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Then they said to him, "We did not receive any letters from Judea about you, nor did any of the brothers come here to report anything bad about you.

Verse ConceptsTelling Of People's Situations

And when he had said these words, the Jews left, disputing about the matter among themselves.}}

Verse ConceptsDisputes

It was through Jesus, and for His name's sake, that we [i.e., I] received God's favor to become an apostle, in order to bring about obedience based on faith from among people of all nations.

Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfFaith, Nature Ofevangelists, ministry ofApostles, Basis Of AuthorityRevelation, Responses ToObedience To GodForeigners Saved By FaithBelieve In Christ!Obeying The GospelThe Grace Given To MenPrivileges of saints

For what is known about God is plain to these people [i.e., to the Gentiles], because God has made it clear to them.

Verse ConceptsManifesting (making Something Clear)Knowing God's CharacterAtheism, Description OfGeneral Revelationconscience

Now we [Jews] know that God's judgment against people who practice such things [i.e., the Gentiles] is according to truth. [Note: Some use "You say," at the beginning of the sentence, making it an assertion of the Jews which Paul sets about to answer].

Verse ConceptsGod, Righteousness OfCondemnation Of The WickedJudgmentsJudging Others Actions

But if you call yourselves "Jews," and [claim to] rely on the law of Moses, and brag about [belonging to] God;

Verse ConceptsTrust, Lack OfBoasting In GodUnder The LawTrust In RelationshipsBoasting

You boast about having the law of Moses, [but] do you dishonor God by breaking that law?

Verse ConceptsReproachSin, Nature OfThey Do Not Keep CommandsBoastingdisobedienceDishonoring God

Now if our wrongdoing serves to emphasize more clearly that God does what is right, what should we say about that? Is God being unjust for sending [His] wrath [on the world]? (I am raising a human objection).

Verse ConceptsGod, Righteousness OfGod Has AngerIs God Unjust?Like MenPerspective

But if my "lie" [i.e., as you Jews call it] would result in God's truthfulness [about you Jews] increasing the honor He receives, why am I also still judged to be a sinner [by you]?

Verse ConceptsLyingWhat Sin?

What should we say then [about what] our forefather Abraham discovered?

Verse ConceptsAbraham, New Testament References

Abraham's faith did not become weak [even though] he was about one hundred years old and considered his body almost dead and Sarah's womb incapable of conceiving a child.

Verse ConceptsBodyWeakness, SpiritualThe Age At FatherhoodWombLimitations Of The BodyGrace Verse LawWeaknesschildbearing

And Isaiah declares about [the nation of] Israel [Isa. 10:22-23], "[Even] if the number of Israelites were [as many] as the grains of sand in the ocean, [still only] a small minority will be saved.

Verse ConceptsRemnantSmall RemnantsGod Saves The NeedyMany In Israel

For they did not know about God's way of making people right with Himself, so they attempted to establish their own way. In doing this they did not submit to God's way for being made right with Him.

Verse ConceptsHypocrisy, Description OfLegalismSelf Righteousness, Nature OfSelf Righteousness, And The GospelSpiritual IgnoranceTrusting In WorksSeeking For Abstract ThingsIgnorance of GodignoranceFutile Faith

For Moses wrote [Lev. 18:5] about a person being made right with God by obeying the requirements of the law of Moses, that he would gain [never ending] life for doing this.

Verse ConceptsEffect Of The LawLife Through Keeping The LawWorks Of The Law

But what does the Scripture say [about being made right with God]? [Deut. 30:14 says], "The message of God is near you [i.e., it is not difficult to comprehend]. It is on your lips and in your heart." This is the message of faith [in Christ] which we [apostles] preach.

Verse ConceptsScripture, Purpose OfThe Gospel PreachedGod's Blessings Are NearOther References To The HeartRighteous By FaithSpeaking With The Mouthpreaching

[But] how can they appeal to Him if they have not [first] believed in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have not [first] heard [about Him]? And how can they hear [about Him] if there is no preacher?

