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Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This
man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by
the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen
the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the
custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and
blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant
go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your
salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light
for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people
Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what
was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his
mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise
of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and
you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many
hearts may be revealed." [LK 2:25-35]
Then he took the Twelve aside and said to them, "Behold,
we are going up to Jerusalem and everything written by the
prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed
over to the Gentiles and he will be mocked and insulted and spat
upon; and after they have scourged him they will kill him, but on
the third day he will rise." But they understood nothing of
this; the word remained hidden from them and they failed to
comprehend what he said. [LK 18:31-34]
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that
its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the
mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those
in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time
of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to
pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible
calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon
this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken
as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled
underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the
stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the
roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in
anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of
the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs
begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your
redemption is at hand." [LK 21:20-28]
Then an argument broke out among them about which of them
should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, "The
kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority
over them are addressed as 'Benefactors'; but among you it shall
not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest,
and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one seated
at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table?
I am among you as the one who serves." [LK 22:24-27]
After their release they went back to their own people and
reported what the chief priests and elders had told them. And when
they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and
said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea
and all that is in them, you said by the Holy Spirit through the
mouth of our father David, your servant: 'Why did the Gentiles
rage and the peoples entertain folly? The kings of the earth took
their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and
against his anointed.' Indeed they gathered in this city against
your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius
Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to
do what your hand and (your) will had long ago planned to take
place. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your
servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch
forth (your) hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through
the name of your holy servant Jesus." As they prayed, the
place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with
boldness. [ACTS 4:23-31]
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord
said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered,
"Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up
and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas
for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and (in a
vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his)
hands on him, that he may regain his sight." But Ananias
replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this
man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all
who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go,
for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name
before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what
he will have to suffer for my name." [ACTS 9:10-16]
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet,
paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, "Get
up. I myself am also a human being." While he conversed with
him, he went in and found many people gathered together and said
to them, "You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to
associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I
should not call any person profane or unclean. And that is why I
came without objection when sent for. May I ask, then, why you
summoned me?" [ACTS 10:25-29]
While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised
believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift
of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles
also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying
God. Then Peter responded, "Can anyone withhold the water for
baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as
we have?" He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. Then they invited him to stay for a few days. [ACTS 10:44-49]
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as it had
upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord,
how he had said, 'John baptized with water but you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same
gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?" When they heard
this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, "God
has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too."
[Taken from ACTS 11:15-18]
On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear
the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were
filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul
said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It
was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but
since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal
life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded
us, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an
instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.'" The
Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the
word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to
believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the
whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence
who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from
their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest
against them and went to Iconium. [ACTS 13:44-51]
In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue together and spoke
in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks came to
believe, although the disbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned
the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. So they stayed for
a considerable period, speaking out boldly for the Lord, who
confirmed the word about his grace by granting signs and wonders
to occur through their hands. The people of the city were divided:
some were with the Jews; others, with the apostles. When there was
an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their
leaders, to attack and stone them, they realized it and fled to
the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding
countryside, where they continued to proclaim the good news. [ACTS
14:1-7]
The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they
heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, "Men, why
are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human
beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from
these idols to the living God, 'who made heaven and earth and sea
and all that is in them.' In past generations he allowed all
Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he
did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from
heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and
gladness for your hearts." [ACTS 14:14-17]
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended
to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And
when they arrived, they called the church together and reported
what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of
faith to the Gentiles. [ACTS 14:25-27]
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the
brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic
practice, you cannot be saved." Because there arose no little
dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was
decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up
to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through
Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they arrived in
Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the
apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done
with them. But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become
believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise
them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law." The apostles
and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. After
much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them,
"My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God
made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would
hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the
heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he
did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith
he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you now putting God to
the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that
neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the
contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the
Lord Jesus, in the same way as they." The whole assembly fell
silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the
signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
After they had fallen silent, James responded, "My brothers,
listen to me. Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name. The
words of the prophets agree with this, as is written: 'After this
I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins
I shall rebuild it and raise it up again, so that the rest of
humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my
name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.' It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to
stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God" [Taken from ACTS 15:1-19]
When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to
occupy himself totally with preaching the word, testifying to the
Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. When they opposed him and reviled
him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood
be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility. From now on I will
go to the Gentiles." [ACTS 18:5-6]
On the next day we resumed the trip and came to Caesarea, where
we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the
Seven, and stayed with him. He had four virgin daughters gifted
with prophecy. We had been there several days when a prophet named
Agabus came down from Judea. He came up to us, took Paul's belt,
bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, "Thus says
the Holy Spirit: This is the way the Jews will bind the owner of
this belt in Jerusalem, and they will hand him over to the
Gentiles." When we heard this, we and the local residents
begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied,
"What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? I am
prepared not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus." Since he would not be dissuaded we
let the matter rest, saying, "The Lord's will be done." [ACTS
21:8-14]
When we reached Jerusalem the brothers welcomed us warmly. The
next day, Paul accompanied us on a visit to James, and all the
presbyters were present. He greeted them, then proceeded to tell
them in detail what God had accomplished among the Gentiles
through his ministry. They praised God when they heard it but said
to him, "Brother, you see how many thousands of believers
there are from among the Jews, and they are all zealous observers
of the law. They have been informed that you are teaching all the
Jews who live among the Gentiles to abandon Moses and that you are
telling them not to circumcise their children or to observe their
customary practices. What is to be done? They will surely hear
that you have arrived." [Taken from ACTS 21:17-22]
"After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying
in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord saying to me,
'Hurry, leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your
testimony about me.' But I replied, 'Lord, they themselves know
that from synagogue to synagogue I used to imprison and beat those
who believed in you. And when the blood of your witness Stephen
was being shed, I myself stood by giving my approval and keeping
guard over the cloaks of his murderers.' Then he said to me, 'Go,
I shall send you far away to the Gentiles.'" [ACTS 22:17-21]
"Many times, in synagogue after synagogue, I punished them in an
attempt to force them to blaspheme; I was so enraged against them
that I pursued them even to foreign cities. On one such
occasion I was traveling to Damascus with the authorization and
commission of the chief priests. At midday, along the way, O king,
I saw a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around
me and my traveling companions. We all fell to the ground and I
heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' And
I said, 'Who are you, sir?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom
you are persecuting. Get up now, and stand on your feet. I have
appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and
witness of what you have seen (of me) and what you will be shown.
I shall deliver you from this people and from the Gentiles to whom
I send you, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to
light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may obtain
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been
consecrated by faith in me.' And so, King Agrippa, I was not
disobedient to the heavenly vision. On the contrary, first to
those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout the whole
country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached the need to
repent and turn to God, and to do works giving evidence of
repentance. That is why the Jews seized me (when I was) in the
temple and tried to kill me. But I have enjoyed God's help to this
very day, and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike,
saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses
foretold, that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to
rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and
to the Gentiles." [Taken from ACTS 26:11-23]
So they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in
great numbers. From early morning until evening, he expounded his
position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying
to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the
prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others
did not believe. Without reaching any agreement among themselves
they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement.
"Well did the Holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the
prophet Isaiah, saying: 'Go to this people and say: You shall
indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never
see. Gross is the heart of this people; they will not hear with
their ears; they have closed their eyes, so they may not see with
their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their
heart and be converted, and I heal them.' Let it be known to you
that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they
will listen." [ACTS 28:23-28]
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set
apart for the gospel of God, which he promised previously through
his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh, but established as
Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness through
resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we
have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the
obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the
Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to
Jesus Christ; to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be
holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. [ROM 1:1-7]
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often planned
to come to you, though I was prevented until now, that I might
harvest some fruit among you, too, as among the rest of the
Gentiles. To Greeks and non-Greeks alike, to the wise and the
ignorant, I am under obligation; that is why I am eager to preach
the gospel also to you in Rome. [ROM 1:13-15]
All who sin outside the law will also perish without reference
to it, and all who sin under the law will be judged in accordance
with it. For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the
sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified.
