Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Now regarding the questions you wrote: “Is it good for a man to remain celibate?”

Well, because of the danger of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

The husband should give his wife what she is entitled to in the marriage relationship, and the wife should do the same for her husband.

The wife is not in charge of her own body --- her husband is; likewise, not in charge of his own body --- his wife is.

Do not deprive each other, except for limited intervals through mutual agreement, and then only so as to have additional prayer & fasting; but afterwards, unite again. Otherwise, because of your lack of self-control, you may succumb to Satan's temptation.

I am providing you this as a suggestion, not as a command.

Actually, I wish everyone were like me; however, each has his own gift from God, one this, another that.

Now to the single people and the widows I say that it is fine if they remain single like me;

but if they can’t exercise self-control, they should get married; because it is better to get married than to keep burning with sexual desire.

To those who are married I have a command, and it is not from me but from the Lord: a woman is not to separate herself from her husband

But if she does separate herself, she is to remain single or reach reconciliation with her husband. Also, a husband is not to leave his wife.

To the rest I say in my opinion: if any brother has a wife who is not a believer, and she is satisfied to go on living with him, he should not abandon her.

Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband who is satisfied to continue living with her, she is not to leave him.

For the unbelieving husband has been set aside for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been set aside for God by the husband — otherwise your children would be “unclean,” but as it is, they are set aside for God.

But if the unbelieving spouse leaves on his own, let him be separated. In circumstances like these, the brother or sister is not enslaved — God has called you to a life of peace.

For how do you know, wife, whether you will influence your husband to become saved? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will influence you wife to become saved?

Only let each person live the life the Lord has assigned him and live it in the condition he was in when God called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the congregations.

Was someone already circumcised when he was saved? Then he should not try to remove the marks of his circumcision. Was someone uncircumcised when he was saved? He shouldn’t undergo circumcision.

Being circumcised means nothing, and being uncircumcised means nothing; what does mean something is keeping God’s commandments.

Each person should remain in the condition he was in when he experienced salvation.

Were you a slave when you were saved? Well, don’t let it bother you; although if you can gain your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity.

For a person who was a slave when he was saved is the Lord’s freedman; likewise, someone who was a free man when he was saved is the Messiah's slave.

You were purchased at a price, so do not become slaves of other humans.

Brethren, let each one remain with God in the condition in which he was saved.

Now the question about the unmarried: I do not have a command from the Lord, but I offer an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is worthy to be trusted.

I suppose that in a time of hardship like the present it is good for a person to remain as he is.

That means that if a man has a wife, he should not seek to divorce her; and if he is unmarried, he should not scout for a wife.

But if you marry you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. It is just that those who get married will experience the problems of married life, and I would rather spare you.

What I am saying, brethren, is that there is not much time left: from now on a man with a wife should live as if he had none —

and those who are sad should live as if they weren’t, those who are happy as if they weren’t,

and those who deal in worldly affairs as if not absorbed by them — because the present scheme of things in this world won’t continue much longer.

What I want is for you to be free of concern. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord’s affairs,

with how to please the Lord; but the married man concerns himself with the world’s affairs, with how to make his wife happy;

and he finds himself split. Likewise the woman who is no longer married or the girl who has never been married concerns herself with the Lord’s affairs, with how to be holy both physically and spiritually; but the married woman concerns herself with the world’s affairs, with how to make her husband happy.

I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to restrict you — I am simply concerned that you live in a proper manner and serve the Lord with undistracted devotion.

Now if a man thinks he is behaving dishonorably by treating his fiancée this way, and if there is strong sexual desire, so that marriage is what should happen; then let him do what he wants — he is not sinning: let them marry.

But if a man has firmly made up his mind, being under no compulsion but having complete control over his will, if he has decided within himself to break his engagement (leaving his fiancee a virgin), he will be doing well.

So the man who marries his fiancée does well, and the man who doesn’t get engaged or married will do better.

A wife is bound to her husband for as long as he survives, but if the husband dies she is free to marry anyone she wishes, provided he is a believer in the Lord.

However, in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains unmarried, and in saying this I believe I have God’s blessing.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good [it is] for a man not to touch a woman,

2 and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

3 to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

4 the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

5 Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;

6 and this I say by way of concurrence -- not of command,

7 for I wish all men to be even as I myself [am]; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.

8 And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];

9 and if they have not continence -- let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

10 and to the married I announce -- not I, but the Lord -- let not a wife separate from a husband:

11 but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.

12 And to the rest I speak -- not the Lord -- if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away;

13 and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;

14 for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15 And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself -- let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such [cases], and in peace hath God called us;

16 for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?

17 if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each -- so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:

18 being circumcised -- was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;

19 the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing -- but a keeping of the commands of God.