Verse ConceptsNot Believing The GospelDoubting GodUnhearingpreachingCall To Action

But Isaiah said about the Israelites [Isa. 40:2], "I reached out all day long to [help] people who disobeyed and spoke against [me]."

Verse ConceptsObstinacy Against GodHand Of GodGod's HandGod's Hands Stretched Outdisobediencerebellion

Therefore, you should not brag [about your superiority] over the [natural] branches [i.e., the rejected Jews]. But, if you must brag, it should not be over you [Gentiles] nourishing the roots [i.e., the Jews], but over the roots nourishing you.

Verse ConceptsDo Not Be ProudOther SupportingOlive TreesSupportBoasting

True, but they [i.e., the Jews] were [really] broken off because they did not believe [in Christ], and you [Gentiles] remain [in God's favor] because you do believe [in Him]. So, do not become arrogant [about it], but be fearful.

Verse ConceptsStandingUnbelief, Nature And Effects OfArrogance, Rejection OfSaved By FaithDo Not Be ProudDoubting GodBelieving In YourselfUnbelief Toward God

Now in response to the [proclamation of the] good news [about Christ], the Jews became [God's] enemies for the sake of you [Gentiles]. But concerning [God's] select people, these Jews became [God's] dearly loved ones for the sake of their forefathers [i.e, who believed God's promises regarding their descendants].

Verse ConceptsPatriarchsAmbivalenceAncestorsSuffering For The GospelEnemies Of GodFor The Sake Of God's PeopleGod's Love For Israel

Do not [try to] pay back a wrong done to you by doing something wrong to the other person. Think about how to live honorably in front of all people.

Verse ConceptsBullyingRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteDuties To EnemiesBeing Seen By ManNot AvengingRepaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other Cheek

Now this [is another reason for observing the law of love]: You should know that it is about time to wake up out of your [spiritual] sleep, because [the day of our final] salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed [in Christ].

Verse ConceptsBeing PreparedHourUnderstandingUrgencySleep, Warnings AgainstWakefulnessA Time Of SalvationBenefits Of Faith In ChristGod Not DelayingFinal SalvationWake Up!Glorificationfaith in hard timesBeing SavedKnowing GodEnd TimesWeather In The Last Daysawakeningepiphany

Therefore, whatever you believe about this matter should be held between you and God. That person is happy who does not condemn himself for practicing something he believes is right.

Verse ConceptsConsciences, In Decision MakingParticipation, In SinChristian LibertyConvictionLoving YourselfKeeping FaithBelieving In YourselfJudgementJudging Others Actionscondemnationconsciencebelief

But the person who has doubts about eating [a certain food] is self-condemned if he [goes ahead and] eats it, because his action is not based on faith [i.e., if he lacks the conviction that he is doing what is right]. And whatever is not done with such a conviction is a sin.

Verse ConceptsConsciences, In Decision MakingFaith, Necessity OfBeing Born In Sindoubt, results ofIndecisionSin, Nature OfSinChristian LibertyConvictionQuestioning GodHaving FaithEating MeatBelieving In Yourselfdiscriminationcondemnationconscience

For I will not dare to speak about anything, except what Christ has done through me in bringing about the obedience of the Gentiles. He accomplished this by my message and my deeds,

Verse ConceptsCurbing SpeechMere TalkObeying The Gospel

in the power demonstrated by [miraculous] signs and wonders, [produced] by the power of the Holy Spirit. So, I have completed preaching the good news about Christ from Jerusalem, all the way around [the area] to Illyricum [Note: This country was located northwest of Greece and in present-day Croatia].

Verse ConceptsApostles, IdentficationGod, Power OfMiraculous SignsMinisters, Way They Should TeachPower Of Holy Spirit, Shown InPower Through The SpiritSigns And Wonders Of The GospelThe power of Christ

But, as it is written [Isa. 52:15], "Those people who had not been told about Him will see [the truth], and those who have not heard [the message] will understand [it]." [Note: Paul here applies a Messianic prediction to his ambition of doing pioneer evangelism].

