But what I am doing, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion from those desiring occasion, that wherein they glory they may be found even as we.

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they Abraham's seed? so am I.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as beside myself) I am more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often;

lest, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of those who have heretofore sinned, and repented not of the uncleanness, and fornication and lasciviousness which they practiced.

but they were only hearing, "He who was once persecuting us now proclaims the faith which once he was destroying."

And they were glorifying God in me.

and that was because of the false brethren secretly introduced, who, indeed, crept in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

But from those reputed to be something (whatever they were, it matters not to me: God does not accept man's person): to me, in fact, those of repute added nothing;

And, perceiving the grace which was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas right-hands of fellowship, that we should go to the gentiles, and they to the circumcision;

only they desired that we should remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do.

for, before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the gentiles; but, when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision.

But, when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in presence of them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as do the gentiles, and not as the Jews, how do you compel the gentiles to live as do the Jews?"

They are zealously seeking you, not nobly; they are wishing to shut you out, that ye may zealously seek them.

As many as wish to make a fair show in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

For neither do those themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but they wish you to be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

For many are walking, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

that their hearts may he comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, even Christ,

Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they be disheartened.

together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is from among you; they will make known to you all things here.

for they themselves report, concerning us, what manner of entrance we had to you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

For ye, brethren, became imitators of the assemblies of God, that are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; because ye suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they also did from the Jews;

forbidding us to speak to the gentiles, that they might be saved, for the filling up of their sins always; and the wrath came upon them to the uttermost.

When they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in nowise escape.

and in all deceit of unrighteousness to those who perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And, for this cause, God sendeth them a working of delusion, that they may believe the lie;

that they all may be judged, who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they eat their own bread.

wishing to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.

of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered up to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

But she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they abide in faith, and love, and holiness, with sobriety.

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

But younger widows refuse; for, when they grow wanton against Christ, they wish to marry,

having condemnation, because they set aside their first faith.

And, at the same time, they learn to be idle, going around from house to house, and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Some men's sins are openly manifest, going before to judgment; and some men also they follow after.

And let those having believing masters not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the more, because they are faithful and beloved, who are partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

that they do good, that they be rich in good works, free to impart, liberal;

treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold on that which is really life.

Therefore, I suffer all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Of these things put them in remembrance, solemnly charging them before God, that they engage not in word-battles to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

But shun the profane babblings, for they will proceed to more ungodliness;

But the foolish and ignorant questionings reject, knowing that they beget strifes;

and they may return to soberness out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him in accordance with his will.

But they will proceed no further; for their folly will be fully manifest to all, as theirs also became.

For there will be a time when they will not endure the healthful teaching; but, having itching ears, they will for themselves heap up teachers according to their own desires;

whom it is needful to reduce to silence: who, indeed, are overthrowing whole houses, teaching what they ought not, for the sake of base gain.

This testimony is true. For which cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

They profess to know God; but by their works they deny Him; being abominable, and disobedient, and for every good work worthless.

that they may train the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children,

not keeping back anything, but showing forth all good faith; that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God in all things.

But shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strife, and contentions about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary wants, that they may not be unfruitful.

having become by so much superior to the angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name than they.

They shall perish, but Thou continuest; and they will all become old as does a garment;

and as a mantle Thou wilt roll them up, as a garment also they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail."

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth for service, for the sake of those about to inherit salvation?

Wherefore, I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They do always err in their heart, and they did not know My ways;

as I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter into My rest.'"

And to whom did He swear, that they should not enter into His rest, but to those who were disbelieving?

And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

For, indeed, we have had the Gospel proclaimed to us, even as also they; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not having been mingled with faith on the part of those who heard.

For we who believed do enter into rest, even as He said, "As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter into My rest; although the works were finished from the founding of a world."

and, in this place, again: "They shall not enter into My rest."

and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh, and putting Him to open shame.

(for they, indeed, have been made priests without an oath; but He with an oath through Him Who said to Him, "The Lord swore, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever");

And they, indeed, have been made priests many in number, because by death they are hindered from continuing;

not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Because this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: Putting My laws into their mind, I will also write them upon their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people;

and they shall in no wise teach each one his fellow-citizen, and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord'; because all shall know Me, from a small one to a great one of them;

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very likeness of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, perfect those who come to them;

else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshipers, having been cleansed once for all, would have had no more conscience of sins.

These all died according to faith, not having obtained the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.

For those who say such things make it manifest that they are seeking their paternal home.

And, if, indeed, they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But now they long for a better country, that is, a heavenly one; wherefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for He prepared for them a city.

By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a comely child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians, making an attempt to do, were swallowed up.

Women received their dead by a resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they perished in the slaughter of the sword; they went about in sheep-skins, in goat-skins, being destitute, suffering tribulation, maltreated

God having provided something better concerning us, that, apart from us, they should not be made perfect.

For they, indeed, for a few days were chastening us, according to what seemed good to them; but He for our profit, that we may partake of His holiness.

for they could not bear that which was being commanded: "And, if a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned";

Obey those who are your leaders, and submit to them; for they watch in behalf of your souls, as those who are to give an account; that they may do this with joy, and not with sighing; for this would be unprofitable for you.

But ye dishonored the poor man! Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not drag you before the judgment-seats?

Do they not blaspheme the worthy name by which ye were called?

Now, if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

Behold also the ships, large as they are, and driven along by fierce winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wheresoever the impulse of the steersman wills.

Whence are wars, and whence are battles among you? Are they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?

to whom it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they were ministering them; which things now were reported to you through those who proclaimed the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from Heaven; into which things angels desire to look carefully.

and "a stone of stumbling, and rock of offense"; who stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which also they were appointed.

having your conduct seemly among the gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, from your good works which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

In like manner, ye wives, be subject to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may, without the word, be gained through the conduct of their wives,

at which they are surprised, since ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you;

For to this end was the Gospel proclaimed even to the dead, that they might, indeed, be judged according to men in flesh, but live according to God in spirit.

and, in covetousness, will they, with feigned words, make merchandise of you; for whom the judgment from of old lingers not, and their destruction slumbers not.

but especially those who walk after the flesh in a desire for pollution, and despise dominion; daring, self-willed, they tremble not, when railing at dignities;

But these, as irrational creatures, born naturally for capture and destruction, railing in matters of which they are ignorant, shall in their destruction be also destroyed,

leaving the right way, they were led astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice, in desires of the flesh, by their lasciviousness, those just escaping from those who live in error;

promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what one is overcome by this he has become enslaved.