20 Each in the calling in which he was called -- in this let him remain;

21 a servant -- wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free -- use [it] rather;

22 for he who [is] in the Lord -- having been called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

23 with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;

24 each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.

25 And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:

26 I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus: --

27 Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

29 And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having;

30 and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

31 and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

32 And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

33 and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

34 The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she shall please the husband.

35 And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

36 and if any one doth think [it] to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin -- let him marry.

37 And he who hath stood stedfast in the heart -- not having necessity -- and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart -- to keep his own virgin -- doth well;

38 so that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.

39 A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;

40 and she is happier if she may so remain -- according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

[_LittleNipper]

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that, as you say, “We all possess knowledge.” Very true, but “knowledge” puffs a person up with pride; whereas love is uplifting.

The person who thinks he “knows” something doesn’t yet fully understand in the way he should.

However, if someone loves God, God knows him.

So, as for eating food sacrificed to idols, we “know” that, as you say, “An idol has no real existence in the world --- there is only one God.”

For even if there are so-called “gods,” either in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are things being exalted galore —

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Jesus the Messiah, through whom were created all things and through whom we have our being.

Yet not everyone realizes this knowledge. Moreover, some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat food which has been sacrificed to them, they think of it as actually infected by the idol; and their consciences, being weak, are undermined.

Now food will not improve our relationship with God — we will be neither poorer if we abstain nor richer if we eat.

However watch out that your mastery of the situation does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

You have this “knowledge”; but suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you sitting, eating a meal in the temple of an idol. Might he come to the wrong conclusion to eat this food which has been sacrificed to idols?

Thus by your “knowledge” this weak person is destroyed, this brother for whom the Messiah died;

and so, when you sin against the brothers by wounding their conscience when it is weak, you are sinning against the Messiah!

To sum up, if food will be a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat again, since I might cause my brother to sin.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up;

2 and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know;

3 and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him.

4 Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one;

5 for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth -- as there are gods many and lords many --

6 yet to us [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom [are] the all things, and we through Him;

7 but not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat [it], and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8 But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;

9 but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,

10 for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat -- shall not his conscience -- he being infirm -- be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols,

11 and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died?

12 and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience -- in regard to Christ ye sin;

13 wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh -- to the age -- that my brother I may not cause to stumble.

[_LittleNipper]

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Am I not a free? Am I not an apostle of the Messiah? Haven’t I seen our Lord Jesus? And aren’t you yourselves the result of my work for the Lord?

Even if to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are living proof of that.

That is my defense when people put me under examination.

Don’t we have the right to be provided food and drink?

Don’t we have the right to bring along with us a believing wife, as do the other apostles, also the Lord’s brothers and Cepha?

Or are Barnabus and I the only ones required to go on working for our living?

Did you ever hear of a soldier paying his own expenses or of a farmer planting a vineyard without tasting its grapes? Who shepherds a flock without drinking some of the milk?

What I am saying is not based merely on human authority, because the Law says the same thing —

for in the Law of Moses it is written, “You are not to put a muzzle on an ox when it is treading out the grain.” If God is concerned about cattle,

all the more does He say this for our sakes. Yes, it was written for us, meaning that he who plows and he who threshes should work expecting to share the crop.

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?

If others are sharing in this right to be supported by you, don’t we have a greater claim to it?

But we don’t apply this right. Rather, we put up with all sorts of things so as not to impede in any way the Good Message regarding the Messiah.

Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple fed from the Temple, and those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrifices offered there?

In the same way, the Lord directed that those who proclaim the Good Message should get their living from the Good Message.

But I have not made use of any of these rights. Nor am I writing now to secure them for myself, for I would rather die than be deprived of my ground for boasting!

For I can’t boast merely because I proclaim the Good Message — this I do from an inner compulsion! Oh woe is me if I don’t proclaim the Good Message!

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if I do it unwillingly, I still do it, simply because I’ve been entrusted with a job.

So then, what is my reward? Just this: that in proclaiming the Good Message I can make it available free of any charge, without making use of the rights to which it entitles me.

For although I am a free man, not bound to do anyone’s bidding, I have made myself a slave to everyone in order to win as many people as possible.

That is, with Jews, what I did was put myself in the position of a Jew, in order to entice Jews. With people in subjection to a legalistic perversion of the Torah, I put myself in the position of someone under such legalism, in order to win those under this legalism, even though I myself am not in subjection to a legalistic perversion of the Law.

With those who live outside the boundary of the Law, I put myself in the position of someone outside the Law in order to win those outside the Torah — although I myself am not outside the boundary of God’s Law but within the framework of the Law as upheld by the Messiah.

With the “weak” I became “weak,” in order to win the “weak.” With all kinds of people I have become all kinds of things, so that under all sorts of circumstances I might reach at least some of them.

