Study Desk

I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,

for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.

For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!

And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

"Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me."

For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either.

And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.

For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the Lord 's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord .

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.