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The 9th
Chapter
I Say the truth in Christ, and lie not, in that whereof my
conscience bears me witness in the holy ghost that I have great
heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I have wished myself
to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as
pertaining to the flesh, which are the Israelites. To whom pertains
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the law that was
given, and the service of God, and the promises: whose also are the
fathers, and they of whom (as concerning the flesh) Christ came,
which is God over all things blessed for ever. Amen.
I speak not these things as though the words of God had taken
none effect. For they are not all Israelites which came of Israel:
neither are they all children straight way because they are the seed
of Abraham. But in Isaac shall your seed be called: that is to say,
they which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of
God. But the children of promise are counted the seed. For this is a
word of promise, about this time will I come, and Sara shall have a
son.
Neither was it to with her only: but also when Rebecca was with
child by one, I mean by our father Isaac, *yer the children were
born, when they had neither done good neither bad: that the purpose
of God which is by election, might stand, it was said unto her, not
by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller: the elder shall
serve the younger. As it is written: Jacob he loved, but Esau he
hated. What shall we say then? is there any unrighteousness with
God? God forbid. For he says to Moses: I will show mercy to whom I
show mercy: and will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So
lies it not then in a mans will or cunning, but in the mercy of God.
For the scripture says unto Pharaoh even for this same purpose have
I stirred you up, to show my power on you, and that my name might be
declared throughout all the world. So has he mercy on whom he will,
and whom he will, he makes hard hearted.
You will say then unto me: why then blames he us yet? For who
can resist his will? But O' man, what are you which dispute with
God? Shall the work say to the workman: why have you made me on this
fashion? Has not the potter power over the clay, even of the same
lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Even so, God willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known,
suffered with long patience the vessels of wrath, ordained to
damnation, that he might declare the riches of his glory on the
vessels of mercy, which he had prepared unto glory: that is to say,
us which he called, not of the Jewes only, but also of the gentiles.
As he says in *Osee: I will call them my people which were not my
people: and her beloved which was not beloved. And it shall come to
pass in the place where it was said unto them, you are not my
people: that there shall be called the children of the living God.
But Esaias crys concerning Israel, though the number of the
children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet shall a remnant be
saved. He finishes the work verily, and makes it short in
righteousness. For a short word will God make on earth. And as
Esaias said before: Except the Lord of Saboth had left us seed, we
had been made as *Zodoma, and had been likened to Gomorra.
What shall we say then? We say that the gentiles which followed
not righteousness have overtaken righteousness: I mean the
righteousness which comes of faith. But Israel which followed the
law of righteousness could not attain unto the law of righteousness.
And wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith: but as it were
by the works of the law. For they have stumbled at the stumbling
stone. As it is written: Behold I put in Sion a stumbling stone, and
a rock which shall make men fall. And none that believe on him,
shall be ashamed.
*yer (before) *Osee (Oseas, Hosea) *Zodoma
(Sodom) |
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The 10th
Chapter
Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is,
that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a
fervent mind to God ward, but not according to knowledge. For they
are ignorant of the righteousness which is allowed before God, and
go about to establish their own righteousness and therefore are not
obedient unto the righteousness which is of value before God. For
Christ is the end of the law, to justify all that believe.
Moses describes the righteousness which comes of the law, how
that the man which does the things of the law, shall live therein.
But the righteousness which comes of faith, speaks on this wise. Say
not in your heart who shall ascend into heaven? (that is nothing
else than to fetch Christ down). Or who shall descend into the deep?
(that is nothing else but to fetch up Christ from death). But what
says the scripture? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in
your heart.
This word is the word of faith which we preach. For if you
shall knowledge with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and shall
believe with your heart that God raised him up from death, you shall
be safe. For the belief of the heart justifies, and to knowledge
with the mouth makes a man safe. For the scripture says: whosoever
believes on him, shall not be ashamed.
There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile. For one
is Lord of all, which is rich unto all that call on him. For
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be safe. But how
shall they call on him, on whom they believed not? how shall they
believe on him of whom they have not heard? how shall they hear
without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?
As it is written: how beautiful are the feet of them which bring
glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. But
they have not all obeyed to the Gospell. For Esaias says: Lord who
shall believe our sayings? So then faith comes by hearing, and
hearing comes by the word of God. But I ask: have they not heard? No
doubt, their sound went out into all lands: and their words into the
ends of the world.
But I demand whether Israel did know or not? First Moses says:
I will provoke you for to envy, by them that are no people, and by a
foolish nation I will anger you. Esaias after that, is bold and
says, I am found of them that sought me not, and have appeared to
them that asked not after me. And against Israel he says: All day
long have I stretched forth my hands unto a people that believes
not, but speaks against me.
