And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

And that he might be the father of the circumcised: not because they are circumcised only: but because they walk also in the steps of that faith, that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision.

For, if they who are of law are heirs, made void is faith and of no effect is the promise.

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

but they were written for our sake also, who will be considered righteous by God for believing in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

For, if, by the fault of the one, death reigned through the one, much more, they who the superabundance of the favour and of the free-gift ofthe righteousness do receive, in life, shall reign through the one, Jesus Christ.

Neither give ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: But give yourselves unto God, as they that are alive from death. And give your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

what benefit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? since they terminated all in death.

For whilst we were under the thraldom of our earthly natures, sinful passions-- made sinful by the Law--were always being aroused to action in our bodily faculties that they might yield fruit to death.

For, they who according to flesh have their being, the things of the flesh do prefer, but, they according to the spirit, the things of the spirit;

For the interests of the flesh are hostile to God; they do not yield to the law of God (indeed they cannot).

They, moreover, who in flesh have their being, cannot please, God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

in hope that they also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren.

As it stands written in the Scripture, "For Thy sake they are, all day long, trying to kill us. We have been looked upon as sheep destined for slaughter."

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.

whose also are the fathers, and they of whom; as concerning the flesh; Christ came: which is God over all things, blessed forever. Amen.

It is not, however, as though the word of God had failed; for, not all they who are of Israel, the same are Israel.

Neither, because they are seed of Abraham, are all children, - but, In Isaac, shall there be called unto thee a seed.

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

They, in fact, not being yet born, nor having practised anything good or bad, - in order that the purpose of God by way of election might stand, - not by works but by him that was calling,

And what if God, intending to reveal his displeasure and make his power known, bore most patiently with the objects of his displeasure, though they were fit only to be destroyed,

As he says in Hosea, They will be named my people who were not my people, and she will be loved who was not loved.

And it shall be - in the place where it was said to them- not my people are, ye! there, shall they be called - Sons of a Living God.

What, then, shall we say? That, they of the nations, who were not in pursuit of righteousness, have laid hold of righteousness, - a righteousness, however, which is by faith;

Wherefore? Because, not by faith but as by works, have they sought it : they have stumbled at the stone of stumbling,

Even as it is written [Ex. 28:16], "Look, I am placing a stone in the city of Zion that people will stumble over and a rock on which they will trip and fall. But the person who believes in Him will not be put to shame [i.e., he will never have unforgiven sin brought up against him]."

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

For I bear them witness that they have, a zeal for God, - but not according to correct knowledge;

For, not knowing God's righteousness and, their own, seeking to establish, unto the righteousness of God, have they not submitted;

For in their hearts people exercise the faith that leads to right standing, and with their lips they make the acknowledgment which means salvation.

In reality there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: they have all the same Lord, who is bountiful to all that call upon him.

How, then, shall men call upon one in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in one of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without one to proclaim?

And how shall they proclaim, except they be sent? Even as it is written - How beautiful the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

But I say: Have they not heard? Yea indeed, - into all the earth, hath gone forth their sound, and, unto the ends of the inhabited world, their declarations.

But I say, Israel did not know, did they? First, Moses says, "I will provoke you [to jealousy] by [those who are] not a nation; by a senseless nation I will provoke you [to anger]."

Lord! Thy prophets, have they slain, thine altars, have they overthrown, and, I, am left alone, and they are seeking my life!

But if it is by His unmerited favor, it is not at all conditioned on what they have done. If that were so, His favor would not be favor at all.

What then? [Just this]: The very thing that the Israelites are looking for [i.e., a right relationship with God], they have not found. But God's selected ones obtained [this right relationship with Him] and the rest [of the Israelites] were made insensitive to God's call,

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent continually.

I say then - Did they stumble in order that they might fall? Far be it! But, by their fall, salvation hath come unto the nations, to the end of provoking them to jealousy.

Wherefore, if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the gentiles, how much more should it be so if they all believed?

Well: by their want of faith, they have been broken out, - and, thou, by thy faith, dost stand! - Regard not lofty things, but be afraid;

See then that God is good but his rules are fixed: to those who were put away he was hard, but to you he has been good, on the condition that you keep in his mercy; if not, you will be cut off as they were.

Whereas, they also, unless they abide still in their want of faith, shall be grafted in, for God is, able, again to engraft them!

for if thou, out of the olive tree, wild by nature, wast cut out, and, contrary to nature, wast graffed into a good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature, be graffed into their own olive tree?

And they shall see the fulfillment of my Covenant, when I have taken away their sins.'

As touching the joyful-message, indeed, they are enemies for your sake, but, as touching the election, beloved for their father's sake;

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].

