For just as you formerly were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these,

so these also in your mercy have now been disobedient, that they themselves might be the objects of mercy.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?

For I say, through the favour which hath been given me, unto every one who is among you, - not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but so to think as to think soberly - as, unto each one, God hath dealt a measure of faith.

But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether it be prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, 'Vengeance is Mine,

Everybody must obey the civil authorities that are over him, for no authority exists except by God's permission; the existing authorities have been established by Him,

for it hath been written, 'I live! saith the Lord -- to Me bow shall every knee, and every tongue shall confess to God;'

I know and have been persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in and of itself, but it is unclean to a person who thinks it is unclean.

do not for such a thing as meat, pull down what God has been raising. all things indeed are pure; but they become evil to him who by eating giveth offence.

and he who is making a difference, if he may eat, hath been condemned, because it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is sin.

for even the Christ did not please himself, but, according as it hath been written, 'The reproaches of those reproaching Thee fell upon me;'

For as many things as have been written before have been written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers,

and the nations for kindness to glorify God, according as it hath been written, 'Because of this I will confess to Thee among nations, and to Thy name I will sing praise,'

And I am persuaded, my brethren -- I myself also -- concerning you, that ye yourselves also are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, able also one another to admonish;

But I have written to you more boldly on [some] points, so as to remind you [again] because of the grace that has been given to me by God,

that I may be the public servant of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating as a priest with respect to the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] in the power of the Spirit. So [starting] from Jerusalem and as far away as Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel [faithfully preaching the good news] of Christ [where it had not before been preached].

In this matter it has ever been my ambition to tell the good news where Christ's name had never been mentioned, so as not to build upon foundations laid by other men,

but according as it hath been written, 'To whom it was not told concerning him, they shall see; and they who have not heard, shall understand.'

For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

But now, as there are no more places for me to occupy in this part of the world, and as I have for many years been longing to come to see you,

whensoever I go unto Spain (for I hope to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first in some measure I shall have been satisfied with your company)--

because the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have been eager to share their resources with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

salute Andronicus and Junias, my kindred, and my fellow-captives, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.

Greet Apelles, who has been approved by the Messiah. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.

Remember me to Rufus, that choicest Christian, and to his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them.

Yes, your obedience has been told to everybody; so I am delighted about you, but I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is bad.

25 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the proclaiming of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,

To Him who can make you strong in accordance with the good news I bring and in accordance with the message preached about Jesus Christ, in accordance with the uncovering of the secret which for ages past had not been told,

but now has been fully brought to light by means of the prophetic Scriptures, and in accordance with the command of the eternal God has been made known to all the heathen, to win them to obedience inspired by faith --