, and they are looking for my soul.”*+
4 Yet, what does the divine
pronouncement+
say to him? “I have left seven thousand men over for myself, [men] who have not
bent the knee to Baal.”+
5 In this way, therefore, at
the present season also a remnant+
has turned up according to a choosing+
due to undeserved kindness.
6 Now if it is by undeserved
kindness,+
it is no longer due to works;+
otherwise, the undeserved kindness no longer proves to be undeserved kindness.+
7 What, then? The very thing
Israel is earnestly seeking he did not obtain,+
but the ones chosen*+
obtained it. The rest had their sensibilities blunted;+
8 just as it is written: “God*
has given them a spirit of deep sleep,+
eyes so as not to see and ears so as not to hear, down to this very day.”+
9 Also, David says: “Let their
table*
become for them a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a retribution;+
10 let their eyes become
darkened so as not to see, and always bow down their back.”+
11 Therefore I ask, Did they
stumble so that they fell+
completely? Never may that happen! But by their false step+
there is salvation to people of the nations,+
to incite them to jealousy.+
12 Now if their false step
means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches to people of the
nations,+
how much more will the full number*+
of them mean it!
13 Now I speak to
YOU
who are
people of the nations. Forasmuch as I am, in reality, an apostle+
to the nations,+
I glorify+
my ministry,+
14 if I may by any means
incite [those who are] my own flesh to jealousy and save+
some from among them.+
15 For if the casting of them
away+
means reconciliation+
for the world, what will the receiving of them mean but life from the dead?
16 Further, if the [part taken
as] firstfruits+
is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy,+
the branches are also.
17 However, if
some of the branches were broken off
but you, although being a wild olive, were
grafted in among them+
and became a sharer of the olive’s+
root of fatness,+
18 do not be exulting over the
branches. If, though, you are exulting over them,+
it is not you that bear the root,+
but the root [bears] you.+
19 You will say, then:
“Branches were broken off+
that I might be grafted in.”+
20 All right!
For [their] lack of faith+
they were broken off, but you are standing by faith.+
Quit having lofty ideas,+
but be in fear.+
21 For if God did not spare
the natural branches, neither will he spare you.+
22 See, therefore, God’s
kindness+
and severity.+
Toward those who fell there is severity,+
but toward you there is God’s kindness, provided you remain+
in his kindness; otherwise, you also will be lopped off.+
23 They also, if they do not
remain in their lack of faith, will be grafted in;+
for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of
the olive tree that is wild by nature and were grafted+
contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much rather will these who
are natural be grafted into their own olive tree!+
25 For I do not want
YOU,
brothers, to be ignorant of this sacred
secret,+
in order for
YOU
not to be
discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities+
has happened in part to Israel until the
full number*+
of people of the nations has come in,+
26 and
in this manner all Israel+
will be saved. Just as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of
Zion+
and turn away ungodly practices from Jacob.+
27 And this is the covenant on
my part with them, when I take their sins away.”+
Jer.31:34
28 True, with reference to the
good news they are enemies for
YOUR
sakes,+
but with reference to [God’s] choosing*
they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.+
29 For the gifts and the
calling of God are not things he will regret.+
30 For just as
YOU
were once
disobedient+
to God but have now been shown mercy+
because of their disobedience,+
31 so also these now have been
disobedient with mercy resulting to
YOU,+
that they themselves also may now be shown mercy.
32 For God has shut them all
up together in disobedience,+
that he might show all of them mercy.+
33 O the depth of God’s riches+
and wisdom+
and knowledge!+
How unsearchable his judgments+
[are] and past tracing out his ways [are]!
34 For “who has come to know
Jehovah’s*
mind,+
or who has become his counselor?”+
35 Or, “Who has first given to
him, so that it must be repaid to him?”+
36 Because from him and by him
and for him are all things.+
To him be the glory forever.+
Amen.
12
Consequently I entreat
YOU
by the
compassions of God, brothers, to present
YOUR
bodies+
a sacrifice+
living,+
holy,+
acceptable to God,+
a sacred service*+
with
YOUR
power of
reason.+
2 And quit being fashioned+
after this system of things,*
but be transformed by making
YOUR
mind over,+
that
YOU
may prove to
yourselves+
the good and acceptable and perfect will+
of God.
