so that they are inexcusable; because having thus known God they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful; but were infatuated by their own reasonings, and their heart being void of understanding was darkened.

And as they were not careful to acknowledge God, God gave them up to an undiscerning mind to do things that were not fit to be done:

Much, every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

for if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something to boast of; but this he hath not before God:

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

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

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

For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his life.

For as by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners; so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.

Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death?

But thanks be to God, that ye who were servants of sin, have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you:

For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions while we were under the law operated in our bodies so as to bring forth fruit unto death.

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead by which we were bound, that we might serve God in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

For we know that the whole world groaneth, and doth as it were travail in pain together even to this day.

for I could wish that I myself were made a curse after the manner of Christ, for my brethren, my kindred according to the flesh;

(when the children were not yet born, nor had done either good or evil, that the purpose of God according to his choice might abide, not on account of works, but of Him that calleth,) it was said to her, the elder shall serve the younger:

As He saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, who were not my people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought: but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded,

But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches:

Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in?

Well; they were broken off for their infidelity, and thou standest by faith: therefore be not high-minded but fear.

For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive, which was natural to thee, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive; how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

For as ye were heretofore disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy in their disobedience:

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

Salute Andronicus and Junias my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are men of note among the apostles, and who were in Christ before me.