Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



What advantage then has the Jew, or what profit has circumcision? Much in every respect; but chiefly that the oracles of God were intrusted to them. What, indeed, if some have been unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness overthrow the faithfulness of God? read more.
It can not be. But let God be true, though every man be a liar, as it is written: That thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness causes God's plan of justifying men to be better known, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who inflicts punishment? I speak as a man. It can not be: for if so, how shall God judge the world? Yet, if the truth of God has, through my lie, been greatly advanced to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? Then, why not say, (as we are slanderously reported as saying, and, as some affirm, that we do say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Of such persons the condemnation is just. What then? Do we, Jews, excel? Not at all: for we have already convicted all, both Jews and Greeks, of being under sin, as it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that understands; there is none that seeks after God; they have all turned out of the way; they have alike become unprofitable; there is none that does good, not even one; their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet. are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known; there is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what the law says, it speaks- to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God. Wherefore, by works of law, no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by law is the knowledge of sin. But now, God's plan of justifying men without law is revealed, being attested by the law and the prophets; I repeat it, God's plan of justifying men through faith in Jesus Christ, which is for all, and on all that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,

What, then, shall we say that Abraham our father has found, as it respects the flesh? For if Abraham was. justified by works, he has cause for boasting, but not before God. For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. read more.
Now to him that works, the reward is not counted as a favor, but as a debt: but to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness without works, saying: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins. are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge sin. Comes this blessedness then on those who are circumcised only, or on those who are uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness. Under what circumstances, then, was it counted? After he was circumcised? Or, while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was uncircumcised, in order that he might be the father of all that believe, even in a state of uncircumcision, so that righteousness might be counted to them also; and the father of circumcision to those who are not only circumcised, but who, also, walk in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while he was yet uncircumcised. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, nor to his posterity, through law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the law be heirs, the faith is made powerless, and the promise is unmeaning; for the law inflicts punishment; for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore, the inheritance is by faith, that it may be according to grace, in order that the promise may be sure to all his posterity, not to those only who are of the law, but to those, also, who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

But that it was counted to him, was not written for his sake alone, but for our sakes also, to whom it shall be counted, if we believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our offenses, and raised again for our justification.


for as many of you as have been immersed into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bondman nor free man, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And John answered and said: Master, we saw a certain one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us. And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not; for whoever is not against us, is for us.

And John answered him and said: Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name, and he does not follow us: and we forbade him, because he does not follow us. But Jesus said: Forbid him not; for there is no one that will do a mighty deed in my name, and be able readily to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us, is for us. read more.
For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink on this account, because you are Christ s, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

If, then, God gave them the like gift that he gave to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God? And when they heard these things, they ceased to contend; and they glorified God, saying: Then, indeed, has God given to the Gentiles also repentance in order to life.

And certain men came down from Judea, and taught the brethren, saying: Unless you be circumcised, according to the custom of Moses, you can not be saved. Therefore, after Paul and Barnabas had no little dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others from among them, should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. Being, therefore, con ducted on their journey by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, making known the conversion of the Gentiles; and they gave great joy to all the brethren. read more.
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and the apostles and elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, arose, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together to deliberate about this matter. And after there had been much disputing, Peter arose, and said to them: Brethren, you know that, at the beginning, God made choice among us, that, by my mouth, the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. And God, who knows the heart, became a witness for them, by giving them the Holy Spirit, as he gave it also to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why do you put God to the proof, by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers, nor we ourselves, were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved, even as they, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then all the multitude kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they made known what signs and wonders God had done by them among the Gentiles. And after they were silent, James answered and said: Brethren, hear me; Simeon has declared how God, at the first, did visit the Gentiles, in order to take out from among them a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and build again the tabernacle of David which has fallen down; and I will build again its ruins, and I will set it up; that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name has been called, says the Lord, who does all these things. Known to God from eternity are all bis works. For these reasons, my judgment is, that we give no trouble to those who, from among the Gentiles, have turned to God; but that we write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from lewdness, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For, from ancient times, Moses has, in every city, those who preach him, being read in the synagogue every sabbath-day. Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, chosen men from among themselves; Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren; and they wrote by their hands as follows: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: Inasmuch as we have heard that certain persons went out from us and troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, That you must be circumcised, and keep the law, to whom we gave no commandment, it has seemed good to us, having come together with one mind, to send chosen men to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have en dangered their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in word. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from lewdness; from which if you keep yourselves carefully, you will do well. Farewell. So when these men were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and having assembled the multitude, they delivered this letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation which it gave.

