Believers United to Christ

7 Or do you not know, ^(A)brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the ^[a]Law), that the ^[b]Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? ² For ^(B)the married woman is bound by law to her ^[c]husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law ^[d]concerning the husband. ³ So then, if while her husband is alive she ^[e]gives herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she ^[f]gives herself to another man.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were ^(C)put to death ^(D)in regard to the Law ^(E)through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were ^(F)in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were ^(G)brought to light by the Law, were at work ^(H)in ^[g]the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we have been ^(I)released from the Law, having ^(J)died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in ^(K)newness of ^(L)the ^[h]Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

^7 (M)What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? ^(N)[i]Far from it! On the contrary, ^(O)I would not have come to know sin except ^[j]through the Law; for I would not have known about ^[k]coveting if the Law had not said, “^(P)You shall not ^[l]covet.” ⁸ But sin, ^(Q)taking an opportunity ^(R)through the commandment, produced in me ^[m]coveting of every kind; for ^(S)apart ^[n]from the Law sin is dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart ^[o]from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; ¹⁰ and this commandment, which was ^[p](T)to result in life, proved ^[q]to result in death for me; ¹¹ for sin, ^(U)taking an opportunity ^(V)through the commandment, ^(W)deceived me, and through it, killed me. ^12 (X)So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? ^[r](Y)Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

The Conflict of Serving Two Masters

¹⁴ For we know that the Law is ^(Z)spiritual, but I am ^(AA)fleshly, ^(AB)sold ^[s](AC)into bondage to sin. ¹⁵ For ^(AD)I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing ^(AE)what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with ^(AF)the Law, that the Law is good. ¹⁷ But now, ^(AG)no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my ^(AH)flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For ^(AI)the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. ²⁰ But if I do the very thing I do not want, ^(AJ)I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then ^(AK)the ^[t]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully agree with the law of God ^[u]in ^(AL)the inner person, ²³ but I see ^(AM)a different law in ^[v]the parts of my body waging war against the ^(AN)law of my mind, and making me a prisoner ^[w]of ^(AO)the law of sin, the law which is in ^[x]my body’s parts. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from ^[y](AP)the body of this ^(AQ)death? ^25 (AR)Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh ^(AS)the law of sin.

Deliverance from Bondage

8 Therefore there is now no ^(AT)condemnation at all for those who are ^(AU)in ^(AV)Christ Jesus. ² For ^(AW)the law of the Spirit of life ^[z]in ^(AX)Christ Jesus ^(AY)has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³ For ^(AZ)what the Law could not do, ^[aa](BA)weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in ^(BB)the likeness of ^[ab]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ so that the ^(BC)requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who ^(BD)do not walk ^[ac]according to the flesh but ^[ad]according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on ^(BE)the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, ^(BF)the things of the Spirit. ^6 (BG)For the mind ^[ae]set on the flesh is ^(BH)death, but the mind ^[af]set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the mind ^[ag]set on the flesh is ^(BI)hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸ and those who are ^(BJ)in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ However, you are not ^(BK)in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God ^(BL)dwells in you. But ^(BM)if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. ^10 (BN)If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is ^[ah]alive because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who ^(BO)raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ^(BP)He who raised ^(BQ)Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ^[ai]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for ^(BR)if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are ^(BS)putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are ^(BT)being led by the Spirit of God, these are ^(BU)sons and daughters of God. ¹⁵ For you ^(BV)have not received a spirit of slavery ^[aj]leading to fear again, but you ^(BW)have received ^[ak]a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “^(BX)Abba! ^[al]Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself ^(BY)testifies with our spirit that we are ^(BZ)children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, ^(CA)heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^(CB)if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(CC)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(CD)glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the ^(CE)eagerly awaiting creation waits for ^(CF)the revealing of the ^(CG)sons and daughters of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(CH)was subjected to ^(CI)futility, not willingly, but ^(CJ)because of Him who subjected it, ^[am]in hope ²¹ that ^(CK)the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation ^(CL)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ^23 (CM)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having ^(CN)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(CO)groan within ourselves, ^(CP)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, ^(CQ)the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For ^(CR)in hope we have been saved, but ^(CS)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But ^(CT)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Our Victory in Christ

²⁶ Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for ^(CU)we do not know what to pray for as we should, but ^(CV)the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with ^[an]groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and ^(CW)He who searches the hearts knows what ^(CX)the mind of the Spirit is, because He ^(CY)intercedes for the ^[ao]saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that ^[ap]God ^[aq]causes ^(CZ)all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are ^(DA)called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He ^(DB)foreknew, He also ^(DC)predestined to become ^(DD)conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the ^(DE)firstborn among many brothers and sisters; ³⁰ and these whom He ^(DF)predestined, He also ^(DG)called; and these whom He called, He also ^(DH)justified; and these whom He justified, He also ^(DI)glorified.