Verse ConceptsUnderstandingTelling Of GodUnhearingLooking At God's WorksUnderstanding God's Wordevangelising

I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church at Cenchrea. [Note: This was a seaport town about seven miles east of Corinth].

Verse ConceptsDeaconsCommendationMinistry, Qualifications ForSistersChurch, Examples OfPraising Specific PeopleWomen's RolesServant Leadershipfreemasonry

For everyone has heard about your obedience [to the truth], and [because of this], I am very happy over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.

Verse ConceptsGenuinenessInnocence, Teaching OnJoy, Of The ChurchWisdom, Human ImportanceCharacter Of SaintsHarmlessnessGuileBe Wise!Obeying The GospelYou Will Rejoice In Salvation

Now may there be glory for ever, through Jesus Christ, to the only wise God, who is able to make you stand firm [in the faith], according to the good news and proclamation of Jesus Christ. This message is the secret which was [eventually] revealed, after having been kept quiet about for long ages.

Verse ConceptsConcealment, Of GodMysteryStabilityAbility, God's PowerThe AlmightyThe Mystery Of ChristGod Establishes UsStrengthened Through Christ

It is now being made known through the writings of the prophets, as commanded by the eternal God, to [people of] all the nations, in order to bring about their obedience to the faith

Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature Ofeternity, nature ofGod, Unity OfKnowing God, Effects OfSecret ThingsObeying The GospelThe Gospel To The NationsWritten In The Prophets

The message about Christ has become firmly established there among you [i.e., by such gifts],

Verse ConceptsSure KnowledgeSubsequent Witness To Christ

For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by some of Chloe's family, that there is quarreling [going on] among you.

Verse ConceptsArguingTelling Of People's Situations

And when I came to you, brothers, it was not with eloquent words or [superior] wisdom that I proclaimed to you the testimony [or, mystery] about God.

Verse ConceptsMinisters, Way They Should TeachPeople VisitingWitness To The GospelFoolishness Of GodExcellenceSpeechpreachingtestimonyego

None of the rulers of this age knew about this [divine] wisdom, for if they had [known it], they would not have crucified the glorious Lord [i.e., Jesus].

Verse ConceptsRevelation, Responses ToSuffering, Of Jesus ChristNames And Titles For ChristChrist Was KilledChrist's Own GloryNot Understanding God's ThingsCloud of gloryAgeprincipalitiescrucifixion

But the spiritual person [i.e., one who has the Holy Spirit] is able to discern all things [i.e., has the ability to make right judgments about things], and he himself [i.e., his conduct] cannot be [critically] discerned by any [unbelieving] man.

Verse ConceptsImmunityThat Which Is SpiritualLack Of DiscriminationSpiritualJudgmentsJudgingDiscernmentJudgementJudging Others Actionsdiscrimination

For although you have ten thousand guardians [Note: This word means someone who transported a child to his teacher] in [the fellowship of] Christ, you do not have many [spiritual] fathers. For I [spiritually] conceived you people through [preaching to you] the good news [about Christ]. [Note: Paul here refers to his work in establishing the church at Corinth].

Verse ConceptsGuardsPaul, Apostle To GentilesNew Birth, The Means OfSpiritual FathersFathers BirthdayparentingDadsSchoolParenting Responsibilities

And you are arrogant [about it] instead [of being ashamed]. Should you not be grieved to the point of removing from your fellowship the person who has done this [terrible] deed?

Verse ConceptsSelf ConfidenceSorrowArrogance, In The ChurchExcommunicationOthers MourningProud People

I now want to reply to the matters you people wrote me about. It is [a] good [idea] for a man not to get married. [Note: The words "to get married" here are "to touch" in the Greek and probably refer to sexual relations within marriage. This advice, not a prohibition, is further explained in verses 26-35].

