Judgment on Obscene Religion

“So you shall say to them, ‘This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.

but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.