Romans 15

1 Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.3 For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.5 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:6 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7 Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.8 For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers,9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, Therefore will I give praise unto thee among the Gentiles, And sing unto thy name.

10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; And let all the peoples praise him.

12 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.15 But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,16 that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.17 I have therefore my glorifying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.18 For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ;20 yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man’s foundation;21 but, as it is written, They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, And they who have not heard shall understand.

22 Wherefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you:23 but now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you,24 whensoever I go unto Spain (for I hope to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first in some measure I shall have been satisfied with your company)--25 but now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints.26 For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem.27 Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister unto them in carnal things.28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by you unto Spain.29 And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.30 Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;31 that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judaea, and that my ministration which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;32 that I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16

1 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae:2 that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self.3 Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus,4 who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:5 and salute the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.6 Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you.7 Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.8 Salute Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord.9 Salute Urbanus our fellow-worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.10 Salute Apelles the approved in Christ. Salute them that are of the household of Aristobulus.11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord.12 Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.13 Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren that are with them.15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them.16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil.20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.21 Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.22 I Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord.23 Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.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 hath been kept in silence through times eternal,26 but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,2 unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;5 that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge;6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:7 so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;8 who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.11 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius;15 lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name.16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.22 Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26 For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:29 that no flesh should glory before God.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.