^31 (DJ)What then shall we say to these things? ^(DK)If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who ^(DL)did not spare His own Son, but ^(DM)delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ³³ Who will bring charges against ^(DN)God’s elect? ^(DO)God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who ^(DP)condemns? Christ Jesus is He who ^(DQ)died, but rather, was ^[ar](DR)raised, who is ^(DS)at the right hand of God, who also ^(DT)intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from ^(DU)the love of ^[as]Christ? Will ^(DV)tribulation, or trouble, or ^(DW)persecution, or ^(DX)famine, or ^(DY)nakedness, or ^(DZ)danger, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written:

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly ^(EB)conquer through ^(EC)Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither ^(ED)death, nor life, nor ^(EE)angels, nor principalities, nor ^(EF)things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from ^(EG)the love of God that is ^(EH)in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deep Concern for Israel

9 ^(EI)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. ³ For ^(EJ)I could ^[at]wish that I myself were ^(EK)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen ^(EL)according to the flesh, ⁴ who are ^(EM)Israelites, to whom belongs ^(EN)the adoption as sons and daughters, ^(EO)the glory, ^(EP)the covenants, ^(EQ)the giving of the Law, ^(ER)the temple service, and ^(ES)the promises; ⁵ whose are ^(ET)the fathers, and ^(EU)from whom is the ^[au]Christ according to the flesh, ^(EV)who is over all, ^(EW)God ^(EX)blessed ^[av]forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though ^(EY)the word of God has failed. ^(EZ)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children ^(FA)because they are Abraham’s ^[aw](FB)descendants, but: “^[ax](FC)through Isaac your ^[ay]descendants shall be named.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh ^[az]who are ^(FD)children of God, but the ^(FE)children of the promise are regarded as ^[ba](FF)descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “^(FG)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” ^10 (FH)And not only that, but there was also ^(FI)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that ^(FJ)God’s purpose according to His choice would ^[bb]stand, not ^[bc]because of works but ^[bd]because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “^(FK)The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ Just as it is written: “^(FL)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

^14 (FM)What shall we say then? ^(FN)There is no injustice with God, is there? ^[be](FO)Far from it! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “^(FP)I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” ¹⁶ So then, it does not depend on the person who ^[bf]wants it nor the one who ^[bg](FQ)runs, but on ^(FR)God who has mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “^(FS)For this very reason I raised you up, in order to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed ^[bh]throughout the earth.” ¹⁸ So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He ^(FT)hardens whom He desires.

^19 (FU)You will say to me then, “^(FV)Why does He still find fault? For ^(FW)who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, ^[bi](FX)you foolish person, who ^(FY)answers back to God? ^(FZ)The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? ²¹ Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object ^[bj]for honorable use, and another ^[bk]for common use? ^22 [bl]What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great ^(GA)patience objects of wrath ^(GB)prepared for destruction? ²³ And He did so to make known ^(GC)the riches of His glory upon ^(GD)objects of mercy, which He ^(GE)prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ namely us, whom He also ^(GF)called, ^(GG)not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, ²⁵ as He also says in Hosea:

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “^(GK)Though the number of the sons of Israel may be ^(GL)like the sand of the sea, only ^(GM)the remnant will be saved; ^28 (GN)for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, ^[bm]thoroughly and ^[bn]quickly.” ²⁹ And just as Isaiah foretold:

^30 (GS)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but ^(GT)the righteousness that is ^[br]by faith; ³¹ however, Israel, ^(GU)pursuing a law of righteousness, did not ^(GV)arrive at that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it ^[bs]by faith, but as though they could ^[bt]by works. They stumbled over ^(GW)the stumbling stone, ³³ just as it is written:

The Word of Faith Brings Salvation

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. ² For I testify about them that they have ^(HB)a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. ³ For not knowing about ^(HC)God’s righteousness and ^(HD)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For ^(HE)Christ is the ^[bv]end of the Law for righteousness to ^(HF)everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses writes of the righteousness that is ^[bw]based on the Law, that the person who performs ^[bx]them ^(HG)will live by ^[by]them. ⁶ But ^(HH)the righteousness ^[bz]based on faith speaks as follows: “^(HI)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), ⁷ or ‘Who will descend into the ^(HJ)abyss?’ (that is, to ^(HK)bring Christ up from the dead).” ⁸ But what does it say? “^(HL)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ^9 [ca]that ^(HM)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and ^(HN)believe in your heart that ^(HO)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, ^[cb]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, ^[cc]resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “^(HP)Whoever believes in Him will not be ^[cd]put to shame.” ¹² For ^(HQ)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is ^(HR)Lord of ^(HS)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; ¹³ for “^(HT)Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him ^(HU)whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without ^(HV)a preacher? ¹⁵ But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “^(HW)How beautiful are the feet of those who ^[ce](HX)bring good news of good things!”

¹⁶ However, they ^(HY)did not all heed the ^[cf]good news; for Isaiah says, “^(HZ)Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from ^(IA)hearing, and hearing by ^(IB)the word ^[cg]of Christ.

¹⁸ But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary:

¹⁹ But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah is very bold and says,

²¹ But as for Israel, He says, “^(IG)I have spread out My hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Israel Has Not Been Rejected

11 I say then, God has not ^(IH)rejected His people, has He? ^[ci](II)Far from it! For ^(IJ)I too am an Israelite, ^[cj]a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God ^(IK)has not rejected His people whom He ^(IL)foreknew. ^(IM)Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? ³ “Lord, ^(IN)they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” ⁴ But what ^[ck]is the divine response to him? “^(IO)I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time ^(IP)a remnant according to God’s ^[cl]gracious choice. ⁶ But ^(IQ)if it is by grace, it is no longer ^[cm]on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.

⁷ What then? What ^(IR)Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but ^[cn]those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were ^(IS)hardened; ⁸ just as it is written:

⁹ And David says,

^11 (IW)I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? ^[co](IX)Far from it! But by their wrongdoing ^(IY)salvation has come to the Gentiles, to ^(IZ)make them jealous. ¹² Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their ^[cp](JA)fulfillment be! ¹³ But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as ^(JB)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴ if somehow I may ^(JC)move ^(JD)my ^[cq]own people to jealousy and ^(JE)save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection proves to be the ^(JF)reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but ^(JG)life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the ^(JH)first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.

¹⁷ But if some of the ^(JI)branches were broken off, and ^(JJ)you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the ^[cr]rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that ^(JK)it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. ^19 (JL)You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you ^(JM)stand by your faith. ^(JN)Do not be conceited, but fear; ²¹ for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. ²² See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s ^(JO)kindness, ^(JP)if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too ^(JQ)will be cut off. ²³ And they also, ^(JR)if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ For ^(JS)I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this ^(JT)mystery—so that you will not be ^(JU)wise in your own estimation—that a partial ^(JV)hardening has happened to Israel until the ^(JW)fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written:

²⁸ In relation to the gospel they are ^(KA)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved ^(KB)on account of the fathers; ²⁹ for the gifts and the ^(KC)calling of God ^(KD)are irrevocable. ³⁰ For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. ³² For ^(KE)God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.

³³ Oh, the depth of ^(KF)the riches, ^[ct]both of the ^(KG)wisdom and knowledge of God! ^(KH)How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! ³⁴ For ^(KI)who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? ³⁵ Or ^(KJ)who has first given to Him, ^[cu]that it would be paid back to him? ³⁶ For ^(KK)from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. ^(KL)To Him be the glory ^[cv]forever. Amen.

Dedicated Service

12 Therefore ^(KM)I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to ^(KN)present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, ^[cw]acceptable to God, which is your ^[cx]spiritual service of worship. ² And do not ^(KO)be conformed to ^(KP)this ^[cy]world, but be transformed by the ^(KQ)renewing of your mind, so that you may ^[cz](KR)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and ^[da]acceptable and perfect.

³ For through ^(KS)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you ^(KT)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to ^(KU)each a measure of faith. ⁴ For ^(KV)just as we have many parts in one body and all ^[db]the body’s parts do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, ^(KW)who are many, are ^(KX)one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. ⁶ However, since we have gifts that ^(KY)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if ^(KZ)prophecy, ^[dc]in proportion to one’s faith; ⁷ if ^[dd](LA)service, in the act of serving; or the one who ^(LB)teaches, in the act of teaching; ⁸ or the one who ^[de](LC)exhorts, in the work of ^[df]exhortation; the one who gives, with ^[dg](LD)generosity; ^(LE)the one who ^[dh]is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with ^(LF)cheerfulness.