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The 11th
Chapter
I say then: has God cast away his people? God forbid. For even
I verily am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, and of the tribe
of Benjamin, God has not cast away his people which he knew before.
Either *wot you not what the scripture says by the mouth of *Helias,
how he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying: Lord they
have killed your Prophets and digged down your altars: and I am left
only, and they seek my life. But what says the answer of God to him
again? I have reserved unto me seven thousand men which have not
bowed the knee to Baal. Even so at this time is there a remnant left
through the election of grace. If it be of grace, then is it not of
works. For then were grace no more grace. If it be of works, then is
it no more grace. For then were deserving no longer deserving. What
then? Israel has not obtained that he sought. No but yet the
election has obtained it. The remnant are blinded, according as it
is written: God has given them the spirit of unquietness: eyes that
they should not see and ears that they should not hear even unto
this day. And David says: Let their table be made a snare to take
them with all, and an occasion to fall, and a reward unto them. Let
their eyes be blinded that they see not: and even bow down their
backs.
I say then: Have they therefore stumbled, that they should but
fall only? God forbid: but through their fall is salvation happened
unto the gentiles, for to provoke them with all. Wherefore if the
fall of them, be the riches of the world: and the minishing of them
the riches of the gentiles: How much more should it be so, if they
all believed? I speak to you gentiles, in as much as I am the
Apostle of the gentiles, I will magnify mine office, that might
provoke them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if
the casting away of them, be the reconciling of the world: what
shall the receiving of them be, but life again from death? For if
one piece be holy, the whole heap is holy. And if the root be holy,
the branches are holy also.
Though some of the branches be broken off, and you being a wild
olive tree, are graft in among them, and made partaker of the root
and fatness of the olive tree, boast not yourself against the
branches. For if you boast yourself, remember that you bear not the
root, but the root you. You will say then: the branches are broken
off, that I might be graft in. You say well: because of unbelief
they are broken off, and you stand steadfast in faith. Be not high
minded, but fear seeing that God spared not the natural branches,
least haply he also spare not you.
Behold the kindness and rigorousness of God: on them which
fell, rigorousness: but towards you, kindness, if you continue in
his kindness. Or else you shall be hewn off, and they if they bide
not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in again. For God is of
power to *graff them in again. For if you was cut out of a natural
wild olive tree, and was graffed contrary to nature in a true olive
tree: how much more shall the natural branches be graffed in their
own olive tree again?
I would not that this secret should be hid from you my brethren
(lest you should be wise in your own conceits) that partly blindness
is happened in Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles be come
in: and so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written: There shall
come out of Sion he that does deliver, and shall turn away the
ungodliness of Jacob. And this is my covenant unto them, when I
shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospell they are
enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are loved
for the fathers sakes.
For verily the gifts and calling of God are such, that it
cannot repent him of them: for look, as you in time passed have not
believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
even so now have they not believed the mercy which is happened unto
you, that they also may obtain mercy. God has wrapped all nations in
unbelief, that he might have mercy on all.
O' the deepness of the abundant wisdom and knowledge of God:
how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out.
For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who was his counsellor?
other who has given unto him first, that he might be recompensed
again? For of him, and through him, and for him are all things. To
him be glory for ever Amen.
*wot (know) *Helias (Elias) *graff
(graft) |
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The 12th
Chapter
I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercifulness of God,
that you make your bodies a quick sacrifice, holy and acceptable
unto God: which is your reasonable serving of God and fashion not
yourselves like unto this world: But be you changed in your shape,
by the renewing of your wits that you may feel what thing that good,
that acceptable, and perfect will of God is. For I say . (through
the grace that unto me given is) to every man among you, that no man
esteem of himself more than it becomes him to esteem: but that he
discreetly judge of himself, according as God has dealt to every man
the measure of faith.
As we have many members in one body, and all members have not
one office: so we being many are one body in Christ, and every man
(among ourselves) one anothers members.
Seeing that we have divers gifts according to the grace that is
given unto us: if any man have the gift of prophecy, let him have it
that it be agreeing unto the faith. Let him that has an office wait
on his office. Let him that teaches, take heed to his doctrine. Let
him that exhorts, give attendance to his exhortation. If any man
give, let him do it with singleness. Let him that rules do it with
diligence. If any man show mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.
Let love be without *dissimulation. Hate that which is evil, and
cleave unto that which is good. Be kind unto another with brotherly
love. In giving honour, go one before another. Let not that business
which you have in hand, be tedious to you. Be fervent in the spirit.
Apply your selves to the time. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in
tribulation. Continue in prayer. Distribute unto the necessity of
the saints and be ready to harbor. Bless them which persecute you:
bless but curse not. Be merry with them that are merry. Weep with
them that weep. Be of like affection one towards another. Be not
high minded: but make your selves equal to them of the lower sort.
