Chapter CVI: Preface (33)

9:25. As in Osee he saith: I will call that which was not my people, my people; and her that was not beloved, beloved; and her that had not obtained mercy; one that hath obtained mercy.

9:26. And it shalt be in the place where it was said unto them: you are not my people; there they shall be called the sons of the living God.

9:27. And Isaias cried out concerning Israel: If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.

A remnant.... That is, a small number only of the children of Israel shall be converted and saved. How perversely is this text quoted for the salvation of men of all religions, when it speaks only of the converts of the children of Israel!

9:28. For he shall finish his word and cut it short in justice: because a short word shall the Lord make upon the earth.

9:29. And as Isaias foretold: Unless the Lord of Sabbaoth had left us a seed, we had been made as Sodom and we had been like unto Gomorrha.

9:30. What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who followed not after justice have attained to justice, even the justice that is of faith.

9:31. But Israel, by following after the law of justice, is not come unto the law of justice.

9:32. Why so? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were of works. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone.

9:33. As it is written: Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and a rock of scandal. And whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded.

Romans Chapter 10

The end of the law is faith in Christ, which the Jews refusing to submit to, cannot be justified.

10:1. Brethren, the will of my heart, indeed and my prayer to God is for them unto salvation.

10:2. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

10:3. For they, not knowing the justice of God and seeking to establish their own, have not submitted themselves to the justice of God.

The justice of God.... That is, the justice which God giveth us through Christ; as on the other hand, the Jews’ own justice is, that which they pretended to by their own strength, or by the observance of the law, without faith in Christ.

10:4. For the end of the law is Christ: unto justice to everyone that believeth.

10:5. For Moses wrote that the justice which is of the law: The man that shall do it shall live by it.

10:6. But the justice which is of faith, speaketh thus: Say not in thy heart: Who shall ascend into heaven? That is to bring Christ down;

10:7. Or who shall descend into the deep? That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.

10:8. But what saith the scripture? The word is nigh thee; even in thy mouth and in thy heart. This is the word of faith, which we preach.

10:9. For if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Thou shalt be saved.... To confess the Lord Jesus, and to call upon the name of the Lord (ver. 13) is not barely the professing a belief in the person of Christ; but moreover, implies a belief of his whole doctrine, and an obedience to his law; without which, the calling him Lord will save no man. St. Matt. 7.21.

10:10. For, with the heart, we believe unto justice: but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

10:11. For the scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded.

10:12. For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon him.

10:13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

10:14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

10:15. And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things?

Unless they be sent.... Here is an evident proof against all new teachers, who have all usurped to themselves the ministry without any lawful mission, derived by succession from the apostles, to whom Christ said, John 20.21, As my Father hath sent me, I also send you.

10:16. But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias saith: Lord, who hath believed our report?

10:17. Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.

10:18. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the whole world.

10:19. But I say: Hath not Israel known? First, Moses saith: I will provoke you to jealousy by that which is not a nation: by a foolish nation I will anger you.

10:20. But Isaias is bold, and saith: I was found by them that did not seek me. I appeared openly to them that asked not after me.

10:21. But to Israel he saith: All the day long have I spread my hands to a people that believeth not and contradicteth me.

Romans Chapter 11

God hath not cast off all Israel. The Gentiles must not be proud but stand in faith and fear.

11:1. I say then: Hath God cast away his people? God forbid! For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

11:2. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture saith of Elias, how he calleth on God against Israel?

11:3. Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars. And I am left alone: and they seek my life.

11:4. But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men that have not bowed their knees to Baal.

Seven thousand, etc.... This is very ill alleged by some, against the perpetual visibility of the church of Christ; the more, because however the number of the faithful might be abridged by the persecution of Jezabel in the kingdom of the ten tribes, the church was at the same time in a most flourishing condition (under Asa and Josaphat) in the kingdom of Judah.

11:5. Even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant saved according to the election of grace.

11:6. And if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

It is not now by works, etc.... If salvation were to come by works, done by nature, without faith and grace, salvation would not be a grace or favour, but a debt; but such dead works are indeed of no value in the sight of God towards salvation. It is not the same with regard to works done with, and by, God’s grace; for to such works as these, he has promised eternal salvation.

11:7. What then? That which Israel sought, he hath not obtained: but the election hath obtained it. And the rest have been blinded.

11:8. As it is written: God hath given them the spirit of insensibility; eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, until this present day.

God hath given them, etc.... Not by his working or acting in them; but by his permission, and by withdrawing his grace in punishment of their obstinacy.

11:9. And David saith: Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompense unto them.

11:10. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see: and bow down their back always.

11:11. I say then: Have they so stumbled, that they should fall? God forbid! But by their offence salvation is come to the Gentiles, that they may be emulous of them.

That they should fall.... The nation of the Jews is not absolutely and without remedy cast off for ever; but in part only, (many thousands of them having been at first converted,) and for a time; which fall of theirs, God has been pleased to turn to the good of the Gentiles.

11:12. Now if the offence of them be the riches of the world and the diminution of them the riches of the Gentiles: how much more the fulness of them?

11:13. For I say to you, Gentiles: As long indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honour my ministry,

11:14. If, by any means, I may provoke to emulation them who are my flesh and may save some of them.

11:15. For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

11:16. For if the firstfruit be holy, so is the lump also: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

11:17. And if some of the branches be broken and thou, being a wild olive, art ingrafted in them and art made partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree:

11:18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root: but the root thee.

11:19. Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.

11:20. Well: because of unbelief they were broken off. But thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear.

Thou standest by faith: be not highminded, but fear.... We see here that he who standeth by faith may fall from it; and therefore must live in fear, and not in the vain presumption and security of modern sectaries.

11:21. For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest perhaps also he spare not thee.

11:22. See then the goodness and the severity of God: towards them indeed that are fallen, the severity; but towards thee, the goodness of God, if thou abide in goodness. Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.... The Gentiles are here admonished not to be proud, nor to glory against the Jews: but to take occasion rather from their fall to fear and to be humble, lest they be cast off. Not that the whole church of Christ can ever fall from him; having been secured by so many divine promises in holy writ; but that each one in particular may fall; and therefore all in general are to be admonished to beware of that, which may happen to any one in particular.

11:23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

11:24. For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive tree, which is natural to thee; and, contrary to nature, wert grafted into the good olive tree: how much more shall they that are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

11:25. For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery (lest you should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles should come in.

11:26. And so all Israel should be saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion, he that shall deliver and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

11:27. And this is to them my covenant: when I shall take away their sins.

11:28. As concerning the gospel, indeed, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are most dear for the sake of the fathers.

11:29. For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.

For the gifts and the calling of God are without.... his repenting himself of them; for the promises of God are unchangeable, nor can he repent of conferring his gifts.

11:30. For as you also in times past did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy, through their unbelief:

11:31. So these also now have not believed, for your mercy, that they also may obtain mercy.

11:32. For God hath concluded all in unbelief, that he may have mercy on all.

Concluded all in unbelief.... He hath found all nations, both Jews and Gentiles, in unbelief and sin; not by his causing, but by the abuse of their own free will; so that their calling and election is purely owing to his mercy.

11:33. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!

11:34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?

11:35. Or who hath first given to him, and recompense shall be made him?

11:36. For of him, and by him, and in him, are all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.

Romans Chapter 12

Lessons of Christian virtues.

12:1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.

12:2. And be not conformed to this world: but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and the acceptable and the perfect will of God.

12:3. For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.

12:4. For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office:

12:5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ; and every one members one of another:

12:6. And having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith;

12:7. Or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine;

12:8. He that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

12:9. Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good,

12:10. Loving one another with the charity of brotherhood: with honour preventing one another.

12:11. In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord.

12:12. Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.

12:13. Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality.

12:14. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not.

12:15. Rejoice with them that rejoice: weep with them that weep.

12:16. Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.

12:17. To no man rendering evil for evil. Providing good things, not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of all men.

12:18. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men.

12:19. Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

12:20. But if thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

12:21. Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.

Romans Chapter 13

Lessons of obedience to superiors and mutual charity.

13:1. Let every soul be subject to higher powers. For there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.

13:2. Therefore, he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist purchase to themselves damnation.

13:3. For princes are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good: and thou shalt have praise from the same.

13:4. For he is God’s minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.

13:5. Wherefore be subject of necessity: not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

13:6. For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose.

13:7. Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour, to whom honour.

13:8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.

13:9. For: 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 comprised in this word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

13:10. The love of our neighbour worketh no evil. Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law.

13:11. And that, knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

13:12. The night is passed And the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.

13:13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy.

13:14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ: and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.

Romans Chapter 14

The strong must bear with the weak. Cautions against judging and giving scandal.

14:1. Now him that is weak in faith, take unto you: not in disputes about thoughts.

14:2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: but he that is weak, let him eat herbs.

Eat all things.... Viz., without observing the distinction of clean and unclean meats, prescribed by the law of Moses: which was now no longer obligatory. Some weak Christians, converted from among the Jews, as we here gather from the apostle, made a scruple of eating such meats as were deemed unclean by the law; such as swine’s flesh, etc., which the stronger sort of Christians did eat without scruple. Now the apostle, to reconcile them together, exhorts the former not to judge or condemn the latter, using their Christian liberty; and the latter, to take care not to despise or scandalize their weaker brethren, either by bringing them to eat what in their conscience they think they should not, or by giving them such offence, as to endanger the driving them thereby from the Christian religion.

14:3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not: and he that eateth not, let him not judge him that eateth. For God hath taken him to him.

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.

4:17. For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord. Who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus: as I teach every where in every church.

4:18. As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.

4:19. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will: and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power.

4:20. For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.

4:21. What will you? Shall I come to you with a rod? Or in charity and in the spirit of meekness?

1 Corinthians Chapter 5

He excommunicates the incestuous adulterer and admonishes them to purge out the old leaven.

5:1. It is absolutely heard that there is fornication among you and such fornication as the like is not among the heathens: that one should have his father’s wife.

5:2. And you are puffed up and have not rather mourned: that he might be taken away from among you that hath done this thing.

5:3. I indeed, absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged, as though I were present, him that hath so done,

5:4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus:

5:5. To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:6. Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven corrupteth the whole lump?

5:7. Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ our pasch is sacrificed.

5:8. Therefore, let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

5:9. I wrote to you in an epistle not to keep company with fornicators.

5:10. I mean not with the fornicators of this world or with the covetous or the extortioners or the servers of idols: otherwise you must needs go out of this world.

5:11. But now I have written to you, not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator or covetous or a server of idols or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner: with such a one, not so much as to eat.

5:12. For what have I to do to judge them that are without? Do not you judge them that are within?

5:13. For them that are without, God will judge. Put away the evil one from among yourselves.

1 Corinthians Chapter 6

He blames them for going to law before unbelievers. Of sins that exclude from the kingdom of heaven. The evil of fornication.

6:1. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust: and not before the saints?

6:2. Know you not that the saints shall judge this world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

6:3. Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things of this world?

6:4. If therefore you have judgments of things pertaining to this world, set them to judge who are the most despised in the church.

6:5. I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not among you any one wise man that is able to judge between his brethren?

6:6. But brother goeth to law with brother: and that before unbelievers.

6:7. Already indeed there is plainly a fault among you, that you have law suits one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

A fault.... Lawsuits can hardly ever be without a fault, on the one side or the other; and oftentimes on both sides.

6:8. But you do wrong and defraud: and that to your brethren.

6:9. Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers:

6:10. Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God.

6:11. And such some of you were. But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God.

6:12. All things are lawful to me: but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful to me: but I will not be brought under the power of any.

All things are lawful, etc.... That is, all indifferent things are indeed lawful, inasmuch as they are not prohibited; but oftentimes they are not expedient; as in the case of lawsuits, etc. And much less would it be expedient to be enslaved by an irregular affection to any thing, how indifferent soever.

6:13. Meat for the belly and the belly for the meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body.

6:14. Now God hath both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up also by his power.

6:15. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid!

6:16. Or know you not that he who is joined to a harlot is made one body? For they shall be, saith he, two in one flesh.

6:17. But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.

6:18. Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth is without the body: but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

6:19. Or know you not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God: and you are not your own?

6:20. For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.

1 Corinthians Chapter 7

Lessons relating to marriage and celibacy. Virginity is preferable to a married state.

7:1. Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

7:2. But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband.

Have his own wife.... That is, keep to his wife, which he hath. His meaning is not to exhort the unmarried to marry: on the contrary, he would have them rather continue as they are. (Ver. 7:8.) But he speaks here to them that are already married; who must not depart from one another, but live together as they ought to do in the marriage state.

7:3. Let the husband render the debt to his wife: and the wife also in like manner to the husband.

7:4. The wife hath not power of her own body: but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body: but the wife.

7:5. Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer: and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.

7:6. But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

By indulgence.... That is, by a condescension to your weakness.

7:7. For I would that all men were even as myself. But every one hath his proper gift from God: one after this manner, and another after that.

7:8. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

7:9. But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.