"Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I only am left, and they seek my life."

But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have left to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

I say then, Have they stumbled so as to fall? God forbid: but by their stumbling salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

But if some of the branches have been broken off, and thou though a wild olive hast been grafted in among them, and become a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

For as ye also in times past did not believe in God, but now have obtained mercy through their unbelief:

so also these now have not believed in your mercy, that they also might obtain mercy.

For God hath shut up all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

For as we have in one body many members, but the members, though many, have not the same function,

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from it:

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

But I have written to you, my brethren, in part, with greater freedom, as refreshing your memory through the grace which is given to me of God;

I have therefore cause to glory in Christ Jesus with regard to the things of God.

by the power of signs and miracles, by the might of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and in a circle quite round unto Illyricum, I have fully spread the gospel of Christ.

But I have in such manner endeavoured to preach the gospel, not where Christ's name had been heard, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

but as it is written, "To whom the tidings concerning him have not reached, they shall see, and they who have not heard, shall understand."

Wherefore also I have found many things to hinder me from coming to you;

whenever I proceed on my journey into Spain, I will come unto you: for I hope on my journey to see you, and by you to be forwarded thither, after I shall have first, in a measure, fully enjoyed your society.

For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints that are at Jerusalem.

They have been so pleased indeed, and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been admitted to a participation in their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in carnal things.

When therefore I have completed this work, and sealed unto them this fruit, I will pass by you into Spain.

that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that you assist her in every matter wherein she may have need of you: for she hath also been a succourer of many, and of me myself.

(who for my life have laid down their own neck: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:)

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have laboured hard in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who laboured much in the Lord.

Now I beseech you, brethren, keep a sharp eye over those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine ye have learned, and turn away from them.

I Tertius, who have written this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

that in every thing ye have been enriched by him, in all utterance, and all knowledge;

so that ye have not been deficient in any gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Faithful is God, by whom ye have been called into communion with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by those of the family of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

which none of the rulers of this world have known: for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But, as it is written, "The things which eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, and that have not entered into the heart of man, these hath God prepared for those who love him."

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? who will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

AND I, brethren, have been unable to speak to you as unto spiritual men, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.

And I have given you milk to drink, and not meat: for hitherto ye have not been capable of it, yea, even to the present moment ye are not capable of it.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

According to the grace of God given unto me, as a skilful architect, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every one take heed how he buildeth upon it.

But these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos for your sake; that in us ye might learn not to be attached, beyond what is written, lest one being for one [minister], ye be puffed up [with prejudice] against another.

Now ye are full, now ye have grown rich, ye have reigned without us: and I wish indeed that you may reign, that we also might reign together with you.

For I think that God hath exposed us his apostles the last as devoted unto death. For we have been made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

For even to this present hour we undergo hunger and thirst and nakedness, and are buffeted about, and have no settled abode;

For though ye may have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus through the Gospel I have begotten you.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my son beloved and faithful in Christ, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, as I teach every where in every church.

IT is generally reported that there is whoredom among you, and such whoredom as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

For I indeed, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have already, as present, passed judgment on him who hath so done this thing;

I have written unto you in an epistle that you should not associate with fornicators.

But now I have written unto you not to associate with him, if any man, professing to be a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one not even to eat.

For what call have I to judge those who are without? Do not ye judge those who are within [the church]?

If then ye have disputes about the things of this life, do you seat those on the bench who are least esteemed in the church?

Now verily therefore there is altogether a fault among you, because ye have law-suits one with another. Why do ye not rather submit to the wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Yet such were some of you: but ye have been washed, but ye have been sanctified, but ye have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God.

Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have from God, and ye are not your own?

For ye have been bought with a price: glorify then God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

But because of the whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own husband.

Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.

But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Have you been redeemed with a price? become not the slaves of men.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.

But if thou shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.

Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not;

But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord:

But she is more blessed if she abide as she is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit of God.

NOW concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

AM I not an apostle? am I not a free man? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Have we not power to eat and drink?

Have we not power to carry about with us a sister wife, as do also the other apostles, even the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

or I alone and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear labour?

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we should reap your corporal things?

if others partake of this power over you, ought not we much more? But we have not used this power, and we suffer all things, that we might not put any obstruction in the way of the gospel of Christ.

But I have used nothing of these things, nor have I written indeed these things, that it should be so done respecting me; for it would become me to die rather than that any man should make my glorying void.

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me, yea verily woe is to me if I preach not the gospel.

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with the dispensation [of it].

For though I be free from all men, I have made myself the servant of all, that I might gain the more.

But that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to daemons, and not to God: and I would not have you in communion with daemons.

But if any man mean to be contentious about it, we have no such custom, nor the churches of God.

What! have ye not houses to eat in and to drink? or despise ye the church of God, and make those ashamed who have none? What shall I say unto you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

NOW concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, drawn away after the idols that are dumb, even as ye have been led.

For by one Spirit we all have been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free men; and we have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Nor can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

and those parts which we esteem as the more dishonourable of the body, on them we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered together the body, giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become as sounding brass, and tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries, and all manner of science; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

And if I deal out all my goods in alms, and deliver up my body that I should be burned, but have not love, I am nothing advantaged by it.

NOW I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I have preached unto you, and which ye have received, in which also ye have stood fast;

by which also ye are saved; if ye cleave to that word I have preached to you, except haply ye have believed in vain.

Yea, and we also are found false witnesses for God; because we have testified on the behalf of God, that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if indeed the dead are not raised.

Then also they who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are more miserable than all other men.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruit of those who have fallen asleep.

Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, and the Father; when he shall have destroyed every dominion and every authority and power.

But when he shall have put all things under him, then also the Son himself shall be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

I solemnly declare by all the joy over you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

If after the manner of men I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, of what advantage would it be to me, if the dead did not rise again? shall we eat and drink; because to-morrow we die?

Awake as the righteous, and sin not; for some have an ignorance of God: I speak this to your shame.

And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.