Chapter 64

This also we know, I mean the season, how that it is time that we should now awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is passed and the day is come nigh. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as it were in the daylight: not in eating and drinking: neither in chambering and wantonness: neither in strife and envying: but put ye on the lord Iesus Christ. And make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts of it.

The .xiiij. Chapter.

Him that is weak in the faith, receive unto you, not in disputing and troubling his conscience. One believeth that he may eat all things. Another which is weak eateth herbs, 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. What art thou that judgest another man's servant? Whether he stand or fall, that pertaineth unto his master. Yee, he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand.

This man putteth difference between day and day: another man counteth all days alike. See that no man waver in his own mind. He that observeth one day more than another, doth it for the lord's pleasure. And he that observeth not one day more than another, doth it to please the lord, for he giveth God thanks. and he that eateth not, eateth not to please the lord with all, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth his own servant: and also none of us dieth his own servant. If we live, we live to be at the lord's will. And if we die, we die at the lord's will. Whether we live therefore or die, we are the lord's. For Christ therefore died and rose again, and revived, that he might be lord both of dead and quick.

But why doest thou then judge thy brother? other why dost thou despise thy brother? We shall all be brought before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written: As truly as I live saith the lord, all knees shall bow to me, and all tongues shall give a knowledge to God. So shall every one of us give accounts of himself to God. 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. For I know, and surely believe in the lord Iesus, that there is nothing common of itself: but unto him that judgeth it to be common, to him it is common. If thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Suffer ye not that your treasure be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy, in the holy ghost. For whosoever in these things serveth Christ, pleaseth well God: and is commended of men.

Let us follow those things which make for peace: and things wherewith one may edify another. Destroy not the work of God for a little meat's sake. All things are pure: but it is evil for that man, which eateth with hurt of his conscience. It is good neither to eat flesh, neither to drink wine, neither anything, whereby thy brother stumbleth, other falleth, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it with thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. For he that maketh conscience, is damned if he eat: Because he doth it not of faith. For whatsoever is not of faith, that same is sin.

The .xv. Chapter.

We which are strong ought to bear the frailness of them which are weak, and not to stand in our own conceits. Let every man please his neighbor unto his wealth and edifying. For Christ pleased not himself: but as it is written: The rebukes of them which rebuked thee, fell on me. Whatsoever things are written aforetime, are written for our learning that we thorow patience and comfort of the scripture should have hope.

God which is lord of patience and consolation, give unto every one of you, that ye be like likeminded one towards another after the ensample of Iesu Christ, that ye all agreeing together, may with one mouth praise God the father of our lord Iesus. Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ received us, to the praise of God.

And I say that Iesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. And let the gentiles praise God for his mercy. As it is written: For this cause I will praise thee among the gentiles, and sing in thy name. And again he saith: ye gentiles rejoice with his people. Again, praise the lord all ye gentiles, and laud him all nations. And in another place Esaias saith: there shall be the root of Iesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the gentiles: in him shall the gentiles trust. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may be rich in hope thorow the power of the holy ghost.

I myself am full certified of you my brethren that ye yourselves are full of goodness, and filled with all knowledge, and are able to counsel one another. Nevertheless brethren I have somewhat boldly written unto you, as one that putteth you in remembrance, for the grace which is given me of God for this purpose that I should be the minister of Iesu Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost. I have therefore whereof I may rejoice in Christ Iesu, in those things which pertain to God. For I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me (to make the gentiles obedient) with word and deed, in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the spirit of God, so that from Ierusalem and the coasts round about, unto Illiricum, I have filled all countries with glad tidings of Christ.

So have I enforced myself to preach the gospell, not where Christ was named, lest I should have built on another man's foundation: but as it is written: To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that heard not, shall understand. For this cause I have been ofte let to come unto you: but now seeing I have no more to do in these countries, and also have been desirous many years to come unto you, when I shall take my journey into Spayne, I will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you after that I have somewhat enjoyed you.

Now go I unto Ierusalem, and minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia, to make a certain distribution upon the poor saints which are at Ierusalem. It hath pleased them verily, and their debtors are they. For if the gentiles be made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is to minister unto them in carnal things. When I have performed this, and have shewed them this fruit, I will come back again by you into Spayne. And I am sure when I come, that I shall come with abundance of the blessing of the gospell of Christ.

I beseech you brethren for our lord Iesu Christe's sake, and for the love of the spirit, that ye help me in my business, with your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from them which believe not in Iewry. and that this my service, which I have to Ierusalem, may be accepted of the saints, that I may come unto you with joy, by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. The God of peace be with all you Amen.

The .xvj. Chapter.

I commend unto you Phebe our sister (which is a minister of the congregation of Cencrea) that ye receive her in the lord as it becometh saints, and that ye assist her, in whatsoever business she needeth of your aid. For she hath succoured many, and mine own self also. Greet Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ Iesu, which have for my life laid down their own necks. Unto whom not I only give thanks: but also the congregations of the gentiles. Likewise greet all the company that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epenetes, which is the firstfruit among them of Achaia. Greet Mary which bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus, and Iunia my cousins, which were prisoners with me also, which are well taken among the apostles, and were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias my beloved in the lord. Salute Urban our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Salute Apellas approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobolus' household. Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus which are in the lord. Salute Triphena and Triphosa, which women did labour in the lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the lord. Salute Rufus chosen in the lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asincritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Mercurius, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus and Iulia, Nereus and his sister, and Olimpha, and all the saints which are with them. Salute one another among yourselves with an holy kiss. The congregations of Christ salute you.

I beseech you brethren mark them which cause division, and give occasions of evil contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them. For they that are such serve not the lord Iesus Christ: but their own bellies. And with sweet preachings and flattering words deceive the hearts of the innocents: for your obedience is spoken of among all men. I am glad no doubt of you. But yet I would have you wise unto that which is good. And to be innocent as concerning evil. The God of peace tread Satan under your feet in short time. The grace of our lord Iesu Christ be with you.

Timotheus my work fellow, and Lucius, and Iason, and Sopater, my kinsmen salute you. I Tercius salute you, which wrote this epistle in the lord. Gaius mine host and the host of all the congregations, saluteth you. Erastus saluteth you, the chamberlain of the city. And Quartus a brother, saluteth you. The grace of our lord Iesu Christ be with you all Amen.

To him that is of power to establish you according to my gospell, wherewith I preach Iesus Christ, in opening of the mystery which was kept close since the world began, and now is opened at this time and declared in the scriptures of prophecy, at the commandment of the everlasting God, to stir up obedience to the faith published among all nations: To the same God, which alone is wise, be praise thorow Iesus Christ for ever Amen.

To the Romayns. Sent from Corrinthum by Phebe, she that was the minister unto the congregacion at Chenchrea.

The first pistel of S. Paul to the Corrinthians

The first Chapter.

Paul by vocation an Apostle of Iesus Christ thorow the will of God, and brother Sostenes. Unto the congregation of God which is at Corinthum. To them that are sanctified in Iesus Christ, saints by calling, with all that call on the name of our lord Iesus Christ in every place, both of theirs and of ours.

Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the lord Iesus Christ.

I thank my God always on your behalf for the faveour of God which is given you by Iesus Christ, that in all things ye are made rich by him, in all speach and in all knowledge (even as the testimony of Iesus Christ was confirmed in you,) so that ye are behind in no gift, and wait for the appearing of our lord Iesus Christ which shall strength you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our lord Iesus Christ.

God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his son Iesus Christ our lord.

I beseech you brethren in the name of our lord Iesus Christ, that ye all speak one thing, and that there be no dissension among you: but be ye perfect in one mind, and one meaning: It is shewed unto me (my brethren) of you by them that are of the house of Cloe, that there is strife among you, I speak of that which everyone of you sayth: I hold of Paul, Another sayth: I hold of apollo: Another saith: I hold of Cephas: and another saith I hold of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? other were ye baptised in the name of Paul? I thank God that I christened none of you, but Crispus and Gaius, lest any should say that I in mine own name had baptised. I baptised also the house of Stephana. Furthermore know I not whether I baptised any man or no.

For Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach the gospell, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should have been made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will cast away the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise man? where is the scribe? where is the searcher of this world? Hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?

For when the world thorow wisdom knew not God, in the wisdom of God: it pleased God thorow foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the jews require a sign, and the greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the jews an occasion of falling and unto the greeks foolishness: but unto them which are called both of Iews and greeks we preach Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

For Godly foolishness is wiser than men: And Godly weakness is stronger than are men.

Brethren look on your calling how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many of high degree are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. And hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound things which are mighty. And vile things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen yee and things of no reputation, for to bring to nought things of reputation, that no flesh should rejoice in his presence. And unto him pertain ye, in Christ Iesu, which of God is made unto us wisdom, and also righteousness, and sanctifying, and redemption. That according as it is written: he which rejoiceth, should rejoice in the lord.

The .ij. Chapter.

And I brethren when I came to you, came not in gloriousness of words or of wisdom, shewing unto you the testimony of God. Neither shewed I myself that I knew any thing among you save Iesus Christ, even the same that was crucified. And I was among you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my words, and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom: but in shewing of the spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men: but in the power of God.

We speak that which is wisdom among them that are perfect: not the wisdom of this world neither of the rulers of this world (which goeth to nought,) but we speak the wisdom of God, which is in secret and lieth hid, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which wisdom none of the rulers of the world knew. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the lord of glory: but as it is written: The eye hath not seen, and the ear hath not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath opened them unto us by his spirit. For the spirit searcheth all things, yee the bottom of God's secrets. For what man knoweth the things of a man: save the spirit of a man which is within him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God. And we have not received the spirit of the world: but the spirit which cometh of God, for to know the things that are given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in the cunning words of man's wisdom, but with the cunning words of the holy ghost, making spiritual comparisons of spiritual things. For the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God: For they are but foolishness unto him. Neither can he perceive them because he is spiritually examined: but he that is spiritual discusseth all things: yet he himself is judged of no man. For who knoweth the mind of the lord, other who shall inform him? but we understand the mind of Christ.