But I do it all because of the rewards promised by the Good Message, so that I may share in them along with the others who come to trust.

Don’t you realize that in a race all the runners compete, but only one wins the prize? So then, run to win!

Now every athlete in training submits himself to strict discipline, and he does it win a mere laurel wreath that will soon wither away. But we do it to win a crown that will last into eternity.

Accordingly, I don’t run aimlessly but straight for the finish line; I don’t shadow-box but try to make the blows count.

I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that, after proclaiming the Good Message to others, I myself will not be disqualified.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Am not I an apostle? am not I free? Jesus Christ our Lord have I not seen? my work are not ye in the Lord?

2 if to others I am not an apostle -- yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3 My defence to those who examine me in this;

4 have we not authority to eat and to drink?

5 have we not authority a sister -- a wife -- to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 or only I and Barnabas, have we not authority -- not to work?

7 who doth serve as a soldier at his own charges at any time? who doth plant a vineyard, and of its fruit doth not eat? or who doth feed a flock, and of the milk of the flock doth not eat?

8 According to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?

9 for in the law of Moses it hath been written, `thou shalt not muzzle an ox treading out corn;' for the oxen doth God care?

10 or because of us by all means doth He say [it]? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading [ought] of his hope to partake in hope.

11 If we to you the spiritual things did sow -- great [is it] if we your fleshly things do reap?

12 if others do partake of the authority over you -- not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.

13 Have ye not known that those working about the things of the temple -- of the temple do eat, and those waiting at the altar -- with the altar are partakers?

14 so also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.

15 And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for [it is] good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;

16 for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and wo is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

17 for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted!

18 What, then, is my reward? -- that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;

19 for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;

20 and I became to the Jews as a Jew, that Jews I might gain; to those under law as under law, that those under law I might gain;

21 to those without law, as without law -- (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) -- that I might gain those without law;

22 I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.

23 And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;

24 have ye not known that those running in a race -- all indeed run, but one doth receive the prize? so run ye, that ye may obtain;

25 and every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible;

26 I, therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air;

27 but I chastise my body, and bring [it] into servitude, lest by any means, having preached to others -- I myself may become disapproved.

[_LittleNipper]

1 Corinthians 10:1-33

Brethren, I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea.

In connection with the cloud and with that sea they all immersed themselves into Moses,

also they all ate the same food from the Spirit,

and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit — for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah.

Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert.

Now these occurrences transpired as prefigurative actual historical events, warning us not to set our desires on evil things as they did.

Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were — as the scripture puts it, “The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in noisy celebration.”

And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day.

Let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.

And don’t grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel.

These things occurred to them as actual representational historical events, and they were written down as a warning to us (believers) who live in the last ages.

Therefore, let anyone who thinks he is standing up be careful not to trip!

No temptation has hassled you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can take. On the contrary, along with the temptation He will also provide an escape, so that you will be able to endure.

Therefore, my dear friends, run from idolatry!

I speak to you as sensible people; judge for yourselves what I'm saying.

The “cup of blessing” over which we make the blessing — isn’t it a sharing in the bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah? The bread we break, isn’t it a sharing in the body of the Messiah?

Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many constitute one body, since we all partake of the one loaf of bread.

Look at physical Israel: don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate with the altar?

So, what am I saying? That food sacrificed to idols has any significance of its own? or that an idol has significance with itself?

Absolutely NOT ---- what I am saying is that the things which pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice not to God but to demons; and I don’t want you to become sharers of the demons!

You can’t drink both a cup of the Lord and a cup of demons, you can’t partake in both a meal of the Lord and a meal of demons.

Or are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than HIM?

“Everything is allowed,” you say? Maybe, but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permitted?” Maybe, but not everything is uplifting.

No one should be looking out for his own interests, but for those around him.

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

for the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.

If some unbeliever invites you to a meal, and you want to go, eat whatever is put in front of you without raising questions of conscience.

But if someone remarks to you, “This meat was offered as a sacrifice,” then don’t eat it, out of consideration for the person who pointed it out and also for conscience’s sake;

however, I don’t mean your conscience but that of the other person. You say, “Why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

If I participate with thankfulness, why am I criticized over something for which I myself bless God?”

Well, whatever you do, whether it’s eating or drinking or anything else, do it all to glorify God.

Do not be an obstacle to anyone — not to Jews, Gentiles, nor to God’s Messianic Community.

Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not looking out for my own interests but for those of the majority, so that they may become saved;


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

2 and all to Moses were baptized in the cloud, and in the sea;

3 and all the same spiritual food did eat,

4 and all the same spiritual drink did drink, for they were drinking of a spiritual rock following them, and the rock was the Christ;

5 but in the most of them God was not well pleased, for they were strewn in the wilderness,

6 and those things became types of us, for our not passionately desiring evil things, as also these did desire.

