The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 37

(30)What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who were not following after righteousness, obtained righteousness, the righteousness which is of faith; (31)but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, attained not to [such] a law. (32)Wherefore? Because [they sought it]

not by faith, but as being by works of law. For they stumbled against the stone of stumbling; (33)as it is written: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.

X.

BRETHREN, it is my heart's desire and prayer to G.o.d on their behalf, that they might be saved. (2)For I bear them witness, that they have a zeal for G.o.d, but not according to knowledge. (3)For not knowing the righteousness of G.o.d, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of G.o.d. (4)For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, to every one that believes.

(5)For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law: The man that has done them, shall live by them.[10:5] (6)But the righteousness which is of faith says thus: Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down;) (7)or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring up Christ from the dead.) (8)But what says it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (9)because, if thou shalt profess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that G.o.d raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10)For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth profession is made unto salvation. (11)For the Scripture says: Whoever believes on him shall not be put to shame. (12)For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same is Lord of all, rich toward all that call upon him; (13)for every one who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(14)How then shall they call on him on whom they believed not? And how shall they believe on him of whom they heard not? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15)And how shall they preach, unless they are sent forth? As it is written:

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!

(16)But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah says: Lord, who believed our report? (17)So then faith comes of hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d.

(18)But I say, did they not hear? Yes verily;

Their sound went forth into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

(19)But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:

I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are no people, By a foolish nation I will move you to anger.

(20)But Isaiah is very bold, and says:

I was found by those who sought me not; I became manifest to those who asked not after me.

(21)But of Israel he says:

All the day long, I stretched forth my hands, To a disobedient and gainsaying people.

XI.

I SAY then, did G.o.d cast away his people? Far be it! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (2)G.o.d did not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the Scripture says in the story of Elijah; how he pleads with G.o.d against Israel, saying: (3)Lord they killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I was left alone, and they seek my life. (4)But what says the answer of G.o.d to him? I reserved to myself seven thousand men, who bowed not the knee to Baal.

(5)Even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6)And if by grace, it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace becomes no longer grace. [11:6][But if of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise, work is no longer work.]

(7)What then? What Israel seeks after, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. (8)According as it is written: G.o.d gave them a spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day. (9)And David says:

Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them; (10)Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow down their back alway.

(11)I say then, did they stumble in order that they should fall? Far be it! But by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. (12)But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?

(13)For I am speaking to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office; (14)if by any means I may provoke to emulation those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

(15)For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (16)And if the first-fruit is holy, so also is the lump; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches. (17)And if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive-tree, wert grafted in among them, and became a partaker with them of the root and the fatness of the olive-tree; (18)boast not over the branches. But if thou boast, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.

(19)Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. (20)Well; because of their want of faith they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; (21)for if G.o.d spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

(22)Behold then the goodness and severity of G.o.d; toward those who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off. (23)And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in; for G.o.d is able again to graft them in. (24)For if thou wast cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive-tree; how much more shall these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

(25)For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that hardness has come upon Israel in part, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. (26)And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written: There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; he will turn away unG.o.dliness from Jacob; (27)and this is the covenant from me to them, when I shall take away their sins. (28)As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. (29)For unrepented are the gifts and the calling of G.o.d. (30)For as ye in times past disobeyed G.o.d, but now obtained mercy through their disobedience; (31)so also they now disobeyed through the mercy shown to you, that they also might obtain mercy.

(32)For G.o.d included all in disobedience[11:32], that he might have mercy upon all.

(33)Oh, the depth of the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of G.o.d! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

(34)For,

Who knew the mind of the Lord?

Or who became his counselor?

(35)Or who first gave to him, and it shall be given back to him again?

(36)For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things; to him be the glory forever. Amen.

XII.

I BESEECH you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G.o.d, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to G.o.d, which is your rational service. (2)And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may discern what is the will of G.o.d, the good, and well pleasing, and perfect.

(3)For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as G.o.d imparted to each one the measure of faith. (4)For as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office; (5)so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. (6)And having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of our faith; (7)or ministry, [let us wait] on the ministry; or he that teaches, on the teaching; (8)or he that exhorts, on the exhortation; he that gives, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that presides, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

(9)Let love be unfeigned. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In brotherly love, (10)be kindly affectioned one to another; in honor, preferring one another; (11)in diligence, not slothful; in spirit, fervent, serving the Lord; (12)in hope, rejoicing; in affliction, patient; in prayer, persevering; (13)communicating to the necessities of the saints[12:13]; given to hospitality. (14)Bless those who persecute you; bless, and curse not.

(15)Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. (16)Be of the same mind one toward another. Aspire not to things that are high, but condescend to the lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.

(17)Recompense to no one evil for evil. Provide things honorable in the sight of all men. (18)If it be possible, as far as depends on you, be at peace with all men. (19)Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath [of G.o.d]. For it is written: To me belongs vengeance; I will recompense, saith the Lord. (20)Therefore,

If thy enemy hungers, feed him; If he thirsts, give him drink.

For, in doing this,

Thou wilt heap coals of fire on his head.

(21)Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

XIII.

LET every soul submit himself to the higher powers. For there is no power but from G.o.d; the powers that be have been ordained by G.o.d.

(2)So that he who resists the power, resists the ordinance of G.o.d; and they that resist will receive to themselves condemnation. (3)For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. And dost thou wish not to be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou wilt have praise from it; (4)for he is G.o.d's minister to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain; for he is G.o.d's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil. (5)Wherefore it is necessary to submit yourselves, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

(6)For, for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are G.o.d's ministers, attending continually to this very thing. (7)Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (8)Owe no one anything, but to love one another; for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. (9)For this: Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (10)Love works no ill to one's neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (11)And that, knowing the time, that it is high time that we already were awaked out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (12)The night is far advanced, the day is at hand.

Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (13)Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, not in strife and envying; (14)but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill its l.u.s.ts.

XIV.