Verse ConceptsAsceticism, TypesSexualitySinglenessCelibacyCourtingNot TouchingWriting LettersGood ActivityNot MarryingsexRelationships With BoyfriendMarriage Between Man And WomanGodly WomanSexual ImmoralityRelationships And DatingMarriage KjvA Good WomanSex Before MarriageA Good ManMan And WomanBeing SingleStruggles In RelationshipA Good Husbanddistractionsmarraigewomanmatrimonywomanhood

But I, not the Lord, say this to the rest of you [Note: Paul now addresses the matter of mixed marriages, a circumstance Jesus never taught about]: If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she agrees to continue living with him [Note: In these verses Paul addresses a situation where one marriage partner is converted after they are married], he should not divorce her.

Verse ConceptsOpinionsNot Believing The GospelAvoid Divorce

Now I have no command from the Lord concerning [what you wrote about] unmarried women. [Note: The word here is "virgins" but some think it includes both males and females]. But I give my advice as someone who has received the Lord's mercy to be counted trustworthy.

Verse ConceptsFaithfulness, Examples OfOpinionsReceiving God's MercyGod's OrdersBeing Singlevirginity

But I want you to be free from worry. The man who is not married is concerned about the affairs of the Lord [and] how to please the Lord.

Verse ConceptsCare, WorldlyCelibacyLibertyPriorityUnrestDo Not Be AnxiousUnmarriedNot WorryingAnxiety And FearWorryingFocusBeing Singledistractionsfreeworriesanxious

But [another] man, who has a conviction in his heart [about the matter], and does not feel it is necessary [to get married], but has control over his will [i.e., his sexual passion], and has made up his mind to keep [from marrying] his own virgin [fiancee] --- that man is doing the right thing [also].

Verse ConceptsIntelligenceUnmarriedPositive Thinkingactingsteadfastvirginity

I now want to reply to the matter of idolatrous sacrifices [which you wrote to me about]. We know that we all possess knowledge. [Note: This may be a statement posed to Paul by the Corinthians, who seemed quite preoccupied with "knowledge"]. Knowledge [only] makes people arrogant, while love builds them up [spiritually].

Verse ConceptsAcademicsPride, OriginArrogance, In The ChurchBuilding Up The ChurchKnowingDrawbacks To Knowledge

For it is written in the law of Moses [Deut. 25:4], "You should not put a muzzle on an ox while it tramples over the grain." Is it the oxen that God is concerned about?

Verse ConceptsMoses, Significance OfThreshingMuzzlingAnimals, God's Care OfOxenSealing ThingsBinding As AnimalsWritten In The Lawthe Law of mosesPerspectivemuscles

If other people have the right to receive a share of what you have, should we not have even more [right to it]? Yet we did not make use of this right, but instead we put up with whatever we had to so we would not become a hindrance to [the spread of] the good news [about Christ].

Verse ConceptsCoveting, prohibition ofControlling PeopleSuffering For The GospelAvoid Being HinderedEnduringHindrances

Even so the Lord directed that those who proclaim the good news [about Christ] should get their living from [preaching] that good news.

Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTMinistry, In The ChurchSchoolLiveSupportSpreading The GospelLiving For GodMinistrypreaching

[But] I do not have anything to boast about if I preach the good news because I am compelled to do it. For it would be too bad for me if I did not preach the good news.

Verse ConceptsGoalsAmbition, positive aspects ofevangelists, ministry ofMissionaries, Call OfPaul, Apostle To GentilesWoeMissionary WorkBoasting ExcludedBoastingpreachingevangelizingevangelising

Eat whatever is sold in the [public] meat markets, without asking any questions [about it] for [your] conscience' sake [i.e., do not inquire about the previous use of the food you buy, because you might discover something about it that would make you feel guilty of wrongdoing if you ate it].

Verse ConceptsMarketsNot Asking OthersFood PermittedEating Meatconsciencesales

But if anyone is inclined to argue [about this matter], neither we [apostles] nor the churches of God have any [other] custom than this.

Verse ConceptsDivisions, Contrary ToChurch Of GodWomen's Rolespractice

But in giving you these instructions, I have a criticism to make [about you people]. It is that your assemblies are doing more harm than good.