3 For through the undeserved
kindness given to me I tell everyone there among
YOU
not to think
more of himself than it is necessary to think;+
but to think so as to have a sound mind,+
each one as God has distributed to him a measure+
of faith.+
4 For just as we have in one
body many members,+
but the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, although many, are
one body+
in union with Christ, but members belonging individually to one another.+
6 Since, then, we have gifts
differing+
according to the undeserved kindness+
given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the faith
proportioned [to us];
7 or a ministry, [let us be]
at this ministry;+
or he that teaches,+
[let him be] at his teaching;+
8 or he that exhorts, [let him
be] at his exhortation;+
he that distributes, [let him do it] with liberality;+
he that presides,*+
[let him do it] in real earnest; he that shows mercy,+
[let him do it] with cheerfulness.
9 Let [YOUR]
love+
be without hypocrisy.+
Abhor what is wicked,+
cling to what is good.+
10 In brotherly love+
have tender affection for one another. In showing honor+
to one another take the lead.
11 Do not loiter at
YOUR
business.+
Be aglow with the spirit.+
Slave for Jehovah.*+
12 Rejoice in the hope.+
Endure under tribulation.+
Persevere in prayer.+
13 Share with the holy ones
according to their needs.+
Follow the course of hospitality.+
14 Keep on blessing those who
persecute;+
be blessing+
and do not be cursing.+
15 Rejoice with people who
rejoice;+
weep with people who weep.
16 Be minded the same way
toward others as to yourselves;+
do not be minding lofty things,+
but be led along with the lowly things.+
Do not become discreet in
YOUR
own eyes.+
17 Return evil for evil+
to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, as far as it
depends upon
YOU,
be peaceable+
with all men.
19 Do not avenge+
yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath;+
for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.”*+
20 But, “if your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;+
for by doing this you will heap fiery coals upon his head.”+
21 Do not let yourself be
conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.+
13
Let every soul*
be in subjection+
to the superior authorities,+
for there is no authority+
except by God;+
Titus3:1;
1Peter2:13
the existing authorities stand placed in their relative+
positions*
by God.+
2 Therefore he who opposes*
the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have
taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves.+
3 For those ruling are an
object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad.+
Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good,+
and you will have praise from it;*
4 for it*
is God’s minister*
to you for your good.+
But if you are doing what is bad,+
be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is
God’s minister, an avenger+
to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad.
5 There is therefore
compelling reason*
for
YOU
people to be
in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of [YOUR]
conscience.+
6 For that is why
YOU
are also
paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants*+
constantly serving this very purpose.*
7 Render*
to all their dues, to him who [calls for] the tax, the tax;+
to him who [calls for] the tribute, the tribute; to him who [calls for] fear,
such fear;+
to him who [calls for] honor, such honor.+
8 Do
not
YOU
people be owing anybody a single thing,+
except to love one another;+
for he that loves his fellowman*
has fulfilled [the] law.+
9 For the [law code], “You
must not commit adultery,*+
You must not murder,+
You must not steal,+
You must not covet,”+
and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this word, namely, “You
must love your neighbor as yourself.”+
10 Love+
does not work evil to one’s neighbor;+
therefore love is the law’s+
fulfillment.
Matt.22:36-40
11 [Do] this, too, because
YOU
people know
the season,*
that it is already the hour for
YOU
to awake+
from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became
believers.+
12 The night is well along;
the day+
has drawn near. Let us therefore put off the works belonging to darkness+
and let us put on the weapons+
of the light.
13 As in the daytime let us
walk decently,+
not in revelries and drunken bouts,+
not in illicit intercourse and loose conduct,*+
not in strife+
and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord*
Jesus Christ,+
and do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh.+
14
Welcome the [man] having weaknesses+
in [his] faith, but not to make decisions on inward+
questionings.
2 One [man] has faith to eat
everything,+
but the [man] who is weak eats vegetables.
3 Let the one eating not look
down on the one not eating,+
and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed that
one.