7 Neither become ye idolaters, as certain of them, as it hath been written, `The people sat down to eat and to drink, and stood up to play;'

8 neither may we commit whoredom, as certain of them did commit whoredom, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand;

9 neither may we tempt the Christ, as also certain of them did tempt, and by the serpents did perish;

10 neither murmur ye, as also some of them did murmur, and did perish by the destroyer.

11 And all these things as types did happen to those persons, and they were written for our admonition, to whom the end of the ages did come,

12 so that he who is thinking to stand -- let him observe, lest he fall.

13 No temptation hath taken you -- except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your
being able to bear [it].

14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the idolatry;

15 as to wise men I speak -- judge ye what I say:

16 The cup of the blessing that we bless -- is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? the bread that we break -- is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?

17 because one bread, one body, are we the many -- for we all of the one bread do partake.

18 See Israel according to the flesh! are not those eating the sacrifices in the fellowship of the altar?

19 what then do I say? that an idol is anything? or that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything? --

20 [no,] but that the things that the nations sacrifice -- they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not wish you to come into the fellowship of the demons.

21 Ye are not able the cup of the Lord to drink, and the cup of demons; ye are not able of the table of the Lord to partake, and of the table of demons;

22 do we arouse the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

23 All things to me are lawful, but all things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not build up;

24 let no one seek his own -- but each another's.

25 Whatever in the meat-market is sold eat ye, not inquiring, because of the conscience,

26 for the Lord's [is] the earth, and its fulness;

27 and if any one of the unbelieving do call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring, because of the conscience;

28 and if any one may say to you, `This is a thing sacrificed to an idol,' -- do not eat, because of that one who shewed [it], and of the conscience, for the Lord's [is] the earth and its fulness:

29 and conscience, I say, not of thyself, but of the other, for why [is it] that my liberty is judged by another's conscience?

30 and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God;

32 become offenceless, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God;

33 as I also in all things do please all, not seeking my own profit, but that of many -- that they may be saved.

[_Maksutov]

Funny how the letter to Romans contradicts this letter on the subject of secular authority. Romans says submit, this one says don't. Paul was clearly winging it. Or his words were written by various people as many scholars think.

[_LittleNipper]

Funny how the letter to Romans contradicts this letter on the subject of secular authority. Romans says submit, this one says don't. Paul was clearly winging it. Or his words were written by various people as many scholars think.

I see them both saying the very same thing. Where God is concerned ---- HE comes first, otherwise, one should by be submissive to the authorities. And the authorities are subjugated to GOD. And Paul here is clearly speaking of influencing others into become saved. Christians are to live by example to the unsaved.

[_Maksutov]

Funny how the letter to Romans contradicts this letter on the subject of secular authority. Romans says submit, this one says don't. Paul was clearly winging it. Or his words were written by various people as many scholars think.

I see them both saying the very same thing. Where God is concerned ---- HE comes first, otherwise, one should by be submissive to the authorities. And the authorities are subjugated to GOD. And Paul here is clearly speaking of influencing others into become saved. Christians are to live by example to the unsaved.

GOD or God? It's really hard to follow what I think you intend as logical statements when you can't control your caps key.

My explanation makes much more sense, especially when it's known that much of what is attributed to Paul was never written by him. But that's true of most of the Bible, of course.

As to Paul's actual preaching and theology, I have to wonder why no one is asking this?

[_LittleNipper]

I see them both saying the very same thing. Where God is concerned ---- HE comes first, otherwise, one should by be submissive to the authorities. And the authorities are subjugated to GOD. And Paul here is clearly speaking of influencing others into become saved. Christians are to live by example to the unsaved.

GOD or God? It's really hard to follow what I think you intend as logical statements when you can't control your caps key.

My explanation makes much more sense, especially when it's known that much of what is attributed to Paul was never written by him. But that's true of most of the Bible, of course.

As to Paul's actual preaching and theology, I have to wonder why no one is asking this?

Let's just say, that if you don't accept Jesus as your personal savior, and place your faith in Him and Him alone, you will one day know exactly what He went through --- but for all eternity bearing the full punishment for only your own sin.

[_Choyo Chagas]

--- but for all eternity bearing the full punishment for only your own sin.

do you fear of hell ?

then you are already in !

that's only you can do; menace us...

[_huckelberry]

Funny how the letter to Romans contradicts this letter on the subject of secular authority. Romans says submit, this one says don't. Paul was clearly winging it. Or his words were written by various people as many scholars think.

there are not scholars who think different people wrote Romans and first Corinthians. The very definition of Paul is that guy who wrote Roman Galatians and the Corinthian letters. It is that unity which allows argument that somebody else wrote Timothy.


At least I think you would have to really search to find an outlier who thinks otherwise.