Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible




So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: read more.
and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they.

And so disagreeing one with another they separated, when Paul had said one word, to wit, that the holy Spirit spake rightly by Esaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, Go to this people and say, Ye shall hear by the hearing of the ear, and not understand; and in seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is stupified, and they hear heavily with their ears, and have closed their eyes; least they should see at all with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. read more.
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.

What shall we say then? that the Gentiles, who sought not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness: why? because they sought it not by faith, but by the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; read more.
as it is written, "Behold I lay in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence:" and again, "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."

I say then, Hath God cast off his people? God forbid! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast off his people, whom He foreknew. Do ye not know what the scripture saith of Elias? how he complains to God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." read more.
But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." And so in the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, it is no more of works: for then grace is no longer grace. But if of works, it is no more grace: for then work is no longer work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought: but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded, (according as it is written, God hath given them a spirit of slumber, that their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear,) even unto this day. And David saith, Let their table become a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and always bow down their back. Say I then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall irrecoverably? God forbid! but this I say, that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles to excite them to emulation. Now if their fall be the riches of the world, and their diminution be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will their fulness be? For I speak to you Gentiles: inasmuch indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I extol my office, that if possible I may excite to emulation my brethren according to the flesh, and may save some of them: for if the rejecting of them be the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving them again be but life from the dead? Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole heap: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches: and if thou boastest, remember thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in? Well; they were broken off for their infidelity, and thou standest by faith: therefore be not high-minded but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, neither would He spare thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: towards them that fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness: for else thou also shalt be cut off. And they, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able again to graft them in. For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive, which was natural to thee, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive; how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree? For I would not have you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery, (least ye should be wise in your own eyes) that blindness in part is befallen Israel, till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, "The deliverer shall come out of Sion, and shall turn away impiety from Jacob: and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins." As to the gospel indeed they are enemies on your account, but as to the election they are beloved on account of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye were heretofore disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy in their disobedience: so these also in your mercy have now been disobedient, that they themselves might be the objects of mercy. For God hath included them all in the charge of disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so ye know that they who believe, are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham long ago, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
So then they that believe, are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. And that by the law no one is justified before God is evident; for it is written "The just shall live by faith:" now the law is not of faith, but saith, "The man that doth them, shall live in them." Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us: for it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles by Christ Jesus; that we through faith might receive the promise of the Spirit.






For by grace ye are saved, through faith: and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not by works, that no one may boast: for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, for which God before prepared us, that we might walk in them.



But Peter said unto him, Let thy money perish with thee, since thou thoughtest to purchase the gift of God with money. Verse ConceptsBuying and sellingPeter, The ApostlePurchasingMoneyThe Holy Spirit Described As God's GiftBuying God's GiftGod Giving FreelyMoney Blessings

and yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is the type of Him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift: for if through the offence of one many died, much more hath the grace of God, and the gift bestowed by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. For the gift is not as the sentence was by one that sinned; for the sentence is passed from one offence to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences to justification. read more.
For if, by the offence of one, death reigned through one, much more they who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life through one, even Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one the effect of it was upon all men to condemnation: so also by the righteousness of one, the effect was upon all men to justification of life.

I say then, Hath God cast off his people? God forbid! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast off his people, whom He foreknew. Do ye not know what the scripture saith of Elias? how he complains to God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." read more.
But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." And so in the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, it is no more of works: for then grace is no longer grace. But if of works, it is no more grace: for then work is no longer work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought: but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded, (according as it is written, God hath given them a spirit of slumber, that their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear,) even unto this day. And David saith, Let their table become a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and always bow down their back. Say I then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall irrecoverably? God forbid! but this I say, that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles to excite them to emulation. Now if their fall be the riches of the world, and their diminution be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will their fulness be? For I speak to you Gentiles: inasmuch indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I extol my office, that if possible I may excite to emulation my brethren according to the flesh, and may save some of them: for if the rejecting of them be the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving them again be but life from the dead? Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole heap: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches: and if thou boastest, remember thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in? Well; they were broken off for their infidelity, and thou standest by faith: therefore be not high-minded but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, neither would He spare thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: towards them that fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness: for else thou also shalt be cut off. And they, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able again to graft them in. For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive, which was natural to thee, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive; how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree? For I would not have you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery, (least ye should be wise in your own eyes) that blindness in part is befallen Israel, till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, "The deliverer shall come out of Sion, and shall turn away impiety from Jacob: and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins." As to the gospel indeed they are enemies on your account, but as to the election they are beloved on account of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye were heretofore disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy in their disobedience: so these also in your mercy have now been disobedient, that they themselves might be the objects of mercy. For God hath included them all in the charge of disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.




So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: read more.
and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they.

And so disagreeing one with another they separated, when Paul had said one word, to wit, that the holy Spirit spake rightly by Esaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, Go to this people and say, Ye shall hear by the hearing of the ear, and not understand; and in seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is stupified, and they hear heavily with their ears, and have closed their eyes; least they should see at all with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. read more.
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.

What shall we say then? that the Gentiles, who sought not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness: why? because they sought it not by faith, but by the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; read more.
as it is written, "Behold I lay in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence:" and again, "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."

I say then, Hath God cast off his people? God forbid! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast off his people, whom He foreknew. Do ye not know what the scripture saith of Elias? how he complains to God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." read more.
But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." And so in the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, it is no more of works: for then grace is no longer grace. But if of works, it is no more grace: for then work is no longer work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought: but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded, (according as it is written, God hath given them a spirit of slumber, that their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear,) even unto this day. And David saith, Let their table become a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and always bow down their back. Say I then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall irrecoverably? God forbid! but this I say, that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles to excite them to emulation. Now if their fall be the riches of the world, and their diminution be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will their fulness be? For I speak to you Gentiles: inasmuch indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I extol my office, that if possible I may excite to emulation my brethren according to the flesh, and may save some of them: for if the rejecting of them be the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving them again be but life from the dead? Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole heap: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches: and if thou boastest, remember thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in? Well; they were broken off for their infidelity, and thou standest by faith: therefore be not high-minded but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, neither would He spare thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: towards them that fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness: for else thou also shalt be cut off. And they, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able again to graft them in. For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive, which was natural to thee, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive; how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree? For I would not have you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery, (least ye should be wise in your own eyes) that blindness in part is befallen Israel, till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, "The deliverer shall come out of Sion, and shall turn away impiety from Jacob: and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins." As to the gospel indeed they are enemies on your account, but as to the election they are beloved on account of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye were heretofore disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy in their disobedience: so these also in your mercy have now been disobedient, that they themselves might be the objects of mercy. For God hath included them all in the charge of disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so ye know that they who believe, are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham long ago, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
So then they that believe, are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. And that by the law no one is justified before God is evident; for it is written "The just shall live by faith:" now the law is not of faith, but saith, "The man that doth them, shall live in them." Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us: for it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles by Christ Jesus; that we through faith might receive the promise of the Spirit.

I say then, Hath God cast off his people? God forbid! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast off his people, whom He foreknew. Do ye not know what the scripture saith of Elias? how he complains to God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." read more.
But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." And so in the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, it is no more of works: for then grace is no longer grace. But if of works, it is no more grace: for then work is no longer work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought: but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded, (according as it is written, God hath given them a spirit of slumber, that their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear,) even unto this day. And David saith, Let their table become a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and always bow down their back. Say I then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall irrecoverably? God forbid! but this I say, that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles to excite them to emulation. Now if their fall be the riches of the world, and their diminution be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will their fulness be? For I speak to you Gentiles: inasmuch indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I extol my office, that if possible I may excite to emulation my brethren according to the flesh, and may save some of them: for if the rejecting of them be the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving them again be but life from the dead? Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole heap: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches: and if thou boastest, remember thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in? Well; they were broken off for their infidelity, and thou standest by faith: therefore be not high-minded but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, neither would He spare thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: towards them that fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness: for else thou also shalt be cut off. And they, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able again to graft them in. For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive, which was natural to thee, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive; how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree? For I would not have you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery, (least ye should be wise in your own eyes) that blindness in part is befallen Israel, till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, "The deliverer shall come out of Sion, and shall turn away impiety from Jacob: and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins." As to the gospel indeed they are enemies on your account, but as to the election they are beloved on account of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye were heretofore disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy in their disobedience: so these also in your mercy have now been disobedient, that they themselves might be the objects of mercy. For God hath included them all in the charge of disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.