Study Desk

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—

as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?

If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.