For just as you once disobeyed God, but now have had mercy shown you because they disobeyed,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now may receive mercy.

Let, every soul, unto protecting authorities be in subjection; for there is no authority save by God, and, they that are in being, have by God been arranged, -

So that, he who rangeth himself against the authority, against the arrangement of God opposeth himself, and, they who oppose, shall unto themselves a sentence of judgment receive.

For, they who bear rule, are not a terror unto the good work but unto the evil. Wouldst thou not be afraid of the authority? That which is good, be thou doing, and thou shall have praise of the same;

For the civil authorities are God's servants to do you good. But if you practice doing wrong, you should dread them, for they do not wield the sword for nothing. Indeed, they are God's servants to inflict punishment upon people who do wrong.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to administer punishment to anyone who does wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities, not only for the sake of God's punishment, but also for the sake of your own conscience.

For, because of this, are ye paying tribute also, - for, God's ministers of state, they are, unto this very thing, giving constant attendance.

Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

For these commandments: Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not desire, and so forth: if there be any other commandment, they are all comprehended in this saying, "Love thine neighbor as thyself."

This man puts one day before another: to that man they are the same. Let every man be certain in his mind.

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.

For even the Christ did not seek His own pleasure. His principle was, "The reproaches which they addressed to Thee have fallen on me."

But as it is said in the holy Writings, They will see, to whom the news of him had not been given, and those to whose ears it had not come will have knowledge.

Yes, it has been their good pleasure; and they are in their debt. For if the Gentiles have had a part in the things of the Spirit which were theirs, it is right for them, in the same way, to give them help in the things of the flesh.

So after discharging this duty, and making sure that these kind gifts reach those for whom they are intended, I shall start for Spain, passing through Rome on my way there;

They risked their own lives for me, so not only I, but also all the Gentile churches [i.e., people converted from among the Gentiles] are grateful to them [for this].

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me.

For, they who are such, unto our Lord Christ are not doing service, but unto their own belly, - and, through their smooth and flattering speech, deceive the hearts of the innocent.

But is now made clear; and by the writings of the prophets, by the order of the eternal God, the knowledge of it has been given to all the nations, so that they may come under the rule of the faith;

[i.e., so they will believe and obey the truth]. May it be so.

To the Church of God in Corinth, to those who have been consecrated by union with Christ Jesus and called to become his People, and also to all, wherever they may be, who invoke the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Master and ours,

to the Church of God at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all, wherever they are, who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

Sage, rabbi, skeptic of this present age??here are they all? Has not God made foolish the philosophy of the world?

for whereas the world, with all their learning, did not distinguish the characters of his divine wisdom, in his works, it pleased God to save those who believe, by preaching, which they counted folly.

but to those whom God has called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is God's power and God's wisdom.

Because the foolishness of God, as they call it, is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

and my language and the message I preached were not adorned with pleasing words of worldly wisdom, but they were attended with proof and power given by the Spirit,

Yet there is a wisdom that we impart when we are with people who have a mature faith, but it is not what this world calls wisdom, nor what the authorities of this world, doomed as they are to pass away, would call so.

Of which not one of the rulers of this world had knowledge: for if they had, they would not have put the Lord of glory on the cross:

But, as the Scripture says, they are: "Things which eye has never seen and ear has never heard, and never have occurred to human hearts, which God prepared for those who love Him."

For the natural man is not able to take in the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them, because such knowledge comes only through the Spirit.

but they are all expos'd to the judgment of the spiritual, whilst he himself is not subject to the judgment of any man.

What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? They are but servants who gave you the good news as God gave it to them.

Now the planter and the waterer are working for the same end: but they will have their separate rewards in the measure of their work.

And again, The Lord has knowledge of the reasonings of the wise, that they are nothing.

whether it be Paul, either Apollos, either Cephas: whether it be the world, or life, either death, whether they be present things or things to come: all are yours,

Furthermore it is required of the stewards that they be found faithful.

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on exhibition at the disgraced end of the procession, as they do with men who are doomed to die in the arena.

And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;

when they slander us, we try to conciliate them. We have come to be like the scum of the earth, the dregs of the world, and we are so now.

For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways as they are in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

Certain individuals have got puffed up, have they, as if I were not coming myself?

but if the Lord pleases, I will visit you very soon; and then I shall try, not what these boasters can say, but what they can do:

not that in this world you are to keep wholly aloof from such as they, any more than from people who are avaricious and greedy of gain, or from worshippers of idols. For that would mean that you would be compelled to go out of the world altogether.

If therefore you have things belonging to this life which need to be decided, is it men who are absolutely nothing in the Church--is it *they* whom you make your judges?

have ye not known that he who is joined to the harlot is one body? 'for they shall be -- saith He -- the two for one flesh.'