Verse ConceptsAbuse, Of Spiritual ThingsGood Or BadPraising Specific People

[Love] is not glad about the evil [that people do], but is glad about the truth [i.e., the good in their lives].

Verse ConceptsGood FriendsDelighting, Wrong Kinds OfPerforming The TruthLack Of RejoicingInjustice

But if something is revealed [supernaturally, at about the same time] to another person sitting nearby, the first one should finish speaking [i.e., before the second one begins].

Verse ConceptsCurbing Speech

And if they want to find out about something, they should ask their own husbands at home [i.e., instead of asking someone else in the assembly and thereby suggesting insubordination to their husbands]. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the assembly. [See verse 34].

Verse ConceptsAskingEach Local ChurchShame Of Bad ConductCommunication In MarriageHusband And WifeGodly WomanLoving Your WifeWifeGoing To ChurchBeing A Woman Of GodWaiting Till Marriagespousewoman

And also, we are found to be false witnesses about God because we testified that God raised up Christ [from the dead], when [in reality] He did not raise Him up if, in fact, the dead are not raised up.

Verse ConceptsAre The Dead Raised?Christ Would Risereality

Now concerning the collection for the [needy] saints [whom you wrote me about]: You people also should do what I directed the churches in Galatia to do.

Verse ConceptsCollections

For we want you to know, brothers, about the trouble that we experienced in Asia. [See I Cor. 16:19]. We were under a heavy burden [which was] more than we could stand, even to the point of despairing of life.

Verse ConceptsAgony, DescriptionEnjoyment, Lack OfHope, Results Of Its AbsenceDepression, CausesProvincesHeavy BurdensLife DespisedAfflictionsAnxiety And StressDespairHardshipBeing Overwhelmedignoranceexperiencepressureoverwhelmed

Now when I came to Troas [See Acts 16:8], in order to preach the good news about Christ, and when a door [of opportunity] was opened to me in [the service of] the Lord [there],

Verse Conceptsevangelists, identity ofevangelism, motivation forDoorsOpen DoorsThe Gospel PreachedOpportunity

But, we have the same spirit [i.e., type] of faith as that written about [Psa. 116:10], "I believed [God's message], so I spoke." We also believe [it], and so we also speak [about it].

Verse ConceptsSpirit, Emotional Aspects OfWitnessing, Importance OfBelievingThe Effects Of FaithSpeaking As From GodFaith KjvKeeping FaithHaving Faithspeakingbelief

For if there is anything I have boasted to him about you, you did not cause me to be ashamed of it. But as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus [about you] proved to be true also.

Verse ConceptsPaul's BoastingBoasting

I am glad I can have so much confidence in you about everything.

Verse ConceptsConfidence, Of ChristiansTrusting Other People

Now here is my advice on what is best to do in this matter: Since you were the first ones to begin [taking up a collection] a year ago, [now you should] not only be doing something [about it], but [you should continue] wanting to do something [as well].

Verse ConceptsGood Human AdviceOpinionsOne YearRight DesiresMan's Work FinishedCompetition

[So], demonstrate in front of the churches evidence of your love [for them] and our reason for boasting about you.

Verse ConceptsProof, As EvidenceBenevolenceProofsBoasting

Now it is unnecessary for me to write you about this service to God's holy people [in Jerusalem, who were in need].

Verse ConceptsMinistry, Qualifications ForBenevolenceWriting LettersSurplusministering

For I know how eager you [already] are, and I have boasted about you to the Macedonians, that Achaia [Note: This was the southernmost province of Greece, where Corinth was located] has been prepared [to give] since last year. And your enthusiasm has stirred up most of them [to give also].

Verse ConceptsEnthusiasmAttitudes, to other peopleReadinessProvokingFervourZealousness, Examples OfPaul's BoastingPeople Willing

But I have sent the brothers [See 8:18, 22], so that our boasting about you being prepared will not prove to be empty words.