Be not wise in your own opinions. Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide before hand things honest in the sight of all men. If
it be possible, how be it of your part, have peace with all men.
Dearly beloved avenge not your selves, but give room unto the wrath
of God. For it is written: vengeance is mine, and I will reward says
the Lord.
Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst, give
him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil: But overcome evil with goodness.
*dissimulation (disguised motives)
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The 13th
Chapter
Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are
ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists power, resists the
ordinance of God. And they that resist, shall receive to themselves
damnation. For rulers are not to be feared for good works, but for
evil. Will you be without fear of the power? Do well then: and so
shall you be praised of the same. For he is the minister of God, for
your wealth. But and if you do evil, then fear: for he bears not a
sword for nought but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on
them that do evil. Wherefore you must needs obey, not for fear of
vengeance only: but also because of conscience. And even for this
cause pay you tribute. For they are Gods ministers, serving for the
same purpose.
Give to every man therefore his duetie: Tribute to whom tribute
belongs: Custom to whom custom is due: fear to whom fear belongs:
Honour to whom honour pertains.
Owe nothing to any man: but to love one another. For he that
loves another, fulfills the law. For these commandments: You shall
not commit *advoutry: You shall not kill: You shall not steal: You
shall not bear false witness: You shall not desire and so forth (if
there be any other commandment), they are all comprehended in this
saying: Love your neighbor as your self. Love hurts not his
neighbor. Therefore is love the fulfilling of the law.
This also we know, I mean the season, how that it is time that
we should now awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer
than when we believed. The night is passed and the day is come nigh.
Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on
the (Armour) of light. Let us walk honestly as it were in the
daylight: not in eating and drinking: neither in chambering and
wantonness, neither in strife and envying: but put you on the Lord
Jesus Christ. And make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the
lusts of it.
*advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or
without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to
something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery. |
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The 14th
Chapter
Him that is weak in the faith, receive unto you, not in
disputing and troubling his conscience. One believes that he may eat
all things. Another which is weak, eats herbs. Let not him that
eats, despise him that eats not. And let not him which eats not,
judge him that eats. For God has received him. What are you that
judge another mans servant? Whether he stand or fall, that pertains
unto his master: ye, he shall stand. For God is able to make him
stand.
This man puts difference between day and day. Another man
counts all days alike. See that no man waver in his own meaning. He
that observes one day more than another, does it for the Lords
pleasure. And he that observes not one day more than another, does
it to please the lord also. He that eats, does it to please the
lord, for he gives God thanks. And he that eats not, eats not, to
please the Lord with all, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives
his own servant: neither does any of us die his own servant. If we
live, we live to be at the Lords will. And if we die we die at the
Lords will. Whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords. For
Christ therefore died and rose again, and revived that he might be
Lord both of dead and quick.
But why do you then judge your brother? Other why do you
despise your brother? We shall all be brought before the judgement
seat of Christ. For it is written: as truly as I live says the Lord,
all knees shall bow to me, and all tongues shall give a knowledge to
God. So shall every one of us give accounts of himself to God. Let
us not therefore judge one another any more.
But judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an
occasion to fall in his brothers way. For I know and am full
certified in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing common of itself:
but unto him that judges it to be common: to him it is common. If
your brother be grieved with your meat, now walk you not charitably.
Destroy not him with your meat, for whom Christ died. Cause not your
treasure to be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat
and drink: but righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost. For
whosoever in these things serves Christ pleases well God, and is
commended of men.
Let us follow those things which make for peace, and things
wherewith one may edify another. Destroy not the work of God for a
little meats sake. All things are pure: but it is evil for that man,
which eats with hurt of his conscience. It is good neither to eat
flesh, neither to drink wine, neither any thing, whereby your
brother stumbles, either falls, or is made weak. have you faith?
have it with your self before God. Happy is he that condemns not
himself in that thing which he allows. For he that makes conscience,
is damned if he eat: because he does it not of faith. For whatsoever
is not of faith, that same is sin.
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The 15th
Chapter
We which are strong, ought to bear the frailness of them which
are weak, and not to stand in our own conceits. Let every man please
his neighbor unto his wealth and edifying. For Christ pleased not
himself: but as it is written. The rebukes of them which rebuked
you, fell on me. Whatsoever things are written before time, are
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of
the scripture, might have hope.
