You may be certain, my brothers, that it has frequently been in my mind to come to you (but till now I was kept from it), so that I might have some fruit from you in the same way as I have had it from the other nations.

What fruit had you at that time in the things which are now a shame to you? for the end of such things is death.

But now, being free from sin, and having been made servants to God, you have your fruit in that which is holy, and the end is eternal life.

In the same way, my brothers, you were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, even to him who came again from the dead, so that we might give fruit to God.

For when we were in the flesh, the evil passions which came into being through the law were working in our bodies to give the fruit of death.

And if the first-fruit is holy, so is the mass: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

So when I have done this, and have given them this fruit of love, I will go on by you into Spain.

And say a kind word to the church which is in their house. Give my love to my dear Epaenetus, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ.