Chapter 212

14:4. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own lord he standeth or falleth. And he shall stand: for God is able to make him stand.

14:5. For one judgeth between day and day: and another judgeth every day. Let every man abound in his own sense.

Between day, etc.... Still observing the sabbaths and festivals of the law.

14:6. He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord. And he that eateth eateth to the Lord: for he giveth thanks to God. And he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not and giveth thanks to God.

14:7. For none of us liveth to himself: and no man dieth to himself.

14:8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord: or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

14:9. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

14:10. But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

14:11. For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God.

14:12. Therefore every one of us shall render account to God for himself.

14:13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that you put not a stumblingblock or a scandal in your brother’s way.

14:14. I know, and am confident in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

14:15. For if, because of thy meat, thy brother be grieved, thou walkest not now according to charity. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

14:16. Let not then our good be evil spoken of.

14:17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but justice and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

14:18. For he that in this serveth Christ pleaseth God and is approved of men.

14:19. Therefore, let us follow after the things that are of peace and keep the things that are of edification, one towards another.

14:20. Destroy not the work of God for meat. All things indeed are clean: but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

14:21. It is good not to eat flesh and not to drink wine: nor any thing whereby thy brother is offended or scandalized or made weak.

14:22. Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Blessed is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth.

14:23. But he that discerneth, if he eat, is condemned; because not of faith. For all that is not of faith is sin.

Discerneth.... That is, distinguisheth between meats, and eateth against his conscience, what he deems unclean. Of faith.... By faith is here understood judgment and conscience: to act against which is always a sin.

Romans Chapter 15

He exhorts them to be all of one mind and promises to come and see them.

15:1. Now, we that are stronger ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves.

15:2. Let every one of you please his neighbour unto good, to edification.

15:3. For Christ did not please himself: but, as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

15:4. For what things soever were written were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.

15:5. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, one towards another, according to Jesus Christ:

15:6. That with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15:7. Wherefore, receive one another, as Christ also hath received you, unto the honour of God.

15:8. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Minister of the circumcision.... That is, executed his office and ministry towards the Jews, the people of the circumcision.

15:9. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to thy name.

15:10. And again he saith: rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people.

15:11. And again: praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles: and magnify him, all ye people.

15:12. And again, Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope.

15:13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing: that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

15:14. And I myself also, my brethren, am assured of you that you also are full of love, replenished with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another.

15:15. But I have written to you, brethren, more boldly in some sort, as it were putting you in mind, because of the grace which is given me from God,

15:16. That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles: sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.

15:17. I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God.

15:18. For I dare not to speak of any of those things which Christ worketh not by me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

15:19. By the virtue of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem round about, as far as unto Illyricum, I have replenished the gospel of Christ.

15:20. And I have so preached this gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.

15:21. But as it is written: They to whom he was not spoken of shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

15:22. For which cause also, I was hindered very much from coming to you and have been kept away till now.

15:23. But now, having no more place in these countries and having a great desire these many years past to come unto you,

15:24. When I shall begin to take my journey into Spain, I hope that, as I pass, I shall see you and be brought on my way thither by you: if first, in part, I shall have enjoyed you.

15:25. But now I shall go to Jerusalem, to minister unto the saints.

15:26. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor of the saints that are in Jerusalem.

15:27. For it hath pleased them: and they are their debtors. For, if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also in carnal things to minister to them.

15:28. When therefore I shall have accomplished this and consigned to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

15:29. And I know that when I come to you I shall come in the abundance of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

15:30. I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God,

15:31. That I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints.

15:32. That I may come to you with joy, by the will of God, and may be refreshed with you.

15:33. Now the God of peace be with, you all. Amen.

Romans Chapter 16

He concludes with salutations, bidding them beware of all that should oppose the doctrine they had learned.

16:1. And I commend to you Phebe, our sister, who is in the ministry of the church, that is in Cenchrae:

16:2. That you receive her in the Lord as becometh saints and that you assist her in whatsoever business she shall have need of you. For she also hath assisted many, and myself also.

16:3. Salute Prisca and Aquila, my helpers, in Christ Jesus

16:4. (Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not I only give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles),

16:5. And the church which is in their house. Salute Epenetus, my beloved: who is the firstfruits of Asia in Christ.

16:6. Salute Mary, who hath laboured much among you.

16:7. Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners: who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

16:8. Salute Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord.

16:9. Salute Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus and Stachys, my beloved.

16:10. Salute Apelles, approved in Christ.

16:11. Salute them that are of Aristobulus’ household. Salute Herodian, my kinsman. Salute them that are of Narcissus’ household, who are in the Lord.

16:12. Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute Persis, the dearly beloved, who hath much laboured in the Lord.

16:13. Salute Rufus, elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

16:14. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes: and the brethren that are with them.

16:15. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympias: and all the saints that are with them.

16:16. Salute one another with an holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

16:17. Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark them who make dissensions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them.

16:18. For they that are such serve not Christ our Lord but their own belly: and by pleasing speeches and good words seduce the hearts of the innocent.

16:19. For your obedience is published in every place. I rejoice therefore in you. But I would have you to be wise in good and simple in evil.

16:20. And the God of peace crush Satan under your feet speedily. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

16:21. Timothy, my fellow labourer, saluteth you: and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

16:22. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

16:23. Caius, my host, and the whole church saluteth you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, saluteth you: and Quartus, a brother.

16:24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

16:25. Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret from eternity;

16:26. (Which now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the precept of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith) known among all nations:

16:27. To God, the only wise, through Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS

St. Paul, having planted the faithful in Corinth, where he had preached a year and a half and converted a great many, went to Ephesus. After being there three years, he wrote this first Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it by the same persons, Stephanus, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who had brought their letter to him. It was written about twenty-four years after our Lord’s Ascension and contains several matters appertaining to faith and morals and also to ecclesiastical discipline.

1 Corinthians Chapter 1

He reproveth their dissensions about their teachers. The world was to be saved by preaching of the cross, and not by human wisdom or eloquence.

1:1. Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes a brother,

1:2. To the church of God that is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and ours.

1:3. Grace to you and peace, from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4. I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus:

1:5. That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge;

1:6. As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

1:7. So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1:8. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1:9. God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1:10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms among you: but that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1:11. For it hath been signified unto me, my brethren, of you, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1:12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1:13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1:14. I give God thanks, that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Caius:

1:15. Lest any should say that you were baptized in my name.

1:16. And I baptized also the household of Stephanus. Besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

1:17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

1:18. For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness: but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God.

1:19. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise: and the prudence of the prudent I will reject.

1:20. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1:21. For, seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe.

1:22. For both the Jews require signs: and the Greeks seek after wisdom.

1:23. But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:

1:24. But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1:25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men: and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The foolishness, etc.... That is to say, what appears foolish to the world in the ways of God, is indeed most wise; and what appears weak is indeed above all the strength and comprehension of man.

1:26. For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.

1:27. But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise: and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong.

1:28. And the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen: and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:

1:29. That no flesh should glory in his sight.

1:30. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption:

1:31. That, as it is written: He that glorieth may glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians Chapter 2

His preaching was not in loftiness of words, but in spirit and power. And the wisdom he taught was not to be understood by the worldly wise or sensual man, but only by the spiritual man.

2:1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ.

2:2. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ: and him crucified.

2:3. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.

2:4. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power:

2:5. That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

2:6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought.

2:7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:

2:8. Which none of the princes of this world knew. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

2:9. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard: neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.

2:10. But to us God hath revealed them by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2:11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of God, no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God.

2:12. Now, we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God: that we may know the things that are given us from God.

2:13. Which things also we speak: not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2:14. But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him: and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.

The sensual man—the spiritual man.... The sensual man is either he who is taken up with sensual pleasures, with carnal and worldly affections; or he who measureth divine mysteries by natural reason, sense, and human wisdom only. Now such a man has little or no notion of the things of God. Whereas the spiritual man is he who, in the mysteries of religion, takes not human sense for his guide: but submits his judgment to the decisions of the church, which he is commanded to hear and obey. For Christ hath promised to remain to the end of the world with his church, and to direct her in all things by the Spirit of truth.

2:15. But the spiritual man judgeth all things: and he himself is judged of no man.

2:16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians Chapter 3

They must not contend about their teachers, who are but God’s ministers and accountable to him. Their works shall be tried by fire.

3:1. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.

3:2. I gave you milk to drink, not meat: for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able: for you are yet carnal.

3:3. For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal and walk you not according to man?

3:4. For while one saith: I indeed am of Paul: and another: I am of Apollo: are you not men? What then is Apollo and what is Paul?

3:5. The ministers of him whom you have believed: and to every one as the Lord hath given.

3:6. I have planted, Apollo watered: but God gave the increase.

3:7. Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase.

3:8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.

3:9. For we are God’s coadjutors. You are God’s husbandry: you are God’s building.

3:10. According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation: and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

3:11. For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid: which is Christ Jesus.

3:12. Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble:

Upon this foundation.... The foundation is Christ and his doctrine: or the true faith in him, working through charity. The building upon this foundation gold, silver, and precious stones, signifies the more perfect preaching and practice of the gospel; the wood, hay, and stubble, such preaching as that of the Corinthian teachers (who affected the pomp of words and human eloquence) and such practice as is mixed with much imperfection, and many lesser sins. Now the day of the Lord, and his fiery trial, (in the particular judgment immediately after death,) shall make manifest of what sort every man’s work has been: of which, during this life, it is hard to make a judgment. For then the fire of God’s judgment shall try every man’s work. And they, whose works, like wood, hay, and stubble, cannot abide the fire, shall suffer loss; these works being found to be of no value; yet they themselves, having built upon the right foundation, (by living and dying in the true faith and in the state of grace, though with some imperfection,) shall be saved yet so as by fire; being liable to this punishment, by reason of the wood, hay, and stubble, which was mixed with their building.

3:13. Every man’s work shall be manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire. And the fire shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is.

3:14. If any man’s work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

3:15. If any man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

3:16. Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

3:17. But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.

3:18. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

3:19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness.

3:20. And again: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

3:21. Let no man therefore glory in men.

3:22. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. For all are yours.

3:23. And you are Christ’s. And Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians Chapter 4

God’s ministers are not to be judged. He reprehends their boasting of their preachers and describes the treatment the apostles every where met with.

4:1. Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.

4:2. Here now it is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful.

4:3. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man’s day. But neither do I judge my own self.

4:4. For I am not conscious to myself of anything. Yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

4:5. Therefore, judge not before the time: until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise from God.

4:6. But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes: that in us you may learn that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is written.

4:7. For who distinguisheth thee? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received, and if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

4:8. You are now full: you are now become rich: you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

4:9. For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death. We are made a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.

4:10. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honourable, but we without honour.

4:11. Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no fixed abode.

4:12. And we labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled: and we bless. We are persecuted: and we suffer it.

4:13. We are blasphemed: and we entreat. We are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now.

4:14. I write not these things to confound you: but I admonish you as my dearest children.

4:15. For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.

4:16. Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ.