CHAP. XIV.

UNITY AND MUTUAL FORBEARANCE.

HIM that is weak in the (Christian) faith, (and still bigoted to the ceremonial law), receive ye, but not to debates about matters in doubt. 2. For one believes that he may eat all things (good for food); another, who is weak, eats (nothing but) herbs. 3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him who 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 stands or falls; yea, he shall be established; for God is able to make him stand.

5. One man prefers one day, (as the new moon), to another; another esteems all such days alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6. He that regards a day, regards it to the Lord; and he that regards not a day, to the Lord regards it not. He that eateth, eateth to the glory of the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord's glory he eateth not, and so giveth not God thanks. 7. For none of us liveth to himself, (for his own glory), and none of us dieth to himself. 8. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord; so whether we live, or die, we are the Lord's. 9. And to this purpose Christ both died, and rose again, that he might have dominion over both the dead and the living. 10. Why then judgest thou, or despisest thou thy brother? for we shall all appear 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, each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13. Let us not, therefore, henceforth judge one another; but judge this rather, that no

man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way.

14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15. But if thy brother be grieved by thy meat, how dost thou walk according to love? (Do not what is in thee to) destroy him with thy meat for whom Christ died. 16. Let not then your (liberty, tho' in itself) good, be evil spoken of: 17. For the kingdom of God, (the gospel dispensation), is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 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 which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20. Destroy not the work of God (the weak in faith), for meat. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil to that man who eateth with giving offence. 21. It is right not to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or made weak. 22. Hast thou faith, and doubtest not? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in what he practiseth. 23. And he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatever is not of faith is sin.

CHAP. XV.

THE STRONG MUST BEAR WITH THE WEAK.

2.

We now who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification; 3. For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell (as a grief) on me.

4. For whatever things were written before, were written for our instruction, that we, through patience, and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. 5. Now the God of patience and consolation, cause you to be of the same mind among yourselves, according to the will of Christ Jesus; 6. That ye may with one consent, and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. Therefore receive ye one another with love, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

8. Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision, (Mat. xv. 24) to confirm the truth of God, the promises made to the fathers; 9. And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy: as it is written, For this cause I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name. 10. And again it is said, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people, (Deut. xxxii. 43.) 11. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and extol him all ye people, (Psalm cxvii.) 12. And again, Isaias saith, There shall be a sprout of Jesse, and one shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in whom they shall hope, (Isaiah xi. 10.)

13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, thro' the power of the Holy Spirit. 14. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another. 15. Yet brethren, I have written somewhat boldly to you, in part putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given me of God, 16. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, in the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, (xii. 1.) 17. I have, therefore, whereof I may glory thro' Jesus Christ in things pertaining to God.

18. For I will not dare to speak ought of

those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to render the Gentiles obedient in word and deed, (John xv. 5.) 19. By mighty signs and wonders, thro' the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20. Earnestly striving to preach the gospel, where Christ was not named, lest I should build on another man's foun dation: 21. But, as it is written, They to whom he was not spoken of shall see: and they that had not heard shall understand.

22. Therefore also I have been often hindered from coming to you. 23. But now having place no more in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you; 24. Whenever go into Spain, I trust to see you as I go on in on in my journey, and to be conducted by you thither, if first I be somewhat satisfied with your company.

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25. But now I go to Jerusalem, to minister alms to the saints. 26. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem. 27. It hath pleased them; but they are in a sort their debtors: for if the Gentiles are partakers of the spiritual things proceeding out from them, (Isaiah ii. 3.) it is their duty to minister to them in carnal things.

28. When, therefore, I have performed this, and consigned to them this fruit of love, I will come by you into Spain. 29. And I know that when I come to you, I shall come with the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ.

30. Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love implanted by the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31. That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea; and that our ministry at Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints; 32. That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 3 B

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

CHAP. XVI.

SALUTATIONS AND PRAISE.

I recommend to you Phebe our sister (in the faith, the bearer of this epistle) who is a deaconness of the church in Cenchrea (whence I now write to you), 2. That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatever she needs of you; for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

3. Greet Priscas and Aquila my fellow-labourers in Christ Jesus, 4. Who have for my life (almost) laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

5. Likewise, greet the church in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, the first-fruits of Asia to Christ. 6. Greet Mary, who laboured much with us. 7. Salute Andronicus and Junius, my kinsmen and fellow-prisoners, who are much noted among the apostles, who also were in (the church of) Christ before me.

8. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9. Salute Urbanis our fellow-labourer in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10. Salute Appelles approv ed in Christ. Salute them who are of Aristobulus' household. 11. Salute Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of Narcissus' household, who are in the Lord. 12. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who laboured much in the Lord's work.

13. Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his nother and mine. 14. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the