For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe
the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even
though they do not have the law. They show that the demands of the
law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears
witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them
on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people's
hidden works through Christ Jesus. [ROM 2:12-16]
Now if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of
God and know his will and are able to discern what is important
since you are instructed from the law, and if you are confident
that you are a guide for the blind and a light for those in
darkness, that you are a trainer of the foolish and teacher of the
simple, because in the law you have the formulation of knowledge
and truth - then you who teach another, are you failing to teach
yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who
forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do
you rob temples? You who boast of the law, do you dishonor God by
breaking the law? For, as it is written, "Because of you the
name of God is reviled among the Gentiles." Circumcision, to
be sure, has value if you observe the law; but if you break the
law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Again, if an
uncircumcised man keeps the precepts of the law, will he not be
considered circumcised? Indeed, those who are physically
uncircumcised but carry out the law will pass judgment on you,
with your written law and circumcision, who break the law. One is
not a Jew outwardly. True circumcision is not outward, in the
flesh. Rather, one is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the
heart, in the spirit, not the letter; his praise is not from human
beings but from God. [ROM 2:17-29]
Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles,
too? Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the
circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through
faith. Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not!
On the contrary, we are supporting the law. [ROM 3:29-31]
But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God?
Will what is made say to its maker, "Why have you created me
so?" Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to
make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and
another for an ignoble one? What if God, wishing to show his wrath
and make known his power, has endured with much patience the
vessels of wrath made for destruction? This was to make known the
riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared
previously for glory, namely, us whom he has called, not only from
the Jews but also from the Gentiles. [ROM 9:20-24]
What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who did not pursue
righteousness, have achieved it, that is, righteousness that comes
from faith; but that Israel, who pursued the law of righteousness,
did not attain to that law? Why not? Because they did it not by
faith, but as if it could be done by works. They stumbled over the
stone that causes stumbling, as it is written: "Behold, I am
laying a stone in Zion that will make people stumble and a rock
that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him shall not be
put to shame." [ROM 9:30-33]
What then? What Israel was seeking it did not attain, but the
elect attained it; the rest were hardened, as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that should not
see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day."
And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a
stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes grow
dim so that they may not see, and keep their backs bent
forever." Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall? Of
course not! But through their transgression salvation has come to
the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world, and if their diminished
number is enrichment for the Gentiles, how much more their full
number. Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to
make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their
rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead? If the firstfruits are holy,
so is the whole batch of dough; and if the root is holy, so are
the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and
you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come
to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast against
the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support
the root; the root supports you. Indeed you will say,
"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted
in." That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief,
but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but
stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches,
(perhaps) he will not spare you either. See, then, the kindness
and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's
kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise
you too will be cut off. And they also, if they do not remain in
unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in
again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive
tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated one, how
much more will they who belong to it by nature be grafted back
into their own olive tree. [ROM 11:7-24]
I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers, so
that you will not become wise (in) your own estimation: a
hardening has come upon Israel in part, until the full number of
the Gentiles comes in, and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is
written: "The deliverer will come out of Zion, he will turn
away godlessness from Jacob; and this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins." In respect to the gospel, they
are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are
beloved because of the patriarchs. For the gifts and the call of
God are irrevocable. [ROM 11:25-29]
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the
glory of God. For I say that Christ became a minister of the
circumcised to show God's truthfulness, to confirm the promises to
the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his
mercy. As it is written: "Therefore, I will praise you among
the Gentiles and sing praises to your name." And again it
says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again:
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples
praise him." And again Isaiah says: "The root of Jesse
shall come, raised up to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the
Gentiles hope." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of
the Holy Spirit. [ROM 15:7-13]
I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you
yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and
able to admonish one another. But I have written to you rather
boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given
me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in
performing the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the
offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what
pertains to God. For I will not dare to speak of anything except
what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to
obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by
the power of the Spirit (of God), so that from Jerusalem all the
way around to Illyricum I have finished preaching the gospel of
Christ. Thus I aspire to proclaim the gospel not where Christ has
already been named, so that I do not build on another's
foundation, but as it is written: "Those who have never been
told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall
understand." [ROM 15:14-21]
Now, however, I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the holy
ones. For Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make some
contribution for the poor among the holy ones in Jerusalem; they
decided to do it, and in fact they are indebted to them, for if
the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they
ought also to serve them in material blessings. [ROM 15:25-27]
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we
proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and
Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For
the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the
weakness of God is stronger than human strength. [1COR 1:23-25]
It is widely reported that there is immorality among you, and
immorality of a kind not found even among pagans - a man living
with his father's wife. And you are inflated with pride. Should
you not rather have been sorrowful? The one who did this deed
