The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 38

HIM that is weak in faith receive; not for the decision of disputes.

(2)For one believes, that he may eat all things; but he that is weak eats herbs. (3)Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats; for G.o.d received him.

(4)Who art thou that judgest another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he shall be made to stand; for G.o.d is able to make him stand.

(5)One man esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each one be fully persuaded in his own mind. (6)He that regards the day, regards it to the Lord; and he that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to G.o.d; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives thanks to G.o.d.

(7)For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. (8)For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. (9)For to this end Christ died, and lived, that he might be Lord of both the dead and living.

(10)But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of G.o.d.

(11)For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to G.o.d.[14:11] (12)So then, each one of us shall give account of himself to G.o.d.

(13)Let us therefore no longer judge one another; but judge this rather, not to put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in a brother's way. (14)I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; but to him that accounts anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (15)But if because of food thy brother is grieved, thou no longer walkest in accordance with love. Destroy not him by thy food, for whom Christ died. (16)Let not then your good be evil spoken of. (17)For the kingdom of G.o.d is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18)For he that in these things serves Christ, is well pleasing to G.o.d, and approved by men.

(19)So then, let us follow after the things which make for peace, and things by which one may edify another. (20)For the sake of food destroy not the work of G.o.d. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. (21)It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbles, or is made to offend, or is weak. (22)Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before G.o.d. Happy is he that judges not himself in that which he allows. (23)And he that doubts is condemned if he eat, because it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is sin.

XV.

NOW we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (2)Let each one of us please his neighbor, for his good, to edification. (3)For also Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written: The reproaches of those who reproached thee, fell on me. (4)For whatever things were written afore-time were for our instruction, that we through patience and consolation of the Scriptures may have hope. (5)And the G.o.d of patience and consolation grant you to be of the same mind one with another, according to Christ Jesus; (6)that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify G.o.d, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(7)Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of G.o.d. (8)For I say that Jesus Christ has been made a minister of the circ.u.mcision, for the sake of G.o.d's truth, in order to confirm the promises made to the fathers; (9)and that the Gentiles should glorify G.o.d for his mercy; as it is written:

For this cause I will give thee praise among Gentiles.

And to thy name will sing.

(10)And again he says:

Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

(11)And again:

Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; And extol him, all ye peoples.

(12)And again, Isaiah says:

There shall be the root of Jesse, And he who rises up to rule the Gentiles; On him will Gentiles hope.

(13)And the G.o.d of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(14)And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (15)But I wrote the more boldly to you, brethren, in part as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by G.o.d; (16)that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest in the gospel of G.o.d, that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (17)I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus, as to things pertaining to G.o.d. (18)For I will not dare to speak of any of the things which Christ wrought not through me, to bring the Gentiles to obedience, by word and deed, (19)in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyric.u.m, I have fully preached the good news of Christ; (20)being emulous so to preach the good news, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another's foundation; (21)but as it is written:

They to whom it was not announced concerning him shall see, And they that have not heard shall understand.

(22)For which cause also, for the most part, I was hindered from coming to you. (23)But now having no longer place in these regions, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, (24)whenever I go into Spain, I hope to see you in my journey, and to be sent forward thither by you, if first I shall be satisfied in a measure with your company.

(25)But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. (26)For Macedonia and Achaia thought it good, to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who were at Jerusalem. (27)For they thought it good; and their debtors are they. For if the Gentiles shared in their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in carnal things. (28)When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go by you into Spain. (29)And I know that, when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

(30)And I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to G.o.d for me; (31)that I may be delivered from the unbelieving in Judaea, and that my service which is for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; (32)that with joy I may come to you by the will of G.o.d, and may with you be refreshed. (33)And the G.o.d of peace be with you all.

Amen.

XVI.

I COMMEND to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchraea; (2)that ye receive her in the Lord as becomes saints, and a.s.sist her in whatever business she may have need of you; for she has been a helper of many, and of myself.

(3)Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-laborers in Christ Jesus (4)(who for my life laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles), (5)and salute the church that is in their house.

Salute Epenetus, my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.

(6)Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on us[16:6].

(7)Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

(8)Salute Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.

(9)Salute Urba.n.u.s, our fellow-laborer in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

(10)Salute Apelles, the approved in Christ.

Salute those of the household of Aristobulus.

(11)Salute Herodion my kinsman.

Salute those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

(12)Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.

Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.

(13)Salute Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

(14)Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hernias, and the brethren who are with them.

(15)Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

(16)Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

(17)Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the teaching which ye learned, and avoid them.

(18)For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (19)For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you; but I would have you wise as to that which is good, and simple as to that which is evil. (20)And the G.o.d of peace will shortly bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

(21)Timothy, my fellow-laborer, salutes you, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

(22)I, Tertius, who wrote the letter, salute you in the Lord.

(23)Gaius my host, and of the whole church, salutes you.

Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and Quartus the brother.