^9 [di](LG)Love must be free of hypocrisy. ^(LH)Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be ^(LI)devoted to one another in brotherly love; ^[dj]give preference to one another ^(LJ)in honor, ¹¹ not lagging behind in diligence, ^(LK)fervent in spirit, ^(LL)serving the Lord; ^12 (LM)rejoicing in hope, ^(LN)persevering in tribulation, ^(LO)devoted to prayer, ^13 (LP)contributing to the needs of the ^[dk]saints, ^[dl](LQ)practicing hospitality.

^14 (LR)Bless those who persecute ^[dm]you; bless and do not curse. ^15 (LS)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ^16 (LT)Be of the same mind toward one another; ^(LU)do not be ^[dn]haughty in mind, but ^[do]associate with the lowly. ^(LV)Do not be wise in your own estimation. ^17 (LW)Never repay evil for evil to anyone. ^[dp](LX)Respect what is right in the sight of all people. ¹⁸ If possible, ^(LY)so far as it depends on you, ^(LZ)be at peace with all people. ^19 (MA)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but ^[dq]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “^(MB)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “^(MC)But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be Subject to Government

13 Every ^[dr](MD)person is to be ^(ME)subject to the governing authorities. For ^(MF)there is no authority except ^[ds]from God, and those which exist are established by God. ² Therefore ^[dt]whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. ³ For ^(MG)rulers are not a cause of fear for ^[du]good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; ⁴ for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an ^(MH)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also ^(MI)for the sake of conscience. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. ^7 (MJ)Pay to all what is due them: ^(MK)tax to whom tax is due; ^(ML)custom to whom custom; ^[dv]respect to whom ^[dw]respect; honor to whom honor.

⁸ Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for ^(MM)the one who loves ^[dx]his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. ⁹ For this, “^(MN)You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “^(MO)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love ^[dy]does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore ^(MP)love is the fulfillment of the Law.

¹¹ Do this, knowing the time, that it is ^(MQ)already the hour for you to ^(MR)awaken from sleep; for now ^[dz]salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. ^12 (MS)The night is almost gone, and ^(MT)the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of ^(MU)the deeds of darkness and put on ^(MV)the armor of light. ¹³ Let’s ^[ea](MW)behave properly as in the day, ^(MX)not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴ But ^(MY)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh ^(MZ)in regard to its lusts.

Principles of Conscience

14 Now ^(NA)accept the one who is ^(NB)weak ^[eb]in faith, but not ^[ec]to have quarrels over opinions. ^2 (NC)One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is ^(ND)weak eats only vegetables. ³ The one who eats is not to ^(NE)regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to ^(NF)judge the one who eats, for God has ^(NG)accepted him. ^4 (NH)Who are you to judge the ^[ed]servant of another? To his own ^[ee]master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

^5 (NI)One person ^[ef]values one day over another, another ^[eg]values every day the same. Each person must be ^(NJ)fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, ^[eh]does so with regard to the Lord, for he ^(NK)gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God. ⁷ For not one of us ^(NL)lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; ⁸ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore ^(NM)whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ For to this end ^(NN)Christ died and lived again, that He might be ^(NO)Lord both of the dead and of the living.

¹⁰ But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you ^(NP)regard your brother or sister with contempt? For ^(NQ)we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ For it is written:

¹² So then ^(NT)each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

¹³ Therefore let’s not ^(NU)judge one another anymore, but rather ^[ej]determine this: ^(NV)not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way. ¹⁴ I know and am convinced ^[ek]in the Lord Jesus that ^(NW)nothing is ^[el]unclean in itself; but to the one who ^(NX)thinks something is ^[em]unclean, to that person it is ^[en]unclean. ¹⁵ For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer ^(NY)walking in accordance with love. ^(NZ)Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore ^(OA)do not let what is for you a good thing be ^[eo]spoken of as evil; ¹⁷ for the kingdom of God ^(OB)is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and ^(OC)peace and ^(OD)joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For the one who ^(OE)serves Christ in this way is ^(OF)acceptable to God and approved by other people. ¹⁹ So then we ^(OG)pursue the things ^[ep]which make for peace and the ^(OH)building up of one another. ^20 (OI)Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. ^(OJ)All things indeed are clean, but ^(OK)they are evil for the person who eats ^[eq]and causes offense. ^21 (OL)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. ²² The faith which you have, have ^[er]as your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who ^(OM)does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³ But ^(ON)the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Self-denial in behalf of Others