The .iij. Chapter.

And I could not speak unto you brethren as unto spiritual: but as unto carnal, even as it were unto babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink and not meat. For ye then were not strong, no neither yet are strong. For ye are yet carnal. As long verily as there is among you envying, strife and dissension: are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men? As long as one saith: I hold of Paul, and another, I am of apollo, are ye not carnal? What is Paul? what thing is apollo? but ministers by whom ye believed even as the lord gave every man grace. I have planted: Apollo watered: but God gave increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth: but God which gave the increase.

He that planteth, and he that watereth, are neither better than the other. Every man yet shall receive his reward according to his labour. We are God's laborers: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God given unto me, as a wise builder have I laid the foundation, another hath built thereon: but let every man take heed how he buildeth upon. For other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is Iesus Christ. If any man build on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay, or stubble: every man's work shall appear. For the day shall declare it, and it shall be shewed in fire, and the fire shall try every man's work what it is. If any man's work that he hath built upon, bide, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he shall be safe himself: nevertheless yet as it were thorow fire.

Are ye not ware that ye are the temple of God, and how that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which temple are ye. Let no man deceive himself. If any man seem wise among you, let him be a fool in this world, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: he compasseth the wise in their craftiness. And again, God knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they be vain. Therefore let no man rejoice in men. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul, other Apollo, either Cephas: whether it be the world, either life, either death, whether they be present things or things to come: all are yours, and ye are Christe's, and Christ is God's.

The .iiij. Chapter.

Let men this wise esteem us, even as the ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God. Furthermore it is required of the disposers that they be found faithful. With me is it but a very small thing, that I should be judged of you, either of man's day. No I judge not mine own self. I know nought by myself: yet am I not thereby justified. It is the lord that judgeth me. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the lord come, which will lighten things that are hid in darkness: and open the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise of God.

These things brethren I have described in mine own person, and Apollos: for your sakes, that ye might learn by us that no man count of himself beyond that which is above written: that one swell not against another for any man's cause. For who preferreth thee? What hast thou, that thou hast not received? if thou have received it: why rejoicest thou as though thou haddest not received it? Now ye are full: now ye are made rich: ye reign as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we might reign with you.

Me thinketh that God hath shewed us which are apostles, for the hindmost of all, as it were men appointed to death. For we are a gazingstock unto the world, and to the angels, and to men, we are fools for Christe's sake, and ye are wise thorow Christ: we are weak, and ye are strong. Ye are honorable, and we are despised. Even unto this day we hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted with fists, and have no certain dwelling place, and labour working with our own hands. We are reviled, and yet we bless. We are persecuted, and suffer it. We are evil spoken of, and we pray. We are made as it were the filthiness of the world, the offscouring of all things, even unto this time.

I write not these things to shame you: but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ: yet have ye not many fathers. In Christ Iesu, I have begotten you thorow the gospell. Wherefore I desire you to counterfeit me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, which is my dear son, and faithful in the lord, which shall put you in remembrance of my ways which I have in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in all congregations. Some swell as though I would come no more at you: but I will come to you shortly, if God will, and will know, not the words of them which swell, but the power. For the Kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or else in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

The .v. Chapter.

There goeth a common saying that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not once named among the gentiles: that one should have his father's wife. And ye swell and have not rather sorrowed, that he which hath done this deed might be put from among you. For I verily as absent in body, even so present in spirit, have determined already (as though I were present) of him that hath done this deed, in the name of our lord Iesu Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of the lord Iesus Christ, to deliver him unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the lord Iesus.

Your rejoicing is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven sowereth the whole lump of dough? Purge therefore the old leaven, that ye may be new dough as ye are sweet bread. For Christ our ester lamb is offered up for us. Therefore let us keep holyday, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of maliciousness and wickedness but with the sweet bread of pureness and truth.

I wrote unto you in the pistel that ye should not company with fornicators. And I meant not at all of the fornicators of this world, either of the covetous, or of extortioners, either of idolaters: for then must ye needs have gone out of the world: but now I have written unto you that ye company not together. If any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a worshipper of images, either a railer, either a drunkard, or an extortioner: with him that is such see ye eat not. For what have I to do to judge them which are without? Do ye not judge them that are within? Them that are without, God shall judge. Put away from among you that evil person.

The .vj. Chapter.

How dare one of you having business with another, go to law under the wicked? and not rather under the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? If the world shall be judged by you: are ye not good enough to judge small trifles. Know ye not how that we shall judge the angels? How much more may we judge things that pertain to the life? If ye have judgements of worldly matters, take them which are despised in the congregation, and make them judges. This I say to your shame. Is there utterly no wise man among you? what not one at all? that can judge between brother and brother? but one brother goeth to law with another: and that under the unbelievers?