Verse ConceptsUseless LabourPeople Sending PeoplePaul's Boasting

[This is] so we can proclaim the good news [about Christ] even to areas beyond you [Note: Perhaps Paul here alludes to such places as Italy and Spain], and [thereby] not boast over what has [already] been done in someone else's field of service.

Verse ConceptsBoasting ExcludedThe Gospel WorldwideBoastingpreaching

[Jer. 9:24 says], "But the person who boasts should boast about the Lord."

Verse ConceptsSalvation, Boasting ImpossibleBoasting In GodBoasting

As sure as the truth of Christ is in my heart, no one will stop me from boasting about this [arrangement] throughout the regions of Achaia. [Note: This was the province where Corinth was located].

Verse ConceptsThe Truth Of The GospelPaul's BoastingBoasting

Since many [other] people boast about worldly matters, I will boast about such things also.

Verse ConceptsLife In A Material WorldBoastingaccomplishments

I am ashamed to say that we were [too] weak to do such things. [Note: Paul is probably saying, sarcastically, "We are too 'weak' to take financial advantage of people and mistreat them the way those 'super apostles' there in Corinth were doing"]. Yet, in whatever [matters] anyone [there] dares to boast about, (now I am really speaking foolishly), I will dare to boast also.

Verse ConceptsFoolish PeopleBeing Strongassertiveness

Although I must boast about myself [See 11:21-27], it [really] is not profitable. So, I will go on to [tell about] visions and [inspired] revelations given [to me] from the Lord.

Verse ConceptsSelf ConfidenceVisions From GodPaul's BoastingBoasting

I know a man in [fellowship with] Christ who, fourteen years ago, was taken [literally, "snatched"] up to the third heaven. [Note: The first heaven would be where birds fly; the second where the stars are; and the third where God is]. (I do not know whether he was in his physical body or whether it was an "out-of-the-body" experience, but God knows). [Note: Paul is obviously telling about a personal experience. See verse 7].

Verse ConceptsKnowing PeopleNames For HeavenSelf ConfidenceThe Number FourteenTen To Fourteen YearsGod Lifting PeopleThird PersonTaken To HeavenUs In GodHeavenIgnorant Of FactsVisualizationHeavenly VisionGoing To HeavenThe BodyThe Raptureweather

I will boast on behalf of this person, but I will not boast about myself [anymore], except about my weaknesses.

Verse ConceptsBoasting ExcludedPaul's BoastingIdentityBoasting

I pled with the Lord about this matter three times, that He would remove this problem from me.

Verse ConceptsdiseasesCommunicating Three TimesNamed Individuals Who PrayedStrugglesThe Environmentteenager

For you have heard about the way I lived in the past, when I was in the Jewish religion, [that is], how I mercilessly persecuted the church of God, making havoc of it.

Verse ConceptsPaul, Life OfZeal, Without KnowledgeDestruction Of The ChurchThe Church UniversalChurch Of GodPersecutionchristianitypasttrying

[And when I was called], God revealed His Son to me so that I could preach [about] Him to the Gentiles. [When this happened] I immediately avoided discussing the matter with anyone.

Verse ConceptsAffirmative ActionMan's Teaching

Now [realizing I am] in God's presence, I am not lying about any of these things.

Verse ConceptsWriting LettersNot LyingTelling The Truthlieing

They had only heard it said about me, "This person, who had once persecuted us [Christians], is now preaching the faith he once made havoc of."

Verse ConceptsFaith, As A Body Of Beliefsenemies, of Jesus ChristGospel, Transmission OfPersecution, Forms Of

So then, have I [now] become your enemy because I have told you the truth [about your condition]?

Verse ConceptsHonestyPainAbrasionSpeaking TruthReasons Why The World Hates ChristiansTelling The Truth

For it is written in the law about Abraham's two sons [Gen. 16]; one [was] by his slave woman [Hagar] and the other by the free woman, [his wife, Sarah].

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Testing And VictoryAbraham, New Testament ReferencesTwo Sons

What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]."

Verse ConceptsConcubinesInheritance, MaterialRevenge, Examples Ofdiscriminationsonship