¹⁰ “Speak to the Israelites, saying: Anyone of you or your descendants who is unclean through touching a corpse or is away on a journey shall still keep the Passover to the Lord.

⁶ that is, the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.^(A)

⁷ Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ^{(B) 9} and to make everyone see^[a] what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in^[b] God, who created all things,^(C)

¹² remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.^{(A) 13} But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.^(B)

From Death to Life

2 You were dead through the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world,^[a] following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.^[b](A)

²⁸ Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.^(A)

⁹ Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes,^[a] men who engage in illicit sex,^{[b](A) 10} thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ^[c] and in the Spirit of our God.^(B)

Final Doxology

²⁵ Now to God^[a] who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages^{(A) 26} but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith^(B)—

⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors^{(A) 9} and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

¹⁰ and again he says,

¹¹ and again,

¹² and again Isaiah says,

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

Paul’s Reason for Writing So Boldly

¹⁴ I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.^{(E) 15} Nevertheless, on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God^{(F) 16} to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.^{(G) 17} In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. ¹⁸ For I will not be so bold as to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the gentiles, by word and deed, ¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit,^[a] so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.^(H)

²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.