15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of ^(OO)those without strength, and not just please ourselves. ² Each of us is to ^(OP)please his neighbor ^[es]for his good, to his ^(OQ)edification. ³ For even ^(OR)Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “^(OS)The taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on Me.” ⁴ For ^(OT)whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ Now may the ^(OU)God ^[et]who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you ^(OV)to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that with one purpose and one ^[eu]voice you may glorify ^(OW)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ Therefore, ^[ev](OX)accept one another, just as Christ also accepted ^[ew]us, for the glory of God. ⁸ For I say that Christ has become a servant to ^(OY)the circumcision in behalf of the truth of God, to confirm ^(OZ)the promises given to the fathers, ⁹ and for ^(PA)the Gentiles to ^(PB)glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:

¹⁰ Again he says,

¹¹ And again,

¹² Again Isaiah says,

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all ^(PI)joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope ^(PJ)by the power of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ And concerning you, my brothers and sisters, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of ^(PK)goodness, filled with ^(PL)all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. ¹⁵ But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of ^(PM)the grace that was given to me ^[ey]from God, ¹⁶ to be ^(PN)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the ^(PO)gospel of God, so that my ^(PP)offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found ^(PQ)reason for boasting in ^(PR)things pertaining to God. ^18 (PS)For I will not presume to speak of anything ^[ez]except what ^(PT)Christ has accomplished through me, ^[fa]resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, ¹⁹ in the power of ^[fb](PU)signs and wonders, ^(PV)in the power of the Spirit; so that ^(PW)from Jerusalem and all around as ^(PX)far as Illyricum I have ^[fc]fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And in this way I aspired to ^(PY)preach the gospel, not where Christ was already known by name, ^(PZ)so that I would not build on another person’s foundation; ²¹ but just as it is written:

²² For this reason ^(QB)I have often been prevented from coming to you; ²³ but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I ^(QC)have had for many years a longing to come to you ²⁴ whenever I ^(QD)go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be ^(QE)helped on my way there by you, when I have first ^(QF)enjoyed your company ^[fd]for a while— ²⁵ but now, ^(QG)I am going to Jerusalem, ^(QH)serving the ^[fe]saints. ²⁶ For ^(QI)Macedonia and ^(QJ)Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the ^[ff]saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷ For they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For ^(QK)if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have finished this, and ^(QL)have ^[fg]put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will ^(QM)go on by way of you to Spain. ²⁹ I know that when ^(QN)I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by ^(QO)the love of the Spirit, to ^(QP)strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, ³¹ that I may be ^(QQ)rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my ^(QR)service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the ^[fh](QS)saints; ³² so that ^(QT)I may come to you in joy by ^(QU)the will of God and relax in your company. ³³ Now ^(QV)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Greetings and Love Expressed

16 I ^(QW)recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a ^[fi]servant of the church which is at ^(QX)Cenchrea, ² that you ^(QY)receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the ^[fj](QZ)saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, ^[fk]and of myself as well.

³ Greet ^(RA)Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers ^(RB)in ^(RC)Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; ⁵ also greet ^(RD)the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the ^(RE)first convert to Christ from ^[fl](RF)Asia. ⁶ Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and ^[fm]Junia, my ^(RG)kinsfolk and my ^(RH)fellow prisoners, who are outstanding in the view of the apostles, who also ^[fn]were ^(RI)in Christ before me. ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker ^(RJ)in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, the approved ^(RK)in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my ^(RL)kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. ¹² Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³ Greet ^(RM)Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all ^(RN)the ^[fo]saints who are with them. ^16 (RO)Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and ^[fp]hindrances ^(RP)contrary to the teaching which you learned, and ^(RQ)turn away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are ^(RR)slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of ^(RS)their own ^[fq]appetites; and by their ^(RT)smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. ¹⁹ For the report of your obedience ^(RU)has reached everyone; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but ^(RV)I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. ^20 (RW)The God of peace will soon crush ^(RX)Satan under your feet.

^(RY)The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

^21 (RZ)Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and so do ^(SA)Lucius, ^(SB)Jason, and ^(SC)Sosipater, my ^(SD)kinsmen.

²² I, Tertius, who have ^(SE)written this letter, greet you in the Lord.

^23 (SF)Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. ^(SG)Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus, the brother.^[fr]

^25 (SH)Now to Him who is able to establish you ^(SI)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of ^(SJ)the mystery which has been kept secret for ^(SK)long ages past, ²⁶ but now has been disclosed, and through ^(SL)the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to ^(SM)obedience of faith; ²⁷ to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, ^(SN)be the glory forever. Amen.

