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A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.

No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.

Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?

For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

…but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

…as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

…as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”

I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”

But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

…as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”

And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,

For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

On the contrary, “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.”

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me

…to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.

…but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.

Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.

For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?

Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints!

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!

Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

…you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.