I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews. He teaches us that God is true. He shows us that God will keep the promises he made to the founders of our nation.

我说，基督是为神真理作了受割礼人的执事，要证实所应许列祖的话，

我说，基督是为上帝真理作了受割礼的人的执事，要证实所应许列祖的话，

我说，基督是为神真理作了受割礼的人的执事，要证实所应许列祖的话，

你们要知道，基督为了上帝的真理成为犹太人的仆人，好实现上帝对犹太人祖先们的应许，

我说，基督为了神的真理，成了受割礼的人的仆人，为的是要证实对祖先的应许，

我是说：基督为了神的真理，已成为受割礼之人的仆人，为要证实对祖先的各样应许，

我說，基督是為神真理作了受割禮人的執事，要證實所應許列祖的話，

我說，基督是為上帝真理作了受割禮的人的執事，要證實所應許列祖的話，

我說，基督是為神真理作了受割禮的人的執事，要證實所應許列祖的話，

你們要知道，基督為了上帝的真理成為猶太人的僕人，好實現上帝對猶太人祖先們的應許，

我說，基督為了神的真理，成了受割禮的人的僕人，為的是要證實對祖先的應許，

我說、基督為要顯明上帝的真誠，就做了受割禮之猶太人的僕役，要證實對列祖所發的應許，

我是說：基督為了神的真理，已成為受割禮之人的僕人，為要證實對祖先的各樣應許，

蓋我謂基督因上帝之真誠、曾為受割者之役、以應所許列祖之言、

余每曰、耶穌基督為役、傳上帝真理於奉割禮者、應上帝所許列祖之言、

我曰、耶穌基督為天主之真、為受割禮者之役、欲應天主所許列祖之言、

吾謂基督之成為受割禮者之僕役、所以實踐天主所許於列祖之恩諾、而彰天主之至誠也。

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors.

For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,

For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision in behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises given to the fathers,

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers,

For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises[ made] unto the fathers:

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,

Jesus answered,“ I was sent only to the people of Israel. They are like lost sheep.”

He came to what was his own. But his own people did not accept him.

God has made a great many promises. They are all“ Yes” because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say“ Amen.” We want God to receive glory.

What the prophets said was meant for you. The covenant God made with your people long ago is yours also. He said to Abraham,‘ All nations on earth will be blessed through your children.’( Genesis 22:18; 26:4)God raised up Jesus, who serves him. God sent him first to you. He did it to bless you. He wanted to turn each of you from your evil ways.”

But then the chosen time came. God sent his Son. A woman gave birth to him. He was born under the authority of the law.He came to set free those who were under the authority of the law. He wanted us to be adopted as children with all the rights children have.

I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Long ago holy prophets said he would do it.He has saved us from our enemies. We are rescued from all who hate us.He has been kind to our people of long ago. He has remembered his holy covenant.He made a promise to our father Abraham.

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly.“ We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said.“ But you don’t accept it. You don’t think you are good enough for eternal life. So now we are turning to the Gentiles.

The promise is based on God’s grace. The promise comes by faith. All of Abraham’s children will certainly receive the promise. And it is not only for those who are ruled by the law. Those who have the same faith that Abraham had are also included. He is the father of us all.

They are the people of Israel. They have been adopted as God’s children. God’s glory belongs to them. So do the covenants. They received the law. They were taught to worship in the temple. They were given the promises.The founders of our nation belong to them. The Messiah comes from their family line. He is God over all. May he always be praised! Amen.

You will be faithful to Jacob’s people. You will show your love to Abraham’s children. You will do what you promised to do for our people. You made that promise long ago.

The Lord has made known his power to save. He has shown the nations that he does what is right.He has shown his faithful love to the people of Israel. People from one end of the earth to the other have seen that our God has saved us.

He has helped the people of Israel, who serve him. He has always remembered to be kindto Abraham and his children down through the years. He has done it just as he promised to our people of long ago.”Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she returned home.

What if he put up with them to show the riches of his glory to other people? Those other people are the ones he shows his mercy to. He made them to receive his glory.We are those people. He has chosen us. We do not come only from the Jewish race. Many of us are not Jews.

So give glory to him, you who live in the east. Honor the name of the Lord, you who are in the islands of the sea. He is the God of Israel.From one end of the earth to the other we hear singing. People are saying,“ Give glory to the God who always does what is right.” But I said,“ I feel very bad. I’m getting weaker and weaker. How terrible it is for me! People turn against one another. They can’t be trusted. So they turn against one another.”

to serve Christ Jesus among the Gentiles. I have the duty of a priest to preach God’s good news. Then the Gentiles will become an offering that pleases God. The Holy Spirit will make the offering holy.

What if some Jews were not faithful? Will the fact that they weren’t faithful keep God from being faithful?

Before you believed in Christ, you were separated from him. You were not considered to be citizens of Israel. You were not included in what the covenants promised. You were without hope and without God in the world.At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. This has brought you near to God.Christ himself is our peace. He has made Jews and Gentiles into one group of people. He has destroyed the hatred that was like a wall between us.Through his body on the cross, Christ set aside the law with all its commands and rules. He planned to create one new people out of Jews and Gentiles. He wanted to make peace between them.He planned to bring both Jews and Gentiles back to God as one body. He planned to do this through the cross. On that cross, Christ put to death their hatred toward one another.He came and preached peace to you who were far away. He also preached peace to those who were near.Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit.So you are no longer outsiders and strangers. You are citizens together with God’s people. You are also members of God’s family.You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building.The whole building is held together by him. It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord.And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.I, Paul, am a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. I am in prison because of my work among you who are Gentiles.I am sure you have heard that God appointed me to share his grace with you.I’m talking about the mystery God showed me. I have already written a little about it.By reading about this mystery, you will be able to understand what I know. You will know about the mystery of Christ.The mystery was not made known to people of other times. But now the Holy Spirit has made this mystery known to God’s holy apostles and prophets.Here is the mystery. Because of the good news, God’s promises are for Gentiles as well as for Jews. Both groups are parts of one body. They share in the promise. It belongs to them because they belong to Christ Jesus.I now serve the good news because God gave me his grace. His power is at work in me.I am by far the least important of all the Lord’s holy people. But he gave me the grace to preach to the Gentiles about the unlimited riches that Christ gives.

But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.

At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey.

God did all this to prove in our own time that he does what is right. He also makes right with himself those who believe in Jesus.

Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you also will be cut off.

Be like the Son of Man. He did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free.”

Brothers and sisters, here is what I’m telling you. Bodies made of flesh and blood can’t share in the kingdom of God. And what dies can’t share in what never dies.

I’m talking about the other person’s sense of what is right and wrong, not yours. Why is my freedom being judged by what someone else thinks?

Do I mean that food sacrificed to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything?

Here is what I mean. One of you says,“ I follow Paul.” Another says,“ I follow Apollos.” Another says,“ I follow Peter.” And still another says,“ I follow Christ.”