⁸ And,

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

²³ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

²² In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction.

⁷ Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.^[a] But for those who reject him,

⁴ I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

³ In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

⁹ For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

¹⁶ To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

³² Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law^[a] instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. ³³ God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,