And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory,

us, whom he has also called, not only from amongst the Jews, but also from amongst the nations?

Since he is completing and finishing quickly a matter in righteousness, because a matter that has been cut short upon the earth, Lord will perform.

As Isaiah has said before, "Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah."

But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law.

And why? Simply because Israel has relied not on faith but on what they could do. They have stumbled over the stone that makes men stumble ??33 as it is written, Here I lay a stone in Sion that will make men stumble, even a rock to trip them up; but he who believes in Him will never be disappointed.

As it is said, See, I am putting in Zion a stone causing a fall, and a rock in the way: but he who has faith in him will not be put to shame.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who has faith.

For Moses lays down in writing the righteousness which is of the law, The man who has practised those things shall live by them.

that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from among the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man has faith to get righteousness, and with the mouth he says that Jesus is Lord to get salvation.

Because it is said in the holy Writings, Whoever has faith in him will not be shamed.

And how can they preach, unless they may be sent forth? as has been written, How beautiful are the feet of those, who preach the gospel of good things!

But they have not all obeyed the glad tidings. For Esaias says, Lord, who has believed our report?

But I say, Have they not heard? Yea, surely, Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the extremities of the habitable world.

But I say, Has not Israel known? First, Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy through them that are not a nation: through a nation without understanding I will anger you.

I say then, Has God cast away his people? Far be the thought. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture says in the history of Elias, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Thus, then, in the present time also there has been a remnant according to election of grace.

But if it is in His grace that He has selected them, then His choice is no longer determined by human actions. Otherwise grace would be grace no longer.

What is it then? What Israel seeks for, that he has not obtained; but the election has obtained, and the rest have been blinded,

according as it is written, God has given to them a spirit of slumber, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day.

So I say, have they stumbled so as to fall [to spiritual ruin]? Certainly not! But by their transgression [their rejection of the Messiah] salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous [when they realize what they have forfeited].

Now if Israel’s transgression means riches for the world [at large] and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment and reinstatement be!

For if their having been cast aside has carried with it the reconciliation of the world, what will their being accepted again be but Life out of death?

Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and thou, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,

by unbelief they were broken off, and thou hast stood by faith; be not high-minded, but be fearing;

if God indeed has not spared the natural branches; lest it might be he spare not thee either.

Notice therefore God's kindness and God's severity. On those who have fallen His severity has descended, but upon you His kindness has come, provided that you do not cease to respond to that kindness. Otherwise you will be cut off also.

And even they [the unbelieving Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if thou hast been cut out of the olive tree wild by nature, and, contrary to nature, hast been grafted into the good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature be grafted into their own olive tree?

I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;

and so all Israel shall be saved: as has been written, A leader shall come out of Zion, shall turn ungodliness from Jacob.

so they too have now become disobedient so that they too may one day receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all [Jew and Gentile alike].

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?

or who has first given to him, and it shall be rendered to him?

For the universe owes its origin to Him, was created by Him, and has its aim and purpose in Him. To Him be the glory throughout the Ages! Amen.

I beg you, therefore, brothers, through these mercies God has shown you, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

Do not conform to the fashion of this world; but be transformed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God's will is--all that is good, acceptable, and perfect.

For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith.

For, just as in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function,

But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether it be prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or the position of a Deacon of the church, let a man give himself to it; or he who has the power of teaching, let him make use of it;

He who has the power of comforting, let him do so; he who gives, let him give freely; he who has the power of ruling, let him do it with a serious mind; he who has mercy on others, let it be with joy.

Do not take revenge on someone who has wronged you, but leave it up to God's wrath [to take care of it], for it is written [Deut. 22:35], "The Lord says, I will pay people back [for doing wrong] because taking revenge belongs to me."

But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head.

Every person must be submissive to the ruling authorities, for all authorities come from God. And the existence of authorities has been established by God.

Therefore whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves.

A good action has nothing to fear from Rulers; a bad action has. Do you want to have no reason to fear the Authorities? Then do what is good, and you will win their praise.

Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.

See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

The night is far gone, and the day has drawn near. Therefore let us throw off the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

Let not him that eats make little of him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.

Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

For every man's life and every man's death has a relation to others as well as to himself.

For to this end Christ has died and lived again, that he might rule over both dead and living.

For it has been written; As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

For if on account of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer according to love. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ has died.

And he who in these things is Christ's servant, is pleasing to God and has the approval of men.

do not for such a thing as meat, pull down what God has been raising. all things indeed are pure; but they become evil to him who by eating giveth offence.

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

But he who is uncertain [about eating a particular thing] is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].

for Christ did not please himself; but, as has been written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

For all that was written of old has been written for our instruction, so that we may always have hope through the power of endurance and the encouragement which the Scriptures afford.

Wherefore receive ye one another, according as the Christ also has received you to the glory of God.

For I say, Christ has become a servant of the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises to the fathers,

and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as has been written, Therefore I will confess thee among the Gentiles, and in thy name sing praises.

But I have written to you more boldly on [some] points, so as to remind you [again] because of the grace that has been given to me by God,

Because of the charge with which God has entrusted me, that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to go to the Gentiles--that I should act as a priest of God's Good News, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be an acceptable sacrifice, consecrated by the Holy Spirit.

For I will not dare to speak anything of the things which Christ has not wrought by me, for the obedience of the nations, by word and deed,

with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] in the power of the Spirit. So [starting] from Jerusalem and as far away as Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel [faithfully preaching the good news] of Christ [where it had not before been preached].

and so aiming to announce the glad tidings, not where Christ has been named, that I might not build upon another's foundation;

But, as Scripture says, "Those shall see, to whom no report about Him has hitherto come, and those who until now have not heard shall understand."

And it is really this which has again and again prevented my coming to you.

For [Gentile believers in] Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints (Jewish believers) in Jerusalem.

Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things.

Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

that ye may receive her in the Lord worthily of saints, and that ye may assist her in whatever matter she has need of you; for she also has been a helper of many, and of myself.

Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you.

Give my love to Apelles, who has the approval of Christ. Say a kind word to those who are of the house of Aristobulus.

Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute Persis, the beloved, who has laboured much in the Lord.

Greet Rufus, an eminent and choice man in the Lord, also his mother [who has been] a mother to me as well.

For your obedience has reached to all. I rejoice therefore as it regards you; but I wish you to be wise as to that which is good, and simple as to evil.

25 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the proclaiming of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,

Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my glad tidings and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, as to which silence has been kept in the times of the ages,

but which has now been made manifest, and by prophetic scriptures, according to commandment of the eternal God, made known for obedience of faith to all the nations --

From Paul, who has been called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, And from Sosthenes, our Brother.

I give praise to my God for you at all times, because of the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus;

(according as the testimony of the Christ has been confirmed in you,)

for he, who has called you to the communication of his son Jesus Christ our Lord, will make good his promise.

For it has been shewn to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of the house of Chloe, that there are strifes among you.

By 'quarrelling' I mean that each of you has his party-cry, "I belong to Paul," "And I to Apollos," "And I to Cephas," "And I to Christ."

Is the Christ divided? has Paul been crucified for you? or have ye been baptised unto the name of Paul?

For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.

For it has been written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nought the understanding of the intelligent.

Where is the wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe.

while we proclaim a Christ who has been crucified--to the Jews a stumbling-block, to Gentiles foolishness,