damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. CHAP. XV. 1 The strong must bear with the weak. 2 We may not please ourselves, 7 but receive one another, as Christ did us all. WE then that are strong a ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,b and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification: 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. 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. 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, Se. 23 But now, having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these years to come unto you; many 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 sairs, 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 nev cessaries of life. 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my scrvice 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 may with you be refreshed. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. CHAP. XVI. 1 Paul sendeth greetings to many, 25 and endeth with praise and thanks to God. I COMMEND unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 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. 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 beloved in the Lord. 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. brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. 18 For they that are such, serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad, therefore, on your behalf; but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23 Gaius mine host,c and c Gaius mine bost, Gaius or Caius, with whom I lodge. and offences. of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus, the chamberlain of the city, saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25 Now, to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, (according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith ;) 27 To God only wise, be Glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. ¶ Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe, servant of the church at Cenchrea. PREFATORY REMARKS TO THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. CORINTH was a rich and luxurious city in Achaia, situated upon the isthmus, which connected the Peloponnesus, now Morea, with the northern part of Greece. It was favourably situated for commerce; and at the time this Epistle was written, about A. D. 57, it was one of the most celebrated cities in Greece for its learning and magnificence, and no less for the profligacy and wickedness of its inhabitants. St. Paul first visited Corinth about A. D. 51, and establish Salutations and I. Corinthians. thanksgivings. ed a flourishing church, in which were some Jews of note, but the greater part were idolatrous Gentiles. After several years absence a false teacher appeared among them, and introduced division and disorder. In this situation of the church some of the members wrote to Paul for advice and direction, and not being able to visit them again so early as he intended, about A. D. 57, he wrote this first Epistle, in which he reproves the false teacher and his adherents; and because they had ridiculed him as rude in speech, he informed them, that in preaching the Gospel, Christ had ordered him to avoid the enticing words of man's wisdom. He told them, their luxurious manner of living was inconsistent with the purity of the Gospel, and sharply reproved them for referring their disputes to Heathen courts of justice for settlement. The apostle then answers certain questions concerning marriage, celibacy, and divorce. He proves his apostleship, which the false teacher had presumed to question, declares it sinful to sit down with Heathens in an idol's temple to partake of the sacrifices,-gives rules for the behaviour of both sexes in the public assemblies, rebukes the whole church for the indecent manner, in which they had celebrated the Lord's Supper, proves against the opinion of the Greek philosophers and Jewish Sadducees, not only the possibility, but the certainty of the resurrection of the dead, and exhorts the Corinthians to make collections for the saints at Jerusalem, who were reduced to great distress. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE, TO THE CORINTHIANS. CHAP. I. 1 After salutation and thanksgiving, 10 he exhorteth to unity, 12 and reproveth their dissensions. 18 God destroyeth the wisdom of the wise. PAUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs & ours: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, & from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, & in all knowledge; |
