Were

For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.

For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.

For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.

Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,

Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

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!

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!

Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

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

They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

…so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.

Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

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

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,

Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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

I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

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

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

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

…those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.

They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.

And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.

You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

If they were all one part, where would the body be?

You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.

…yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

…yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.

To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

…was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.

The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.

In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.

When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.

So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?

For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

…in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

…remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—