The God of patience and consolation, give unto every one of
you, that you be like minded one towards another after the example
of Christ *Jesu: that you all agreeing together, may with one mouth
praise God the father of our Lord Jesus. Wherefore receive you one
another as Christ received us, to the praise of God. And I say that
Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of
God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. And let the
gentiles praise God for his mercy, as it is written: For this cause
I will praise you among the gentiles, and sing in your name. And
again he says: rejoice you gentiles with his people. And again,
praise the Lord all you gentiles, and laud him all nations. And in
another place Esaias says: there shall be the root of Jesse, and he
that shall rise to reign over the gentiles: in him shall the
gentiles trust. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing: that you may be rich in hope through the power of the
holy ghost.
I myself am full certified of you my brethren, that you
yourselves are full of goodness and filled with all knowledge, and
are able to exhort one another. Nevertheless brethren I have
somewhat boldly written unto you, as one that puts you in
remembrance, through the grace that is given me of God, that I
should be the minister of *Jesu Christ among the Gentiles, and
should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be
an acceptable offering sanctified by the holy ghost. I have
therefore whereof I may rejoice in Christ *Jesu, in those things
which pertain to God. For I dare not speak of any of those things
which Christ has not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient,
with word and deed, in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the
spirit of God: so that from Jerusalem and the coast round about unto
Illyricum, I have filled all countries with glad tidings of Christ.
So have I enforced myself to preach the Gospell, not where
Christ was named, least I should have built on another mans
foundation: but as it is written: To whom he was not spoken of, they
shall see: and they that heard not, shall understand. For this cause
I have been often let to come unto you: but now seeing I have no
more to do in these countries, and also have been desirous many
years to come unto you, when I shall take my journey into *spaine, I
will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be
brought on my way towards over there by you, after that I have
somewhat enjoyed you.
Now go I unto Jerusalem, and minister unto the saints. For it
has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain
distribution upon the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It has
pleased them verily, and their debtors are they. For if the Gentiles
be made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is to
minister unto them in carnal things. When I have performed this, and
have brought them this fruit sealed. I will come back again by you
into Spaine. And I am sure when I come, that I shall come with
abundance of the blessing of the Gospell of Christ. I beseech you
brethren for our Lord Jesus Christs sake, and for the love of the
spirit, that you help me in my business with your prayers to God for
me, that I may be delivered from them which believe not in Jewry and
that this my service, which I have to Jerusalem, may be accepted of
the saints, that I may come unto you with joy, by the will of God,
and may with you be refreshed. The God of peace be with you. Amen.
.*Jesu: Jesus
from the Hebrew. *spaine (Spain),
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The 16th
Chapter
I commend unto you Phebe our sister (which is a minister of the
congregation of Cenchrea) that you receive her in the Lord as it
becomes saints, and that you assist her in what soever business she
needs of your aid. For she has succoured many, and mine own self.
Greet Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ *Jesu, which have for
my life laid down their own necks. Unto which not I only give
thanks, but also the congregation of the Gentiles. Likewise greet
the congregation that is in their house. Salute my well beloved
Epenetes, which is the first fruit among them of Achaia. Greet Mary
which bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus and Junia my
cousins, which were prisoners with me also, which are well taken
among the Apostles, and were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias my
beloved in the Lord. Salute Urban our helper in Christ, and Stachys
my beloved. Salute Apells approved in Christ. Salute them which are
of Aristobolus household. Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them of
the household of Narcissus which are in the Lord. Salute Tryphena
and Tryphosa, which women did labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved
Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. Salute Rufus chosen in the
Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asineritus, Phlegon, Herman,
Patrobas, Hermen, and the brethren which are with them. Salute
Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olimpha, and all
the saints which are with them. Salute one another with an holy
kiss. The congregations of Christ salute you.
I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause division and give
occasions of evil, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned:
and avoid them. For they that are such, serve not the Lord Jesus
Christ: but their own bellies, and with sweet preachings and
flattering word deceive the hearts of the innocents. For your
obedience extends to all men. I am glad no doubt of you. But yet I
would have you wise unto that which is good, and to be innocent as
concerning
evil. The God of peace tread Satan under your feet shortly. The
grace of our Lord Jesu Christ be with you.
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius and Jason and Sopater my
kinsmen, salute you, I Tertius salute you, which wrote this epistle
in the Lord. Gaius mine host and the host of all the congregations,
salutes you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you. And
Quartus a brother salutes you. The grace of our Lord *Jesu Christ be
with you all. Amen.
To him that is of power to establish you according to my
gospell and preaching of Jesus Christ in uttering of the mystery
which was kept secret since the world began, but now is opened by
the scriptures of prophecy, at the commandment of the everlasting
God, to stir up obedience to the faith, published among all nations:
To the same God, which alone is wise, be praise through Jesus Christ
for ever. Amen.*Jesu: Jesus from the Hebrew
To the Romans. Sent from Corinth by
Phebe, she that was the minister unto the
congregation at Cenchrea.
*Jesu: Jesus from the Hebrew. |
Chapters 1-8 |
9-end
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