Because though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were they thankful to him; but became perverse in their reasonings, and their senseless minds were darkened;

Great, every way. In the first place, because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

For what? If some were unfaithful, shall their unfaithfulness make God unfaithful?

(as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations") in the sight of that God whom he believed, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.

For while we were yet without strength, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

For if while enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more having been reconciled shall we be saved by his life;

For as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one man will the many be made righteous.

Are ye ignorant, that all of us who were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death?

We then by this baptism into his death were buried with him; that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

But thanks be to God that, though ye were the bondmen of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching which was delivered to you;

For when ye were the slaves of sin, ye were not the bondmen of righteousness.

So then, my brethren, ye also were slain to the Law through the body of Christ, that ye might be connected with another, even with him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit to God.

For when we were in the flesh, the affections of sins, which were through the Law, were working in our members to bear fruit unto death.

But now we are delivered from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, that we might serve in the new life of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the letter.

For we were saved only in hope. But hope which is seen is not hope; how can a man hope for that which he seeth?

As it is written, "For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we were accounted as sheep for slaughter."

before the children were born, or had done any thing good or evil, to the end that Gods purpose according to election might stand, not depending on works, but on the will of him that calleth,

What Israel seeketh after, that Israel did not obtain; but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of slumber, eyes that were not to see, and ears that were not to hear, unto this day."

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Be it so. It was for their unbelief that they were broken off, and thou standest through thy faith; be not highminded, but fear.

For as ye in times past were disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,

For whatever things were written aforetime, were written for our instruction; that we through the patience and the consolation of the Scriptures might have hope.

Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.