Appeal to Unity

1 Paul, ^(A)called as an apostle of Jesus Christ ^[a]by ^(B)the will of God, and our ^(C)brother ^(D)Sosthenes,

² To ^(E)the church of God which is in ^(F)Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, ^[b]saints ^(G)by calling, with all who in every place ^(H)call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

^3 (I)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^4 (J)I thank ^[c]my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in everything you were ^(K)enriched in Him, in all ^(L)speech and ^(M)all knowledge, ⁶ just as ^(N)the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed ^[d]in you, ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly ^(O)await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^8 (P)who will also ^[e]confirm you to the end, blameless on ^(Q)the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^9 (R)God is faithful, through whom you were ^(S)called into ^(T)fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁰ Now ^(U)I urge you, ^(V)brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all ^[f]agree and that there be no ^[g](W)divisions among you, but that you be ^[h]made complete in ^(X)the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. ¹² Now I mean this, that ^(Y)each one of you is saying, “I am ^[i]with Paul,” ^[j]or “I am ^[k]with ^(Z)Apollos,” ^[l]or “I am ^[m]with ^[n](AA)Cephas,” ^[o]or “I am ^[p]with Christ.” ^13 [q]Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you ^(AB)baptized ^[r]in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I am thankful that I ^(AC)baptized none of you except ^(AD)Crispus and ^(AE)Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one would say you were baptized ^[s]in my name! ¹⁶ But I did baptize the ^(AF)household of Stephanas also; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else. ^17 (AG)For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, ^(AH)not with ^[t]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.

The Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(AI)foolishness to ^(AJ)those who ^[u]are perishing, but to us who ^[v]are being saved it is ^(AK)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

^20 (AM)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of ^(AN)this age? Has God not ^(AO)made foolish the wisdom of ^(AP)the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God ^(AQ)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, ^(AR)God ^[w]was pleased through the ^(AS)foolishness of the ^[x]message preached to ^(AT)save those who believe. ²² For indeed ^(AU)Jews ask for ^[y]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³ but we preach ^[z](AV)Christ crucified, ^(AW)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles ^(AX)foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are ^(AY)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(AZ)the power of God and ^(BA)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the ^(BB)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and ^(BC)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

²⁶ For ^[aa]consider your ^(BD)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were ^(BE)not many wise according to ^[ab]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but ^(BF)God has chosen the foolish things of ^(BG)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of ^(BH)the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the ^[ac]insignificant things of ^(BI)the world and the despised God has chosen, ^(BJ)the things that are not, so that He may ^(BK)nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that ^(BL)no ^[ad]human may boast before God. ³⁰ But it is ^[ae]due to Him that you are in ^(BM)Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(BN)wisdom from God, ^[af]and ^(BO)righteousness and ^(BP)sanctification, and ^(BQ)redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written: “^(BR)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I ^(BS)did not come as someone superior in ^[ag]speaking ability or ^[ah]wisdom, as I proclaimed to you ^(BT)the ^[ai]testimony of God. ² For I determined to know nothing among you except ^(BU)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³ I also was with you in ^(BV)weakness and ^(BW)fear, and in great trembling, ⁴ and my ^[aj]message and my preaching were ^(BX)not in persuasive words of ^[ak]wisdom, but in demonstration of ^(BY)the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith would not ^[al]rest on the ^[am]wisdom of mankind, but on ^(BZ)the power of God.

⁶ Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are ^(CA)mature; a wisdom, however, not of ^(CB)this age nor of the rulers of ^(CC)this age, who are ^(CD)passing away; ⁷ but we speak God’s wisdom in a ^(CE)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^(CF)predestined before the ^(CG)ages to our glory; ⁸ the wisdom ^(CH)which none of the rulers of ^(CI)this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified ^(CJ)the Lord of glory; ⁹ but just as it is written:

^10 [an](CL)For to us God revealed them ^(CM)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the ^(CN)depths of God. ¹¹ For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the ^(CO)spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we ^(CP)have not received the spirit of ^(CQ)the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. ¹³ We also speak these things, ^(CR)not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, ^[ao]combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

¹⁴ But ^[ap]a ^(CS)natural person ^(CT)does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ^(CU)foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But the one who is ^(CV)spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is ^[aq]discerned by no one. ¹⁶ For ^(CW)who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But ^(CX)we have the mind of Christ.