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he formerly promised through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the posterity of David according to the flesh, read more.
but declared to be the Son of God with power, according to his holy spiritual nature, by his resurrection from the dead, through whom we have received grace and apostleship, in order to the obedience of faith among all nations, for the honor of his name, among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ, to all that are in Rome, be loved of God, called saints: Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise. So that, as far as I am able, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also, who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel: for it is the power of God in order to salvation, to every one that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Wherefore, by works of law, no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by law is the knowledge of sin. But now, God's plan of justifying men without law is revealed, being attested by the law and the prophets; I repeat it, God's plan of justifying men through faith in Jesus Christ, which is for all, and on all that believe; for there is no difference; read more.
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, yet may be justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God has set forth as a propitiatory sacrifice, through faith in his blood, in order to manifest his righteousness, in passing by the sins that were formerly committed through the forbearance of God; in order to manifest his righteousness at the present time, that he might be just, while he justifies him who believes in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No; but by the law of faith. For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without deeds of law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gen tiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: since there is one God, who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith. Do we, then, make law void through the faith? It can not be. On the other hand, we establish law.

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have had access, by faith, into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

For he is our peace, who has made both parties one, and broken down the partition wall that separated us, having abolished, in his flesh, the cause of enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances, that he might, by himself, form the two into one new man, thus making peace; and that he might reconcile both, in one body, to God, through the cross, having by it put to death the cause of enmity; read more.
and having come, he preached peace to you who were far off, and to those who were near:

in which new creation there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all and in all. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, a merciful disposition, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any one have a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you: read more.
and over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God, to which you are called in one body, rule in your hearts, and be thankful.








Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither lewd persons, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor catamites, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor defrauders, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

For we ourselves also were formerly foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one an other. But when the kindness and philanthropy of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, read more.
which he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. But that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: I will give you the sure mercies of David. For which reason he says also in another Psalm: Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. read more.
For David, after serving the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption. But he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Be it known to you, therefore, brethren, that through this man is preached to you the remission of sins: and by him, every one that believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, yet may be justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

For when we were yet without strength, at the appointed time, Christ died for the ungodly. For hardly, in deed, will one die for a just man; yet, perhaps, for the good man some one would even dare to die. But God makes known his love to us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us: read more.
much more, then, since we are now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. And not only so, but we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation. For this reason, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by his sin, death; and so death passed through to all men, because all have sinned: for till the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is the type of him that was to come. But the favor bestowed is not, in all respects, like the offense: for if, by the offense of one, the many have died, much more have the grace of God and the gift which is by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ, been made abundant for the many. And the gift is not like the sentence that came through one who sinned: for the sentence to condemnation was because of one offense; but the favor bestowed in order to justification, is because of many offenses. For if, by one man's offense, death has reigned through that one, much more shall those who receive the abundance of the grace, and of the gift of righteousness, reign in life through the one, who is Jesus Christ. Therefore, as, by one offense, sentence came on all men to condemnation, so, also, by one act of righteousness, the gift has come on all men to justification of life. For as by the disobedience of the one man the many have been made sinners, so, also, by the obedience of the one, the many shall be made righteous.

knowing that a man is not justified by works of law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed on Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of law: because, by works of law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is Christ, there fore, the minister of sin? It can not be. For if I build again those things which I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. read more.
For, through law, I have died to law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live; no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will: he takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. And every priest stands daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: read more.
but after offering one sacrifice for sins, he himself sits continually at the right hand of God, henceforth waiting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering, he has made a perfect and perpetual expiation for the sanctified.