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were with you on my second visit, though for the moment absent, I say to those who have been long sinning, as well as to all others that if I come again, I shall spare no one. And 3 that will be the proof, which you are looking for, that the Christ speaks through me. There is no weakness in his dealings with you. No, he shows his power among you. though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we shall live for you through the power of God. Put yourselves to the proof, to see whether you 5 are holding to the Faith. Test yourselves. Surely you recognize this fact about yourselves--that Jesus Christ is in you! Unless indeed you cannot stand the test! But I hope 6 that you will recognize that we can stand the test. We pray 7 God that you may do nothing wrong, not that we may be seen to stand the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem not to stand the test. We have no power at all 8 against the Truth, but we have power in the service of the Truth. We are glad when we are weak, if you are strong. we pray for is that you may become perfect. reason for writing as I am now doing, while I am away from you, so that, when I am with you, I may not act harshly in the exercise of the authority which the Lord gave me--and gave nie for building up and not for pulling down.

Farewells.

And what
This is my

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II

And now, Brothers, good-bye. Aim at perfection; take courage; agree together; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you. Greet one another with a sacred 12 kiss. All Christ's people here send you their greetings. 13

May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 14 God, and the communion with the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

TO THE ROMANS.

ST. PAUL'S LETTER
LETTER TO THE

CHRISTIANS IN ROME.

WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY AT CORINTH, IN THE COURSE OF HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, ABOUT 56 A.D.

ST. PAUL had often wished to visit Rome, but up to the time of writing this Letter he had been prevented by various causes from doing so (Rom. 1. 11, 13: Acts 19. 21). At last there seemed to be a prospect of the realization of his longcherished desire. In the course of his third missionary journey he was in Corinth, and was about to go to Jerusalem to carry to the poorer Christians there the charitable contributions of several other Churches. It was his intention, upon leaving Jerusalem, to visit Spain, and he hoped on his way to spend a short time in Rome (Rom. 15. 24). He wrote the present Letter in anticipation of this journey to the West and for the purpose of putting in writing beforehand a full statement of certain important truths.

Philosophy, the Apostle teaches, had failed as a means of Salvation for the Gentile. The Law had failed as a means of Salvation for the Jew. In this Letter he establishes the doctrine that faith in Christ is the only ground of acceptance with God for all mankind.

The extent to which he develops his subject gives the Letter largely the aspect of a treatise.

TO THE

ROMANS.

The Apostle's Greeting.

I. INTRODUCTION.

To all in Rome who are dear to God and have 1-7 1 been called to become Christ's People,

FROM Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, who has been called to become an Apostle, and has been set apart to tell God's Good News. This Good News God promised long ago through his Prophets in the sacred Scriptures, concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; who, as to his human nature, was descended from David, but, as to the spirit of holiness within him, was miraculously designated Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received the gift of the Apostolic office, to win submission to the Faith among all nations for the glory of his Name. And among these nations are you--you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.

ΙΟ

II

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ 8 The Apostle's Thankfulness about you all, because the report of your faith is and Hope. spreading throughout the world. God, to whom 9 I offer the worship of my soul as I tell the Good News of his Son, is my witness how constantly I mention you when I pray, asking that, if he be willing, I may some day at last find the way open to visit you. For I long to see you, in order to impart to you some spiritual gift and so give you fresh strength-or rather that both you and I may find encouragement in each other's faith. I want you to know, 13 Brothers, that I have many times intended coming to see you --but until now I have been prevented that I might find among you some fruit of my labours, as I have already among the other nations.

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