OBSERVE this: I Paul myself declare to you, that if ye should become circumcised, Christ will be of no advantage to you. Yes, indeed, I declare again to every man that becometh circumcised, that he is under obligation to obey the whole Law. Ye have become severed from Christ, whoever are seeking to become righteous by means of law: ye have abandoned the Loving-Favor. For we, by the Spirit, are awaiting the hope of righteousness from faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision hath any power, but faith showing its activity through love. Ye were running well: who hindered you from obeying the truth? This solicitation is not from him who called you. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole mass." I for my part have confidence in the Lord in regard to you, that ye will have no other mind; but he that is disturbing you shall bear his condemnation, whoever he may be. But, brethren, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still persecuted? in that case the offensiveness of the cross would be done away with. I would that those who are disquieting you would separate themselves entirely from you. For ye, brethren, have been called for freedom; only use not freedom as a pretext for indulging bodily appetite; but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is comprised in a single utterance-in this: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." But if ye bite and devour one another, take care lest ye be eaten up by one another. Now I say this: Walk by the Spirit, and ye will certainly not fulfil the desires of the flesh. For the flesh hath desires contrary to the spirit, and the spirit contrary to the flesh; for these are opposed to one another, so that ye may not do whatever ye wish. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under law. Manifest indeed are the works of the flesh, which are such as these unchastity, impurity, wantonness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, wraths, rivalries, divisions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these: in regard to which I (v. 2-21.) * Or, in spirit. b Or, by spirit. • Ibid. forewarn you, even as I have already forewarned you, that those who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, self-control: against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to the Christ- to Jesus, have crucified the flesh, together with its passions and appetites. Since we are alive by the Spirit," by the Spirit also let us go forward. Let us not be found to be conceited, irritating one another, envying one another. BRETHREN, even if any one should have been surprised by any fault, do ye who are spiritual reclaim such a one by a spirit of gentleness, taking heed to thyself lest thou also become tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and thus completely fulfil the law of Christ. For if any one thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth his own judgment. But let every one test his own work; and then he will have cause for boasting as regards himself, and not as regards the other: for each one will have to bear his own burden. Let him that is being instructed in the Word share with him that instructeth, in everything good. Be not deceived: God is not to be treated with contempt; d for whatever a man soweth, that also shall he reap: since, he that soweth to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap what will perish; but he that soweth to the spirit shall from the spirit reap Life Eternal. Then let us not be discouraged in well-doing; for at the proper season we shall reap if we do not become faint-hearted. So then, as we may have opportunity, let us work what is good toward all men, but especially toward those who are of the family of the Faith. e (Ye see with what large characters I am writing to you with my own hand.) Those who are anxious to make a fair appearance in regard to (v. 22-vi. 12.) Or, by spirit. b Ibid. Gr., march. Or, while we have. the flesh, these same persons are seeking to force you to be circumcised, solely that they themselves may not be persecuted on account of the cross of the Christ. For not even do those who are having themselves circumcised keep the Law themselves; but they desire that ye should be circumcised, in order that they may have ground of boasting in your flesh. On the contrary, far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom a the world is crucified to me and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision; but a new creation is everything. And whoever shall march by this guiding-line, peace shall be upon them, and mercy: even upon the Israel of God. Hereafter let no one give me trouble; for I myself bear branded upon my body the marks of Jesus. The loving-favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren: Amen. NOTE.-Probably written from Corinth, about A.D. 57 or 58. (vi. 13-18.) a Or, which. LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS PAULA UL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle," set apart to declare the Good-tidings of God, which he had promised beforehand through his prophets in the sacred Writings, concerning his Son, who came of the family of David with respect to his bodily nature, and who was designated to be the Son of God b by his power (in accordance with his spirit of holiness) of rising from among the dead- even Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received a gift, even an apostleship on behalf of his name among all the nations in order to their obedience to the Faith; among whom are ye, called ones of Jesus Christ: :- to all the beloved of God who are in Rome, called, saints: Joy to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. d In the first place, then, I thank my God through Jesus Christ on account of you all, because your faith is told of through all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Good-tidings of his Son, how constantly I make mention of you at all times in my prayers; making request, if somehow now at last I may have a way opened by the will of God to come to you. For I "Or, a called-apostle. meaning here is not clear.) (i. 1-11.) b Gr., God's Son. e Or, sanctity, consecration: (the d That is, I, Paul. desire earnestly to become acquainted with you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, in order that ye may be made firm: that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged, each by the faith of the other. And I wish you not to be ignorant, brethren, that I have often purposed to come to you, (but have been hindered as yet,) that I might have some fruit among you also, as well as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to wise and to ignorant. So as for myself, I am eager to declare the Good-tidings to you also who are in Rome. b a For I am not ashamed of the Good-tidings; for it is a power of God for salvation to every one who hath faith — both to the Jew and to the Greek. For by it the righteousness that is from God is shown to be out of faith unto faith: as it is written, "He that is righteous from faith, shall live." For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven toward all impiety and unrighteousness of men who hinder the truth by unrighteousness: because that which is made known of God is evident within themselves; for God hath made it evident to them. For his unseen things have been plainly evident since the creation of the universe, being perceived by means. of the things that have been made — even his eternal power and Godhood. So that they are without excuse; because, though they had knowledge of God, they did not honor him as God, nor did they give him thanks, but became empty in their reasonings, and their undiscerning mind was darkened. Pretending to be wise, they became foolish, and exchanged the glory of the imperishable God for a similitude of an image of perishable man, and of birds, and of beasts, and of reptiles. Wherefore God gave them over in the cravings of their appetites to impurity, to the dishonoring of their own bodies with one another; for they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and revered and worshiped the thing created rather than the Creator, who is blessed unto the ages: Amen. e с d On this account God gave them over to shameful passions: for (i. 12-26.) Or, God's kind of righteousness: Gr., God's righteousness. b Or, among 'Or, trueness. |