Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.

for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

Were you called being a bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

You were bought with a price. Don't become bondservants of men.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.

You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?

If they were all one member, where would the body be?

For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.

But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.

For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ.

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.

I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,

I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man) -- they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn't say, "To seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed," which is Christ.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;

in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation -- in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,

among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.

rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."

However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.

Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,

To whom did he swear that they wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

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

For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;

For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place.

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;

partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.

Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

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

By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

Don't be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

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

who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.