4 Who
are you to judge the house servant of another?+
To his own master he stands or falls.+
Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah*
can make him stand.+
5 One [man] judges one day as
above another;+
another [man] judges one day as all others;+
let each [man] be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day
observes it to Jehovah.*
Also, he who eats, eats to Jehovah,*+
for he gives thanks to God;+
and he who does not eat does not eat to Jehovah,*+
and yet gives thanks to God.+
7 None of us, in fact, lives
with regard to himself only,+
and no one dies with regard to himself only;
8 for both if we live, we live
to Jehovah,*+
and if we die, we die to Jehovah.*+
Therefore both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah.*+
9 For to this end Christ died
and came to life again,+
that he might be Lord over both the dead+
and the living.+
10 But why do you judge your
brother?+
Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment+
seat of God;
11 for it is written: “‘As I
live,’ says Jehovah,*+
‘to me every knee will bend down, and every tongue will make open acknowledgment
to God.’”+
12 So, then,
each of us will render an account for
himself to God.*+
13 Therefore let us not be
judging+
one another any longer, but rather make this
YOUR
decision,+
not to put before a brother+
a stumbling block+
or a cause for tripping.
14 I know and am persuaded in
the Lord Jesus that nothing is defiled in itself;+
only where a man considers something to be defiled, to him it is defiled.+
15 For if because of food your
brother is being grieved, you are no longer walking in accord with love.+
Do not by your food ruin that one for whom Christ died.+
16 Do not, therefore, let the
good
YOU
people do be
spoken of with injury to
YOU.
17 For the kingdom of God+
does not mean*
eating and drinking,+
but [means]*
righteousness+
and peace+
and joy+
with holy spirit.
18 For he who in this regard
slaves for Christ is acceptable to God and has approval with men.+
19 So, then, let us pursue the
things making for peace+
and the things that are upbuilding to one another.+
20 Stop tearing down the work
of God just for the sake of food.+
True, all things are clean, but it is injurious to the man who with an occasion
for stumbling eats.+
21 It is well not to eat flesh
or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.+
22 The faith that you have,
have it in accord with yourself in the sight of God.+
Happy is the man that does not put himself on judgment by what he approves.
23 But if he has doubts, he is
already condemned if he eats,+
because [he does] not [eat] out of faith. Indeed, everything that is not out of
faith is sin.+
15
We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of
those not strong,+
and not to be pleasing ourselves.+
2 Let each of us please [his]
neighbor in what is good for [his] upbuilding.+
3 For even the Christ did not
please himself;+
but just as it is written: “The reproaches of those who were reproaching you
have fallen upon me.”+
4 For all the things that were
written aforetime were written+
for our instruction,+
that through our endurance+
and through the comfort+
from the Scriptures we might have hope.*+
5 Now may the God who supplies
endurance and comfort grant
YOU
to have among
yourselves the same mental attitude+
that Christ Jesus had,
6 that with one accord+
YOU
may with one
mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore welcome one
another,+
just as the Christ also welcomed us,+
with glory to God in view.
8 For I say that Christ
actually became a minister+
of those who are circumcised+
in behalf of God’s truthfulness,+
so as to verify the promises+
He made to their forefathers,
9 and that the nations+
might glorify God for his mercy.+
Just as it is written: “That is why I will openly acknowledge you among the
nations*
and to your name I will make melody.”+
10 And again he says: “Be
glad,
YOU
nations, with his people.”+
11 And again: “Praise Jehovah,*
all
YOU
nations, and
let all the peoples praise him.”+
12 And again Isaiah says:
“There will be the root of Jesse,+
and there will be one arising to rule nations;+
on him nations will rest their hope.”+
13 May the God who gives hope
fill
YOU
with all joy and peace by
YOUR
believing,
that
YOU
may abound in
hope with power of holy spirit.+
14 Now I myself also am
persuaded about
YOU,
my brothers, that
YOU
yourselves
are also full of goodness, as
YOU
have been filled with all knowledge,+
and that
YOU
can also
admonish one another.+
15 However, I am writing
YOU
the more
outspokenly on some points, as if reminding+
YOU
again,
because of the undeserved kindness given to me from God+
16 for me to be a public
servant*
of Christ Jesus to the nations,+
engaging in the holy work of the good news+
of God, in order that the offering,+
namely, these nations, might prove to be acceptable,+
it being sanctified with holy spirit.+
17 Therefore I have cause for
exulting in Christ Jesus+
when it comes to things pertaining to God.+
18 For I will not venture to
tell one thing if it is not of those things which Christ worked through me+
for the nations to be obedient,+
by [my] word+
and deed,
19 with the power of signs and
portents,+
with the power of holy spirit;*
so that from Jerusalem and in a circuit+
as far as Illyricum I have thoroughly preached the good news about the Christ.+
20 In this way, indeed, I made
it my aim not to declare the good news where Christ had already been named, in
order that I might not be building on another man’s foundation;+
21 but, just as it is written:
“Those to whom no announcement has been made about him will see, and those who
have not heard will understand.”+
22 Therefore also I was many
times hindered from getting to
YOU.+
23 But now that I no longer
have [untouched] territory in these regions, and for some years having had a
longing to get to
YOU+
24 whenever I am on my way to
Spain,+
I hope, above all, when I am on the journey there, to get a look at
YOU
and to be
escorted+
partway there by
YOU
after I have
first in some measure been satisfied with your company.
25 But now I am about to
journey to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones.+
26 For those in Macedonia and
Achaia*+
have been pleased to share up their things by a contribution+
to the poor of the holy ones in Jerusalem.
27 True, they have been
pleased to do so, and yet they were debtors to them; for if the nations have
shared in their spiritual things,+
they also owe it to minister publicly to these with things for the fleshly body.+
28 Hence after I have finished
with this and have got this fruit+
securely to them, I shall depart by way of
YOU
for Spain.+
29 Moreover, I know that when
I do come to
YOU
I shall come
with a full measure of blessing from Christ.+
30 Now I exhort
YOU,
brothers,*
through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit,+
that
YOU
exert
yourselves with me in prayers to God for me,+
31 that I may be delivered+
from the unbelievers in Judea and that my ministry which is for Jerusalem+
may prove to be acceptable to the holy ones,+
32 so that when I get to
YOU
with joy by
God’s will I shall be refreshed+
together with
YOU.
33 May the God who gives peace
be with all of
YOU.+
Amen.
16
I
recommend*
to
YOU
Phoebe our
sister, who is a minister*+
of the congregation that is in Cenchreae,+
2 that
YOU
may welcome+
her in [the] Lord in a way worthy of the holy ones, and that
YOU
may assist
her in any matter where she may need
YOU,+
for she herself also proved to be a defender of many, yes, of me myself.
3 Give my greetings to Prisca
and Aquila+
my fellow workers+
in Christ Jesus,
4 who have risked their own
necks+
for my soul,*
to whom not only I but also all the congregations of the nations render thanks;+
5 and [greet]
the congregation that is in their house.+
Col.4:15,
1Cor.16:19
Greet my
beloved Epaenetus, who is a firstfruits+
of Asia for Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who has
performed many labors for
YOU.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junias
my relatives+
and my fellow captives,*+
who are men of note among the apostles and who have been in union+
with Christ longer than I have.
8 Give my greetings+
to Ampliatus my beloved in [the] Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus our fellow
worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.
10 Greet+
Apelles, the approved one in Christ. Greet those from the household of
Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion my relative.+
Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in [the] Lord.+
12 Greet Tryphaena and
Tryphosa, [women] who are working hard in [the] Lord. Greet Persis our beloved
one, for she performed many labors in [the] Lord.
13 Greet Rufus the chosen one
in [the] Lord, and his mother and mine.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon,
Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.
15 Greet Philologus and Julia,
Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the holy ones with them.+
16 Greet one another with a
holy kiss.+
All the congregations of the Christ greet
YOU.
17 Now I exhort
YOU,
brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions+
and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching+
that
YOU
have learned,
and avoid them.+
18 For men of that sort are
slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own bellies;+
and by smooth talk+
and complimentary speech+
they seduce the hearts of guileless ones.
19 For
YOUR
obedience has
come to the notice of all.+
I therefore rejoice over
YOU.
But I want
YOU
to be wise+
as to what is good, but innocent+
as to what is evil.+
20 For his part, the God who
gives peace+
will crush Satan+
under
YOUR
feet shortly.
May the undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus be with
YOU.+
21 Timothy my fellow worker
greets
YOU, and so do Lucius and Jason and
Sosipater my relatives.+
22 I,
Tertius, who have done the writing of this letter, greet
YOU
in [the]
Lord.
23 Gaius,+
my host and that of all the congregation, greets
YOU.
Erastus the city+
steward greets
YOU,
and so does Quartus his*
brother.
24* ——
25 Now to him+
who can make
YOU
firm in
accord with the good news I declare and*
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation*
of the sacred secret+
which has been kept in silence for long-lasting times
26 but has now been made
manifest+
and has been made known through the prophetic scriptures among all the nations
in accord with the command of the everlasting God to promote obedience by faith;+
27 to God, wise alone,+
be the glory+
through Jesus Christ+
forever.*
Amen.
