Study Desk

For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.

For who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?

For from him and through himand to him are all things.To him be the glory forever. Amen.

For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.

Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.