1 Corinthians 3 – 4

1 Corinthians 3

¹ Brothers, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but as people who are led by the flesh, as infants in Christ. ² I fed you with milk, not solid food, because you were not yet ready. Why, even now you are still not ready, ³ because you are still people who are following the flesh. Indeed, insofar as jealousy, strife, and factions ^[1] have a place among you, are you not people who are following the flesh? Are you not behaving in a merely human way? ⁴ When one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

Analogies Illustrating Ministry and the Church

⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are ministers through whom you believed, and each served as the Lord gave him his role. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. ⁷ So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but it is God who causes the growth. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters are united, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For God is the one whom we serve as coworkers, and you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ In keeping with the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder, I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. But let each person be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ In fact, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² But if anyone is building on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each person’s work will become evident. The Day will make it plain, because it is going to be revealed in fire, and the fire will test each person’s work to show what sort of work it is. ¹⁴ If what someone has built remains, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but it will be like an escape through fire.

¹⁶ Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in ^[2] you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may become wise. ¹⁹ To be sure, the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ^{[3] 20} and again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise; he knows that it is worthless.” ^{[4] 21} Therefore let no one boast about men. For all things belong to you— ²² whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All things belong to you, ²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 4

¹ This is the way a person should think of us: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. ² In this connection, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ³ But it is a trivial matter to me if I am evaluated by you or by a day in a human court. Why, I do not even evaluate myself. ⁴ I do not in fact know of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this; rather, the one who evaluates me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore judge nothing ahead of time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light whatever is hidden in darkness and also reveal the intentions of hearts. Then there will be praise for each person from God.

Lessons From Apostolic Life and Teaching

⁶ Brothers, I turned these things into a lesson using myself and Apollos as examples. I did this for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not be arrogant, favoring one person over the other. ⁷ For who makes you so special? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? ⁸ Oh, you are already filled! You have already become rich! You have begun to reign without us! If only that were really true, so that we could reign with you!

⁹ For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, in the lowliest position, like men sentenced to death, because we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak—but you are so strong! You are honored! But we are despised. ¹¹ At the present we still hunger and thirst and lack proper clothing. We are treated roughly, and we have no settled place to live in. ¹² We toil, working with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. ¹³ When slandered, we speak kind words. We have been treated like the world’s garbage, like everyone’s trash, right up to the present time.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my dear children. ¹⁵ Indeed, even if you would have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you would not have many fathers. I say this, because in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. ¹⁶ I urge you, therefore, be imitators of me. ¹⁷ That is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways in Christ, ^[5] just as I teach everywhere in every church.

¹⁸ Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out about the power, not the talk, of those who are arrogant. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power. ²¹ What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

1 Corinthians 1

Greeting and Reminder of Blessings in Christ

¹ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

² To the church of God in Corinth—those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, who are called as saints—along with all in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ You were enriched in him in every way, in all your speaking and all your knowledge, ⁶ because the testimony about Christ was established in you. ⁷ As a result you do not lack any gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, who called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Christ Is the Answer to the Problem of Divisions

¹⁰ Brothers, ^[1] I am making an appeal to you using the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask that you all express the same view and not have any divisions among you, but that you be joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For the news I heard about you, my brothers, from members of Chloe’s household, is that there are rivalries among you. ¹² What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” ^[2] or “I belong to Christ.” ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one can say that I baptized you into my own name. ¹⁶ (I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides them, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel—not with the wisdom used in speeches, so that the cross of Christ would not be emptied of its power.

Exodus 37:10 – 38:31

Exodus 37

The Table

¹⁰ He made a table of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. ¹¹ He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold border around it. ^{[1] 12} He made a three-inch rim around it. He made a gold border on its rim all the way around it. ¹³ He made four gold rings for it and put the rings at the four corners above the four legs of the table. ¹⁴ The rings were close to the border to hold the poles used to carry the table. ¹⁵ He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, so that the table could be carried with them. ¹⁶ He made the vessels and the accessories for the table out of pure gold—its dishes, ^[2] its small bowls, ^[3] its larger bowls, and its pitchers ^[4] to pour out drink offerings.

The Lampstand

¹⁷ He made a lampstand ^[5] of pure gold. The lampstand was made of hammered metal. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were all formed as one piece with the lampstand. ¹⁸ There were six branches going out from its sides. Three branches of the lampstand went out from one side, and three branches of the lampstand went out from the other side. ¹⁹ Three cups like almond blossoms with buds and flowers were on the first branch, and three cups like almond blossoms with buds and flowers were on the branch opposite it. It was the same for all six branches that went out from the lampstand. ²⁰ On the lampstand itself he made four cups like almond blossoms with buds and flowers. ²¹ The buds under one pair of branches formed one piece with the lampstand, and the buds under the second pair of branches formed one piece with the lampstand, and the buds under the third pair of branches formed one piece with the lampstand—the same for all six branches going out of the lampstand. ²² Its buds and branches were made as one piece with it. All of it was one hammered work of pure gold.

²³ He made seven lamps for it. Its wick trimmers and its pans ^[6] were pure gold. ²⁴ It was made with seventy-five pounds ^[7] of pure gold, along with all these accessories.

The Altar for Incense

²⁵ He made the altar for incense. He made it of acacia wood. Its length was eighteen inches, and its width was eighteen inches. It was square, and its height was three feet. Its horns formed one piece with it. ²⁶ He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, all its sides, and its horns. He made a gold border ^[8] around it. ²⁷ He made two gold rings to go under its border. He made them for two opposite sides. They were holders for poles with which to carry it. ²⁸ He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

²⁹ He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of fragrant spices, the work of a perfume maker.

The Altar for Sacrifices

Exodus 38

¹ He made the altar for burnt offerings from acacia wood. It was square, seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide. It was four and a half feet high. ² He made horns on its four corners. These horns were made as one piece with the altar, and he overlaid the altar with bronze. ³ He made all the utensils for the altar—the pails, the shovels, the basins, the meat hooks, ^[9] and the fire pans—of bronze. ⁴ He made a grate for it, which was a latticework of bronze, and he made four bronze rings for the four corners of the latticework grate. ⁵ He set the grate in place below the top edge of the altar, so that the grate rested halfway down from the top of the altar. ^{[10] 6} He made poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. ⁷ He put these poles through the rings on two sides of the altar for carrying it. He made the altar hollow. Its sides were made of boards.

The Large Basin

⁸ He made a large bronze basin. Its pedestal also was bronze. He made it from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

The Courtyard

⁹ He made the courtyard. For the south side of the courtyard he made hangings of fine woven linen, one hundred fifty feet long for that side. ¹⁰ He made twenty posts for it and twenty bronze socket bases for them. The hooks for the posts and the connectors were silver. ^{[11] 11} In the same way, for the north side there were hangings one hundred fifty feet long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze socket bases. The hooks for the posts and their connectors were silver. ¹² For the courtyard on the west side there were hangings seventy-five feet wide, with ten posts and ten socket bases. ¹³ The width of the court on the east side was seventy-five feet. ¹⁴ The hangings on one side of the entry gate were twenty-two feet six inches wide with three posts and three socket bases. ¹⁵ For the other side there were hangings twenty-two feet six inches wide with three posts and three socket bases. ¹⁶ All the hangings around the court were of fine woven linen. ¹⁷ The socket bases for the posts were bronze. The hooks of the posts and their connectors were silver, and the overlay of the capitals on top of the posts was silver, and all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.

¹⁸ There was a screen for the entry gate of the courtyard, made of blue, purple, and scarlet material and of fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer. It was thirty feet wide, and like the hangings of the courtyard it was seven and a half feet high. ¹⁹ It had four posts and four bronze socket bases. The hooks of the posts and their connectors were silver, and the overlay of the capitals on top of the posts was silver. ²⁰ All the tent stakes for the Dwelling and all the stakes for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

The Materials

²¹ These are the inventories of the material used for the Dwelling, that is, the Dwelling of the Testimony, as they were recorded by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest, as Moses had commanded. ²² Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord had commanded Moses. ²³ With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamak, from the tribe of Dan, an engraver, a skilled workman, and an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet material and in fine linen.

²⁴ All the gold that was used for all the work of the sanctuary project (that is, the gold from the wave offering) was 29 talents and 730 shekels, ^[12] measured by the shekel of the sanctuary. ²⁵ The silver received from those who were counted in the census of the community was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, measured by the shekel of the sanctuary. ²⁶ The rate was one beka a head (that is, half a shekel a head), measured by the shekel of the sanctuary. One beka was given by each man as he passed over to those who had been counted—a beka each was given by 603,550 men from twenty years old and older. ²⁷ The one hundred talents of silver were used for casting the sockets for the sanctuary and the sockets for the veil. One hundred sockets were made from the one hundred talents, a talent per socket. ^{[13] 28} From the 1,775 shekels, Bezalel made hooks for the posts, overlaid their capitals, and made connectors for them. ²⁹ The bronze from the offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. ³⁰ With this he made the sockets for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grate for it, all the utensils for the altar, ³¹ the sockets around the courtyard, the sockets for the gate of the courtyard, all the stakes for the tent, and all the stakes around the courtyard.

Exodus 35:1 – 36:7

Exodus 35

¹ Moses assembled the whole community of the people of Israel and told them, “These are the things which the Lord has commanded you to do.”

The Sabbath

² On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death. ³ You must not even light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.

The Offering for the Construction of the Dwelling

⁴ Moses spoke to the whole community of the people of Israel. He told them what the Lord commanded:

⁵ From what you possess, gather a special offering ^[1] for the Lord. Whoever has a willing heart, let him bring these things as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁶ blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen; goats’ hair, ⁷ rams’ skins dyed red, and the hides of sea cows; acacia wood, ⁸ olive oil for the Light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, ⁹ onyx stones, and stones to be mounted on the special vest and on the chest pouch.

¹⁰ Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded: ¹¹ the Dwelling, its tent and its outer coverings, its clasps, its framework, its crossbars, its posts, and its socket bases; ¹² the ark and its poles, the atonement seat, the special veil that hides it; ^{[2] 13} the table with its poles, all its vessels and accessories, and the Bread of the Presence; ¹⁴ also the lampstand for the Light, with its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the Light; ¹⁵ and the altar for incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense; the screen for the door at the entrance to the tent; ¹⁶ the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin and its pedestal; ¹⁷ the hangings for the courtyard, its posts, their socket bases, and the screen for the gate of the courtyard; ¹⁸ the stakes for the tent, the stakes for the courtyard, and their ropes; ¹⁹ the finely woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.

²⁰ So the whole community of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. ²¹ Then everyone whose heart moved him and everyone whose spirit was willing came back and brought offerings to the Lord for the construction of the Tent of Meeting and for all the things to be used in its services and for the holy garments. ²² They came back, both men and women, all those whose hearts were willing. They brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, armlets, and all kinds of gold jewelry. ^[3] Every person who came presented a wave offering of gold to the Lord. ²³ Everyone who had blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and hides of sea cows brought them. ²⁴ Everyone who presented an offering of silver and bronze brought it as the Lord’s special offering, and everyone who had acacia wood for any use in the project brought it. ²⁵ All the women who were skilled spun thread with their hands and brought what they had spun: the blue, the purple, and the scarlet material and the fine linen. ²⁶ All the women who were willing and skillful spun the goats’ hair. ²⁷ The tribal leaders brought the onyx stones and the stones to be mounted on the vest and the pouch, ²⁸ also the spices, and the olive oil for the Light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. ²⁹ The people of Israel brought a voluntary ^[4] offering to the Lord. Every man and woman whose heart was willing contributed to all the work which the Lord had commanded Moses to do.

The Craftsmen

³⁰ Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. ³¹ He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill in all kinds of crafts. ³² He has the ability to create designs and to work in gold, silver, and bronze. ³³ He can cut and engrave precious stones for mounting and can carve wood. He works skillfully in all kinds of crafts. ³⁴ The Lord has also put into his heart the ability to teach others—both he and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, from the tribe of Dan. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to work in all kinds of crafts: designing, embroidering in blue, purple, and scarlet, working with fine linen, and weaving—all kinds of workmanship and designing.”

Exodus 36

¹ Moses continued, ^[5] “Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every skilled man, in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, who knows how to carry out all the work for completing everything for the sanctuary, according to everything that the Lord has commanded.”

² So Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled man into whose heart the Lord had put the needed wisdom and skill, ^[6] that is, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come and join in the work. ³ They received from Moses all the materials which the people of Israel had brought as a special offering for the task of completing everything for the sanctuary, and the people continued to bring voluntary offerings to Moses every morning. ⁴ All the skilled craftsmen who were performing all the work for the sanctuary came from the specific work which they were doing. ⁵ Each of them told Moses, “The people have brought more than enough to complete the work which the Lord commanded.”

⁶ So Moses gave a command that was passed throughout the camp: “No man or woman should provide anything else for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing more, ⁷ because the material they had brought was sufficient to complete all the work, with some left over.

Exodus 33

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: “Depart. Go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go up to the land about which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob: ‘I will give it to your seed.’ ² I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. ³ Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I myself will not go up among you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I would consume you on the way.”

⁴ When the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and none of them put on their jewelry, ⁵ for the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry, while I determine what to do to you.’” ⁶ So the people of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry at Mount Horeb.

The First Tent of Meeting

⁷ So Moses took a tent and set it up outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. Everyone who was seeking an answer from the Lord would go out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. ⁸ Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people got up and stood at their tent doors and watched Moses, until he had gone into the tent. ⁹ Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the door of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. ¹⁰ All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, and all the people would rise up and worship, all of them at their own tent door. ¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses would return again into the camp, but his assistant Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the tent.

Moses and God’s Goodness

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you yourself have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ ¹³ So now if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your ways, so that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight. Consider that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴ The Lord said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

¹⁵ Moses said to him, “If your Presence is not going to go with me, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ After all, how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it in this way: that you go with us, so that we are distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have said, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

¹⁹ The Lord said, “I will make all my goodness pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord in your presence. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” ²⁰ He said, “You cannot see my face, for no human may see me and live.”

²¹ The Lord also said, “Look, there is a place next to me, where you shall stand on the rock. ²² It will happen that, while my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But my face will not be seen.”

Exodus 30 – 31

The Altar for Incense

Exodus 30

¹ You shall make an altar on which to burn incense. Make it of acacia wood. ² It is to be eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide. It is to be square, and three feet high. Its horns are to be one piece with it. ³ Overlay it with pure gold—its top, all its sides, and its horns. Make a gold border ^[1] around it. ⁴ Make two gold rings to place under its border. Make them for each of its two opposite sides. They will serve as holders for poles with which to carry it. ⁵ Make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.

⁶ Put the altar in front of the veil that hides the Ark of the Testimony, in front of the atonement seat that is above the Testimony, where I will meet with you. ⁷ Aaron shall burn incense made of fragrant spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn the incense. ⁸ When Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it as the regular incense before the Lord throughout your generations. ⁹ You shall offer no other incense on it, no burnt offering, and no grain offering, and you shall pour no drink offering on it. ¹⁰ Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering for atonement, once a year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.

The Redemption Price

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ¹² “When you count ^[2] the men of Israel to register them, each man shall give to the Lord a redemption price ^[3] for his life as you register him, so that there is no plague among them as you register them. ¹³ Each one shall give this redemption as he passes over to the group which has already been registered—half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), ^[4] half a shekel for an offering to the Lord. ¹⁴ Everyone who passes over to the group that has already been registered, those twenty years old and older, shall give the special elevated offering to the Lord. ¹⁵ The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than the half shekel when you give the elevated offering for the Lord to redeem your lives. ¹⁶ You shall take the redemption money from the people of Israel, and you shall designate it for the work of the Tent of Meeting so that it may be a memorial for the people of Israel before the Lord, to redeem your lives.”

The Bronze Basin

¹⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ¹⁸ “You shall also make a large bronze basin in which to wash. Its pedestal shall also be bronze. Put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ¹⁹ Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet with water from it. ²⁰ When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they must wash with water so that they will not die. They shall wash whenever they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord. ²¹ They shall wash their hands and their feet so that they do not die. This shall be a permanent regulation for them, for Aaron and for his descendants throughout their generations.”

Spices and Incense

²² The Lord spoke to Moses again. He said, ²³ “Take fine spices: twelve and a half pounds ^[5] of liquid myrrh, half as much (six and a quarter pounds) of fragrant cinnamon, six and a quarter pounds of fragrant cane, ²⁴ twelve and a half pounds of cassia (weighed by the shekel of the sanctuary), and one gallon ^[6] of olive oil. ²⁵ Make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixed with the skill of a perfume maker. It will be a holy anointing oil. ²⁶ Use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, ²⁷ the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar for incense, ²⁸ the altar for burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its pedestal. ²⁹ You shall consecrate them so that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will be holy. ³⁰ You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and set them apart, so that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. ³¹ Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil for me throughout your generations. ³² Do not pour it on the flesh of anyone who is not a priest. Do not make any other perfume like it with the same ingredients. It is holy. It shall be holy to you. ³³ Whoever mixes any perfume like it or whoever puts any of it on anyone who is not a priest shall be cut off from his people.’”

³⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices, gum resin, shechelet, and helbanum, ^[7] fragrant spices with pure frankincense. Use an equal weight of each ingredient, ³⁵ and make incense from it, a blend made with the skill of a perfume maker, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. ³⁶ Grind some of it very fine, and put some of it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting where I will make myself known to you. It shall be most holy to you. ³⁷ When you make incense for yourselves, you shall not make any with this recipe. You shall regard it as holy to the Lord. ³⁸ Whoever makes any fragrance like that for himself shall be cut off from his people.”

The Craftsmen

Exodus 31

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Look, here is Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. I have called him by name. ³ I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, and with skill in all kinds of crafts. ⁴ He has the ability to create designs. He works with gold, silver, and bronze. ⁵ He is able to cut and engrave precious stones and mount them. He can also carve wood. He works skillfully in all kinds of crafts.

⁶ “Not only that, but I have also appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, from the tribe of Dan, to work with him. I have put wisdom into the heart of all the skilled craftsmen, so that they may make everything that I have commanded you: ⁷ the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the atonement seat that is on it, all the furnishings for the tent, ⁸ the table and its vessels and accessories, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar for incense, ⁹ the altar for burnt offerings with all its utensils, the basin and its pedestal, ¹⁰ the finely woven garments (the holy garments for Aaron the priest), the garments for his sons to minister in the priest’s office, ¹¹ the anointing oil, and the incense made of fragrant spices for the Holy Place. The skilled craftsmen shall do everything just as I commanded.”

The Sabbath

¹² The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ¹³ “Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths diligently, because the Sabbath is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know that I am the Lord, who sets you apart as holy. ¹⁴ So you shall observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must certainly be put to death, for if anyone does any work on the Sabbath, his life shall be cut off from among his people. ¹⁵ On six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must certainly be put to death. ¹⁶ Therefore the people of Israel shall observe the Sabbath by keeping the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. ¹⁷ It is a permanent sign between me and the people of Israel, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

¹⁸ When the Lord had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.

Exodus 28

The Priests and Their Vestments

¹ Bring Aaron your brother near to you from among the people of Israel, and his sons with him, so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. Bring Aaron and Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. ² You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother to give him honor and splendor. ³ Speak to all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, ^[1] so that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. ⁴ These are the garments which they shall make: a chest pouch, a special vest, a robe, a specially woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. ^[2] They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and for his sons, so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. ⁵ The craftsmen shall use the gold, and the blue, purple, and scarlet material, and the fine linen.

The Special Vest

⁶ They shall make the special vest ^[3] of gold and of blue, purple, and scarlet material and of fine woven linen, the work of a skillful craftsman. ⁷ It is to have two shoulder straps, one on each side, so that the vest can be fastened together. ⁸ The decorated band, which is attached to the vest, is to be just like it: made of gold, and of blue, purple, and scarlet material and of fine woven linen. ⁹ Take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them— ¹⁰ six of their names on one stone and the names of the other six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. ¹¹ Engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel, in the same way that a gem cutter engraves a seal. Mount them in settings of gold. ¹² Put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the vest to be memorial stones for the people of Israel. Aaron shall bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. ¹³ Make settings of gold ¹⁴ and two chains of pure gold. Make them like braided cords, and attach the braided chains to the settings.

The Chest Pouch

¹⁵ You shall make a chest pouch to be used for making decisions, the work of a skillful craftsman. You shall make it with the same workmanship as the vest. Make it from gold and from blue, purple, and scarlet material and from fine woven linen. ¹⁶ It is to be square when it is folded, nine inches by nine inches. ¹⁷ You shall arrange settings for precious stones on it, four rows of stones: The first row is to be carnelian, diamond, and jacinth; ¹⁸ the second row agate, sapphire, ^[4] and emerald; ¹⁹ the third row beryl, jasper, and ruby; ²⁰ and the fourth row topaz, onyx, and turquoise. ^[5] They are to be mounted in gold settings. ²¹ There are to be twelve stones corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel. Each one shall be like an engraved seal, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

²² You shall make braided chains of pure gold as cords for the pouch. ²³ Make two gold rings for the pouch, and attach the two rings to the top corners of the pouch. ²⁴ Put the two braided chains of gold into the two rings at the top corners of the pouch. ²⁵ Attach the other ends of the two braided chains to the two settings, and then attach them to the shoulder straps on the front of the vest. ²⁶ Make two rings of gold, and put them on the two lower corners of the pouch, on its inside edge, which is toward the vest. ²⁷ Make two more gold rings, and attach them to the two shoulder straps of the vest in the front, close to the bottom where it is joined to the band of the vest. ²⁸ Tie the rings on the pouch to the rings on the vest with a blue cord, so that the pouch is right next to the band of the vest, so that the pouch does not swing out from the vest. ²⁹ Whenever he goes into the Holy Place, Aaron shall wear the pouch for making decisions, which bears the names of the sons of Israel, over his heart as a constant memorial before the Lord. ³⁰ You shall put the Urim and the Thummim ^[6] into the pouch for making decisions, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart whenever he goes before the Lord. Aaron shall bear the means of making decisions for the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord continually.

The Robe

³¹ You shall make the robe that is to be worn under the vest. It is to be all blue. ³² It is to have an opening in the middle of the top of it for the head. It is to have a woven binding around the opening, like the opening of a collar, ^[7] to prevent it from tearing. ³³ To be placed around its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material. Alternate them with gold bells ³⁴ (a gold bell, then a pomegranate, a gold bell, then a pomegranate), all around the hem of the robe. ³⁵ The robe shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

The Gold Medallion

³⁶ You shall make a medallion of pure gold and engrave on it (like the engravings on a seal): Holy to the Lord. ³⁷ You shall attach it to a blue cord to fasten it to the turban. It is to be placed on the front of the turban. ³⁸ It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron will bear any guilt in regard to the holy things, which the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. The medallion shall always be on his forehead, so that the offerings may be accepted in the presence of the Lord.

Tunic, Turban, Sash

³⁹ You shall weave the tunic of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of an embroiderer.

The Tunics and Pants for the Other Priests

⁴⁰ You shall make tunics for Aaron’s sons, and you shall make sashes for them, and you shall make small pointed turbans for them, to give them honor and splendor. ⁴¹ Put them on your brother Aaron and on his sons along with him, anoint them, and ordain them for their work ^[8] and consecrate them, so that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. ⁴² Make linen pants for them to cover their naked flesh. The pants shall reach from the waist to the thighs. ⁴³ They are to be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they go into the Tent of Meeting, or whenever they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they do not incur guilt and die. This shall be a permanent regulation for him and for his descendants after him.

Exodus 25

The Commission to Build the Dwelling ^[1]

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ² “Speak to the people of Israel ^[2] so that they gather a special offering ^[3] for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall gather the offering for me.”

The Offering for the Dwelling

³ This is the offering which you are to gather from them: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen; goats’ hair, ⁵ rams’ skins dyed red, and hides of sea cows; ^[4] acacia wood, ⁶ olive oil for the Light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, ⁷ onyx stones, and stones to be mounted on the special vest ^[5] and on the pouch. ⁸ They are to make a sanctuary for me, so that I may dwell among them. ⁹ You are to make it exactly according to the design for the Dwelling and the designs for all of its furniture which I will show you.

The Ark of the Covenant

¹⁰ They shall make an ark ^[6] of acacia wood. It is to be forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. ^{[7] 11} Overlay it with pure gold. Overlay it on the inside and the outside, and make a gold border around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and place them next to its four feet. Two rings are for one side of it, and two rings for the other side. ¹³ Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴ Put the poles which are used to carry the ark into the rings on the sides of the ark. ¹⁵ The poles are to be placed into the rings on the ark. They are not to be removed from the rings.

¹⁶ Put the Testimony, which I am about to give to you, into the ark. ¹⁷ Make an atonement seat ^[8] of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide. ¹⁸ Make two cherubim ^[9] of hammered gold. You are to make them for the two ends of the atonement seat. ¹⁹ Make one cherub for one end and one cherub for the other end. The cherubim on its two ends are to form one piece with the atonement seat. ^{[10] 20} The cherubim will spread their wings upward so that they cover the atonement seat with their wings, and they will face each other. The faces of the cherubim are to be looking inward toward the atonement seat. ²¹ Put the atonement seat on top of the ark, and put the Testimony, which I will give to you, into the ark. ²² There I will meet with you, and from above the atonement seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the Ark of the Testimony, I will communicate to you all the commands that I will give to you for the people of Israel.

The Table

²³ You shall make a table of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. ²⁴ Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it. ^{[11] 25} Make a three-inch rim around it. Make a gold border for its rim all the way around it. ²⁶ Make four gold rings for it and fasten the rings to the four corners, above the four legs of the table. ²⁷ The rings shall be close to the border to hold the poles used to carry the table. ²⁸ Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table can be carried with them. ²⁹ You are to make its dishes, ^[12] its small bowls, ^[13] its pitchers, and its larger bowls to pour out offerings. ^[14] Make them of pure gold. ³⁰ You are to set the Bread of the Presence ^[15] on the table so that it is in front of me at all times.

The Lampstand

³¹ You shall make a lampstand ^[16] of pure gold. The lampstand is to be made of hammered metal. Its pedestal, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers are all to be formed as one piece with the lampstand. ³² There are to be six branches going out from its two sides: Three branches of the lampstand are to go out from one side, and three branches of the lampstand are to go out from the other side. ³³ There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and flowers on the first branch, and three cups like almond blossoms with buds and flowers on the branch opposite it. All six branches going out from the lampstand are to be the same. ³⁴ On the lampstand itself make four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and flowers. ³⁵ The bud under one pair of branches is to form one piece with the lampstand, and the bud under the second pair of branches is to form one piece with the lampstand, and the bud under the third pair of branches is to form one piece with the lampstand—the same for all six branches going out of the lampstand. ³⁶ Its buds and branches are to be made as one piece with it. All of it will be one hammered piece of pure gold.

³⁷ You shall make seven lamps for it, and these lamps shall be lit to give light to the area in front of the lampstand. ³⁸ Its wick trimmers and its pans ^[17] are to be made of pure gold. ³⁹ It is to be made of seventy-five pounds ^[18] of pure gold with all these accessories. ⁴⁰ See to it that you make them according to their design, which is being shown to you on the mountain.

Exodus 21:33 – 23:19

Exodus 21

³³ If a man uncovers a cistern, ^[1] or if a man digs a cistern and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, ³⁴ the owner of the cistern shall pay for the loss in full. He shall give money to the owner of the animal, and the dead animal shall be his.

³⁵ If one man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox, so that it dies, they shall sell the live ox and divide the money they got for it, and they shall also divide the dead animal. ³⁶ But if it was known that the ox was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner has not kept it confined, he must pay ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his.

Laws About Property

Exodus 22

¹ If a man steals an ox or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. ^[2]

² If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the one who kills him shall not be guilty of bloodshed. ³ But if this takes place after sunrise, the one who kills him shall be guilty of bloodshed.

A thief shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. ⁴ If the stolen animal found in his possession is alive, whether it is an ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall repay double.

⁵ If a man is grazing livestock in a field or a vineyard, and he lets his animals run loose and they graze in another man’s field, ⎣he shall make restitution from his own field on the basis of the produce that was eaten, ^[3] but if they have grazed over the whole field,⎦ he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and from the best of his own vineyard. ^[4]

⁶ If a fire gets out of control and spreads through the thorn bushes so that someone else’s shocks of grain, standing grain, or grain field are consumed, the one who lit the fire must certainly make restitution.

⁷ If a man entrusts money or other items to his neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen out of that man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall repay double. ⁸ If the thief is not found, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges ^[5] to find out whether he has laid his hands on his neighbor’s goods. ⁹ In every such offense, whether it involves an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any other kind of lost property about which someone claims, “This is mine,” the claims of both parties shall be presented before the judges. Whichever party the judges find guilty shall repay double to his neighbor.

¹⁰ If a man entrusts a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to his neighbor for safekeeping, and it dies or is injured or is driven off, and no one sees what happened, ¹¹ to settle the matter between them, the man who received the property must make an oath to the Lord that he has not laid his hands on his neighbor’s goods. Its owner must accept the oath, and the man who received the property shall not be required to make restitution. ¹² But if, in fact, it was stolen while in his custody, he shall make restitution to its owner. ¹³ If it was torn in pieces by animals, let him bring it for evidence. He is not required to make good that which was torn.

¹⁴ If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, the borrower must certainly make restitution. ¹⁵ If its owner is with it, the borrower will not be required to make restitution. If it was rented, the rent covers the loss.

Laws About Morals in Society

¹⁶ If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and lies down with her, he must pay a bride price for her to be his wife. ¹⁷ If her father flatly refuses to give her to him, the offender still must weigh out silver equivalent to the bride price for virgins.

¹⁸ You shall not allow a sorceress ^[6] to live.

¹⁹ Whoever lies down with an animal shall certainly be put to death.

²⁰ Whoever sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.

²¹ You shall not wrong a resident alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

²² You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you take advantage of them in any way, and they make even the faintest cry to me, I will surely hear their cry, ²⁴ and my anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows, and your children fatherless.

²⁵ If you lend money to anyone among my people who is poor, you must not act like a moneylender. You must not charge him interest. ²⁶ If you take your neighbor’s outer garment as collateral, you must restore it to him before the sun goes down, ²⁷ for his garment is the only cover he has for his skin. What would he sleep in? Be assured that when he cries to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.

²⁸ You shall not malign the judges, ^[7] nor curse a ruler of your people.

²⁹ You shall not delay bringing offerings from your abundant harvest and from your overflowing wine vats.

You shall present the firstborn of your sons to me. ³⁰ You shall do the same with your cattle and with your sheep. For seven days a newborn animal shall be with its mother. Then on the eighth day you shall present it to me.

³¹ You are to be men set apart as holy for me. So you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by wild animals. You shall cast it to the dogs.

Exodus 23

¹ You shall not spread a false report. Do not join hands with the wicked to be a malicious witness.

² You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. Do not go along with the crowd by testifying in court to pervert justice.

³ You shall not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

⁴ If you come upon your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you certainly must bring it back to him again. ⁵ If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen down under its load, do not pass him by. You certainly must help him with it.

⁶ You shall not deny justice to the poor people among you in their lawsuits.

⁷ Keep your distance from a false charge. Do not put those who are innocent and those who are righteous to death, for I will not acquit ^[8] the wicked.

⁸ You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and distorts the words of the righteous.

⁹ You shall not oppress a resident alien, for you know how it feels to be an alien, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Laws About Sabbaths

¹⁰ For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, ¹¹ but during the seventh year you are to let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy among your people may eat, and the animals in the fields can eat what they leave. You are to deal with your vineyard and with your olive grove in the same way.

¹² Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey will have rest, and so that the son of your female servant and the resident alien will be refreshed.

¹³ Be careful to do all the things that I have said to you. Do not mention the name of other gods. Do not let their names come out of your mouth.

Laws About Festivals

¹⁴ Three times a year you shall observe pilgrimage festivals for me:

¹⁵ You shall observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ^[9] For seven days you shall eat bread without yeast, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib (for during that month you came out from Egypt). No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

¹⁶ Next observe the Festival of Reaping ^[10] by presenting the first ripe produce of your labors, which you sow in the field.

Finally, observe the Festival of Ingathering, ^[11] at the end of the year, when you pick the fruits of your labors from the fields. ¹⁷ Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.

¹⁸ You shall not offer any bread made with yeast together with the blood of my sacrifices. None of the fat from my festival shall remain until morning. ¹⁹ The very first produce from your soil you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.

You shall not boil a baby goat in its mother’s milk.

Romans 16:17-27

Romans 16

¹⁷ But I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the teaching that you learned, and keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving Christ our Lord but their own appetites. ^[1] By smooth talk and flattery, they seduce the hearts of the unsuspecting.

¹⁹ Your obedience has become known to everyone, so I am very joyful about you. But I want you to continue to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Greetings From Those With Paul

²¹ Timothy, my coworker, greets you, along with Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.

²² I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you.

Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus, the brother. ^[2]

Doxology

²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you—

Romans 15:14-33

Romans 15

Paul’s Goal: To Bring Christ’s Name Where It Was Not Known

¹⁴ I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are also full of goodness, filled with complete knowledge, and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ But I have written a letter to you (rather boldly at times) as a reminder to you, because of the grace God has given me ¹⁶ to be a public minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I am to do the priestly work of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles would be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ Therefore I have a reason to boast in Christ Jesus about my service to God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak about anything except those things Christ accomplished through me that resulted in the Gentiles’ obedience. Christ accomplished them by word and deed, ¹⁹ along with the power of signs and wonders done by the power of God’s ^[1] Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. ²⁰ And so I consider it an honor to proclaim the gospel where Christ’s name is not known, so that I may not build on another man’s foundation. ²¹ Instead, as it is written:

Paul Hopes to Come to Rome on His Way to Spain

²² This is also the reason I have been prevented many times from coming to you. ²³ But now I no longer have a place to work in these regions, and I have longed for many years to come to you. ²⁴ So when I go to Spain, I hope to visit you on my way. After I have enjoyed being with you for a while, I hope that you will help me on my journey there.

²⁵ Right now I am going to Jerusalem bringing assistance ^[3] to the saints. ²⁶ For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Indeed, they were pleased to do this and, to be sure, they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then the Gentiles owe it to them to serve them with material things.

²⁸ So, after I complete this project by delivering this fruit safely to them, I will set out for Spain and visit you on the way. ²⁹ And I know that when I come to you, I will arrive with the full blessing of Christ. ^[4]

³⁰ Now I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to struggle with me in prayers to God on my behalf. ³¹ Pray that I may be rescued from those in Judea who are disobedient and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² so that by God’s will I may come to you in joy and be refreshed in your company.

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

Romans 14

Strong and Weak Christians Both Belong to the Lord

¹ Accept a person who is weak in faith, and do not pass judgment on things that are just a difference of opinion. ² One person believes it is right to eat anything. Another person who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ The one who eats everything should not look down on the person who does not do so, and the one who does not eat everything should not judge the person who does, because God has accepted him. ⁴ Who are you to pass judgment on someone else’s servant? It is up to his master to decide whether that servant stands or falls. And he will stand, because God ^[1] is able to make him stand.

⁵ One person values one day above another. Another person values every day the same. Let each person be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ The person who honors a certain day does this for the Lord, and the person who eats does this for the Lord, because he gives thanks to God. And the person who does not eat does this for the Lord and gives thanks to God.

⁷ In fact, not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself. ⁸ Indeed, if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ For this reason he died, rose, ^[2] and lived, to be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Do Not Cause a Weak Christian to Stumble in Faith

¹⁰ But you, why do you pass judgment on your brother? And you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s ^[3] judgment seat. ¹¹ Indeed, it is written:

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

¹³ Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, resolve never to put an obstacle or a snare in the path of your brother. ¹⁴ I know, and I am convinced in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in and of itself, but it becomes unclean for the one who considers it to be unclean. ¹⁵ For example, if your brother is offended because of the food you eat, you are no longer walking in line with love. Do not destroy that person for whom Christ died by the food you eat! ¹⁶ So do not give others a reason to speak evil about what you consider good.

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Certainly a person who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and has the approval of people. ¹⁹ Consequently, let us pursue those things that lead to peace and building up one another.

²⁰ Do not tear down God’s work for the sake of food. Everything is pure, but it is wrong for a person to eat if it causes anyone to stumble. ²¹ It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything if it causes your brother to stumble.

²² Keep the conviction that you have in these matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. ²³ But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because it does not proceed from faith. ^[5] Everything that does not proceed from faith ^[6] is sin.

Romans 12

Offer Your Bodies to God as Living Sacrifices

¹ Therefore I urge you, brothers, ^[1] by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship. ² Also, do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you test and approve what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Humbly Use the Gifts God Gave You

³ So by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think in a way that results in sound judgment, as God distributed a measure of faith to each of you. ⁴ For we have many members in one body, and not all the members have the same function. ⁵ In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us. If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith. ^{[2] 7} If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. ⁸ If it is encouraging, then encourage. If it is contributing, be generous. If it is leadership, be diligent. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.

Guidelines for Christian Living

⁹ Do not just pretend to love others. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another with brotherly love. Think of others as deserving more honor than yourselves. ¹¹ Do not be lagging behind in zeal, but be fervent in spirit, as you continue to serve the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope. Endure trials patiently. Persist in prayer. ¹³ Share with the saints who are in need. Be quick to welcome strangers as guests.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who are rejoicing; weep with those who are weeping. ¹⁶ Have the same respect for one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the humble. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

¹⁷ Do not pay anyone back evil for evil. Focus on those things that everyone considers noble. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, maintain peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” ^[3] says the Lord. ²⁰ But:

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 11:11-24

Romans 11

¹¹ So I ask, “Did they stumble in order to fall permanently?” Absolutely not! Rather, by their trespass, salvation came to the Gentiles to make the Israelites jealous. ¹² Now if their trespass meant riches for the world, and their failure meant riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!

¹³ I am speaking to you Gentiles. For as long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I am going to speak highly of my ministry. ¹⁴ Perhaps I may make my own people jealous, and so save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, what does their acceptance mean other than the dead coming to life?

Gentiles Should Not Become Proud

¹⁶ If the part offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you—a wild olive branch—were grafted in among them and share in the rich sap from the root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast that you are better than the branches. If you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, but the root is supporting you. ¹⁹ Then you will say: “Branches were broken off so that I am grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true—but remember that they were broken off because of unbelief, and you remain in place by faith. Do not be conceited, but stand in awe. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you. ²² So take note of God’s kindness and his severity: severity on those who have fallen, but God’s kindness on you—if you remain in his kindness; otherwise, you also will be cut off.

Some Jews Will Be Grafted in Again

²³ And if they do not remain in unbelief, those branches will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from a wild olive tree and, contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

Romans 9:30 – 10:21

Romans 9

The Majority of Jews Rejected Justification by Faith

³⁰ What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have obtained righteousness, a righteousness that is by faith. ³¹ But Israel, while pursuing the law as a way of righteousness, did not reach it. ³² Why? Because they kept pursuing it not by faith, but as if it comes by works. ^[1] They stumbled over the stumbling stone. ³³ Just as it is written:

Prayer for Israelites to Believe

Romans 10

¹ Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Israelites is that they may be saved. ² Indeed, I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but it is not consistent with knowledge. ³ Since they were ignorant of the righteousness from God and sought to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness from God. ⁴ For to everyone who believes, Christ is the end of the law, resulting in righteousness.

⁵ Indeed, Moses writes this about the righteousness that comes by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.” ^{[4] 6} But the righteousness that comes by faith speaks like this: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” ^[5] (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” ^[6] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” ^[7] that is, the word of faith that we are proclaiming. ⁹ Certainly, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and it is with the mouth that a person confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ^[8]

¹² So there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³ Yes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ^[9]

Israel Rejected the Message God Sent

¹⁴ So then, how can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one about whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news of peace, ^[10] who preach the gospel of good things!” ^[11]

¹⁶ But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who believed our message?” ^{[12] 17} So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ. ^[13]

¹⁸ But I ask, did they not hear? Of course, they certainly did.