should be expelled from your midst. [1COR 5:1-2]
Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you
to be unaware. You know how, when you were pagans, you were
constantly attracted and led away to mute idols. Therefore, I tell
you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be
accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord,"
except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual
gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service
but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. [1COR 12:1-7]
Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes
minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned,
three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the
deep; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from
robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers
in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers
among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless
nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings,
through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is
the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. [2COR
11:24-28]
Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by
me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human
being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of
Jesus Christ. For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism,
how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to
destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my
contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for
my ancestral traditions. But when (God), who from my mother's womb
had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to
reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the
Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I
go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I
went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three
years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas and remained
with him for fifteen days. [GAL 1:11-18]
Then after fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, taking Titus along also. I went up in accord with a
revelation, and I presented to them the gospel that I preach to
the Gentiles - but privately to those of repute - so that I might
not be running, or have run, in vain. Moreover, not even Titus,
who was with me, although he was a Greek, was compelled to be
circumcised, but because of the false brothers secretly brought
in, who slipped in to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ
Jesus, that they might enslave us - to them we did not submit even
for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain intact
for you. But from those who were reputed to be important (what
they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)
- those of repute made me add nothing. On the contrary,
when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the
uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, for the one who
worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also
in me for the Gentiles, and when they recognized the grace
bestowed upon me, James and Kephas and John, who were reputed to
be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership,
that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I
was eager to do. [GAL 2:1-10]
And when Kephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face
because he clearly was wrong. For, until some people came from
James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he
began to draw back and separated himself, because he was afraid of
the circumcised. And the rest of the Jews (also) acted
hypocritically along with him, with the result that even Barnabas
was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were
not on the right road in line with the truth of the gospel, I said
to Kephas in front of all, "If you, though a Jew, are living
like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles
to live like Jews?" [GAL 2:11-14] [Note: This action
of Paul's does not contradict papal infallibility. Peter's
teachings on faith and morals are infallible, but out of human
weaknesses, Peter was not observing his own teachings. Papal
infallibility covers only teachings on faith and morals in certain
circumstances - it does not mean that all the pope's personal
actions are infallible.]
We, who are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the
Gentiles, (yet) who know that a person is not justified by works
of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in
Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no
one will be justified. [GAL 2:15-16]
O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes
Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I want to learn
only this from you: did you receive the Spirit from works of the
law, or from faith in what you heard? Are you so stupid? After
beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? Did
you experience so many things in vain? - if indeed it was in vain.
Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works
mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith
in what you heard? Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness." Realize then that it is
those who have faith who are children of Abraham. Scripture, which
saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, "Through you shall
all the nations be blessed." Consequently, those who have
faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who
depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,
"Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the
things written in the book of the law." And that no one is
justified before God by the law is clear, for "the one who is
righteous by faith will live." But the law does not depend on
faith; rather, "the one who does these things will live by
them." Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by
becoming a curse for us, for it is written, "Cursed be
everyone who hangs on a tree," that the blessing of Abraham
might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we
might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. [GAL 3:1-14]
Therefore, remember that at one time you, Gentiles in the
flesh, called the uncircumcision by those called the circumcision,
which is done in the flesh by human hands, were at that time
without Christ, alienated from the community of Israel and
strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without
God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
off have become near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace,
he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity,
through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and
legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in
place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile
both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity
to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have
access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer
strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the
holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself
as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are
being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. [EPH
2:11-22]
Because of this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ (Jesus) for you
Gentiles - if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship of
God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, (namely, that)
the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written
briefly earlier. When you read this you can understand my insight
into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human
beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are
coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise
in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this I became a minister by
the gift of God's grace that was granted me in accord with the
exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones,
this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable
riches of Christ, and to bring to light (for all) what is the plan
of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all
things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known
through the church to the principalities and authorities in the
heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he
accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of
speech and confidence of access through faith in him. So I ask you
not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory.
[EPH 3:1-13]
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as
evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy
ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son
of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of
Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and
swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather,
living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who
is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning
of each part, brings about the body's growth and builds itself up
in love. So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no
longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;
darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because
of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have
become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness
for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess. That is not
how you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard of him and
were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away
the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through
deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and
put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and
holiness of truth. [EPH 4:11-24]
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I
am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on
behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister
in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to
completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages
and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his
holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope
for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone
perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with
the exercise of his power working within me. [COL 1:24-29]
For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God
that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffer the same things
from your compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both
the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they do not
please God, and are opposed to everyone, trying to prevent us from
speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved, thus constantly
filling up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of God has
finally begun to come upon them. [1THES 2:14-16]
This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from
immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a wife for
himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the
Gentiles who do not know God; not to take advantage of or exploit
a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these
things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For God did
not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore, whoever
disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who (also)
gives his Holy Spirit to you. [1THES 4:3-8]
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings
and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil
life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God
our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to
knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one
mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself
human, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony
at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
[1TM 2:1-7]
Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested
in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed
to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in
glory. [1TM 3:16]
At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
[2TM 4:16-17]
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from
worldly desires that wage war against the soul. Maintain good
conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as
evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the
day of visitation. [1PT 2:11-12]
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves
also with the same attitude (for whoever suffers in the flesh has
broken with sin), so as not to spend what remains of one's life in
the flesh on human desires, but on the will of God. For the time
that has passed is sufficient for doing what the Gentiles like to
do: living in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies,
carousing, and wanton idolatry. They are surprised that you do not
plunge into the same swamp of profligacy, and they vilify you; but
they will give an account to him who stands ready to judge the
living and the dead. [1PT 4:1-5]
Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in the truth. Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for
the brothers, especially for strangers; they have testified to
your love before the church. Please help them in a way worthy of
God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake
of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore,
we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in
the truth. [3JN 1:4-8]
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and I was told,
"Come and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count
those who are worshiping in it. But exclude the outer court of the
temple; do not measure it, for it has been handed over to the
Gentiles, who will trample the holy city for forty-two months. I
will commission my two witnesses to prophesy for those twelve
hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth." [RV 11:1-3]
They then assembled the kings in the place that is named
Armageddon in Hebrew. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into
the air. A loud voice came out of the temple from the throne,
saying, "It is done." Then there were lightning flashes,
rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake. It was
such a violent earthquake that there has never been one like it
since the human race began on earth. The great city was split into
three parts, and the gentile cities fell. But God remembered great
Babylon, giving it the cup filled with the wine of his fury and
wrath. Every island fled, and mountains disappeared. Large
hailstones like huge weights came down from the sky on people, and
they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because this plague was
so severe. [RV 16:16-21]
Also try:
unbelief
/ unbeliever [D8]
separate
from community of believers [E4]
heresy
/ heretic [H12a]
fallen
away loved ones [F2]
truth
[T14]
turn
to the Lord [C10]
faith
/ faithful [F1a]
belief
/ believe / believer [B2]
Other
resources:
Does
it Really Matter if I'm Catholic or Not? [Coming Home Section]
Coming
Home
Non-Catholics
(apologetics)
Those
Outside the Church (Topic Page)
Becoming a
Catholic / Converting (Topic Page)
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try: Help, A-Z)
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