8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.a 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: 14 But put ye on the Lord a Than when we first believed. of the law. 1 Men may not contemn or condemn one another for things indifferent, 13 but take heed of giving offence in them. HIM that is weak in the faith a receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.b 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 8 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth; for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the a Weak in the faith, concerning meats and days. But not passionately to dispute his opinions. It may here be observed, that the Jewish converts at Rome supposed, that certain meats forbidden by Moses, were unclean in themselves, and that the days, which he ordered to be kept holy, were still to be sanctified; they therefore considered their Gentile brethren as profane; because they paid no religious regard to meats and days. On the other hand the Gentiles despised the Jews as bigots, for making distinctions of meats and days, which to them appeared unnecessary. St. Paul, therefore, wrote this chapter to conciliate the Jews and Gentiles, and to shew them, that neither meats nor days commended them to God; but still, that it was sinful for any man to eat or to do any thing, which he himself really thought was sinful. Chap. xiv. Of things Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then, every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way. indifferent. any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of; 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us, therefore, follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.c 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Hapру is he that condemneth not himself in that thing, which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth dis cWith offence, giving offence to others, or believing himself, that it is sinful. d He that doubteth, whether it be lawful to eat any thing, is condemn 14 I know, and am persuaded, or is guilty, if he does eat it. ed by the Lord Jesus, that Whatever is done without a convicthere is nothing unclean of it- tion of its lawfulness, is really sin, self; but to him that esteemeth though in reality it be in itself lawful. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written,c The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. a That are strong, or more fully instructed in the doctrine of Christ. b Infirmities of the weak, the prejudices or prepossessions of the ignorant. c As it is written, Ps. Ixix. 9. ourselves. 8 Now I say, That Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written,d For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, e Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, f Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith,g There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly d As it is written, Ps. xviii. 49. e Deut. xxxii. 43. ƒ Ps. cxvii. 1. g Isaiah xi. 10. The design of the apostles in this place is to persuade the Jewish and Gentile converts to a cordial union in the worship of God; and to shew the Jews, that this union of the Gentiles with them, was foretold in their own scriptures Paul excuseth Chap. xv. unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace, that is given to me of God, 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. 17 I have, therefore, whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things, which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs & wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum,h I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: 21 But, as it is written,i To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand. 22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. b Illyricum was a country in Europe, lying between Pannonia and the Adriatic sea. It is now called Sclavonia. i As it is written, Isaiah lii. 15. his writing, &c. 23 But now, having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain I will come to you: for I trust to see you on my journey, & to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.j 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints, which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily, and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. k 28 When, therefore, I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; j To minister unto the saints, to carry the money I have collected for the brethren in Judea. k Carnal things, comforts and necessaries of life. 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and with may you refreshed. be salutations. who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ.b 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 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 Greet Amplias, my be 33 Now the God of peace loved in the Lord. be with all. you Amen. CHAP. XVI. 1 Paul sendeth greetings to 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you; for she hath been a succourer of many,and of myself also. 3 Greet a Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus; 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, a Greet and Salute are words of civility and respect, which imply the same, as to wish well, or to give our love, or regard. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles approv ed in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17 Now I beseech you, bFirst-fruits of Achaia, the first per son I converted in Achaia. |