{"id":3699,"date":"2014-04-18T05:28:56","date_gmt":"2014-04-17T23:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=3699"},"modified":"2021-12-06T13:53:06","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T19:53:06","slug":"romans-part-52","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=3699","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 52"},"content":{"rendered":"

So how can I view, Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good<\/i>,[1]<\/sup><\/a> and what follows as a definition of love rather than as rules<\/a>?\u00a0 I\u2019ve constructed the following table to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Fruit of the Spirit<\/p>\n

Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Goodness (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u2026for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.\u00a0 Walk as children of the light \u2013 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u1fc3), righteousness, and truth (\u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u1fb3<\/a>) \u2013 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Love (\u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7<\/a>) is\u2026<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026not glad about injustice (\u1f00\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u1fb3<\/a>)\u2026<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:6a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026but rejoices (\u03c3\u03c5\u03b3\u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03b3\u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03c9<\/a>) in the truth (\u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u1fb3).<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:6b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness (\u1f00\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u03b1) in him.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
This Love Without Hypocrisy\u2026<\/p>\n

Romans 12:9-21 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Abhor (\u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03c5\u03b3\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03c5\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) what is evil (\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03bd\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>)\u2026<\/p>\n

Romans 12:9b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026cling (\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ce\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9, a form of \u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>) to what is good (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u1ff7, a form of \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Romans 12:9c (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>While it makes some sense to place cling to what is good<\/i> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u1ff7) under goodness<\/i> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7), there is also a certain arbitrariness to subdividing a multivariate unity like the fruit of the Spirit.\u00a0 Why not place rejoices<\/i> (\u03c3\u03c5\u03b3\u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9) in the truth<\/i> under joy<\/i> (\u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac<\/a>)?\u00a0 I have no argument against that at all.\u00a0 I wholeheartedly believe that the motivating power (both to will and to do<\/a><\/i>)[4]<\/sup><\/a> is the fruit of Christ\u2019s Spirit.\u00a0 I rejoice in the truth because of his joy flowing in and through me.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve clearly walked everything through love<\/i> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NET<\/a>) as well.\u00a0 What is most important to me is the direction of flow, that I abhor what is evil <\/i>and cling to what is good<\/i> by God\u2019s goodness<\/i>, not my own.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I used to work this backwards.\u00a0 I believed that if I gathered a list of all that is evil and abhorred it, if I gathered a list of all that is good and clung to it, then I would be a man of integrity who desired to honor God.\u00a0 And if I was not glad about injustice but rejoiced in the truth, then I would be walking as a child of the light, and I would have achieved the fruit of the Spirit, the very Goodness of God.\u00a0 I would have climbed up sunshine mountain<\/a>.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Though I now consider this adultery<\/a>, even a super \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1<\/a>, and precisely what Jesus meant when he called the Pharisees hypocrites<\/a>, I didn\u2019t know any better then.\u00a0 My only alternative in the futility of my thinking<\/a>[6]<\/sup><\/a> was to say, \u201cNo, I won\u2019t do any of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>Though I could see no alternative to obeying rules in my mind, I felt it in my heart and in my spirit.\u00a0 I had moments, brief, precious God-given moments of unbounded grace, when I could do no wrong, effortlessly.\u00a0 Why did they end? I wondered.\u00a0 And so I studied the Bible for more rules to obey.\u00a0 But despite my best efforts to remain blind and unthinking, God\u2019s light shone through.\u00a0 His love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness and his firm control[7]<\/sup><\/a> began to take its toll on my recalcitrant mind, and renew it.<\/p>\n

Now I see even with my mind, that if I abhor what is evil and cling to what is good, it is due to his goodness.\u00a0 If I am not glad about injustice but rejoice in the truth, it is due to his love and joy.\u00a0 If I walk as a child of the light it demonstrates his righteousness, not mine.\u00a0 It is his gift received by faith.\u00a0 For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!<\/i>[8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Now I can look back and see that even the point of that silly little song was to \u201cLook to God on High<\/a>,\u201d but my religious mind tried to keep me blind\u2014tried and failed because eventually I learned to stop trying to do<\/a><\/i> and started believing<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>John\u2019s words are an excellent transition to believe<\/i> into the next definition of love in Paul\u2019s letter to the Romans, Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another<\/i>.[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.\u00a0 I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. \u00a0I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one (\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd).\u00a0 I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. \u00a0I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. \u00a0I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one (\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd).[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Fruit of the Spirit<\/p>\n

Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kindness (\u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

But \u201cwhen the kindness (\u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2) of God our Savior and his love for mankind (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03af\u03b1<\/a>) appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy (\u1f14\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>), through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.\u201d[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Love (\u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7) is\u2026<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026kind (\u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>)\u2026<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026it is not envious (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fd6, a form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>).<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

But the Jews became jealous (\u0396\u03b7\u03bb\u03ce\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, a form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9), and gathering together some worthless\u00a0men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in\u00a0an uproar.[12]<\/sup><\/a>They court you eagerly (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9), but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9).\u00a0 However, it is good to be sought eagerly (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9) for a good purpose at all times, and not\u00a0only when I am present with you.[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
This Love Without Hypocrisy\u2026<\/p>\n

Romans 12:9-21 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Be devoted (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03af\u1fb3, a form of \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03af\u03b1<\/a>) to one another with mutual love (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03cc\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03b9, a form of \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03cc\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>)\u2026<\/p>\n

Romans 12:10a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026showing eagerness (\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b7\u03b3\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b7\u03b3\u03ad\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>) in honoring (\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u1fc7, a form of \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ae<\/a>) one another.<\/p>\n

Romans 12:10b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Now on the topic of brotherly love (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03af\u03b1\u03c2, a form of \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03af\u03b1) you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by\u00a0God to love (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03c0\u1fb6\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03c0\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>) one another.\u00a0 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia.\u00a0 But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, to\u00a0aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with\u00a0your hands, as we commanded you.\u00a0 In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.[14]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

So I began here with John\u2019s good and kind and gracious words that I may cling to them and rejoice in their truth: 1) your sins have been forgiven because of his name<\/i>; 2) you have known him who has been from the beginning<\/i>, 3) you have conquered the evil one<\/i> [whether that be Satan or the sin in my own flesh]; 4) you have known the Father<\/i>; 5) you have known him who has been from the beginning<\/i> [and it is good to hear it again]; 6) you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one<\/i>.<\/p>\n

This kindness<\/i> (\u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2), an aspect of the fruit of his Spirit, is from God: when the kindness<\/i> (\u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2) of God our Savior and his love for mankind<\/i> (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03af\u03b1) appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy<\/i> (\u1f14\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2), through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior<\/i>.\u00a0 And so, love is kind<\/i> (\u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9), it is not envious<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fd6, a form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth the time to try to grasp what Paul meant by negating \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fd6 here, because he often used forms of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9 in a more positive sense.\u00a0 I am jealous<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u1ff6, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9) for you with godly jealousy<\/i> (\u03b6\u03ae\u03bb\u1ff3, a form of \u03b6\u1fc6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2), because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ<\/i>.[15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 He encouraged the Corinthians to be eager<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9) for the greater gifts<\/i>,[16]<\/sup><\/a> to Pursue love and be eager<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03b5) for the spiritual gifts<\/i>,[17]<\/sup><\/a> to be eager<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03b5) to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues<\/i>.[18]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But he was well aware of the jealousy of the religious mind (Acts 17:1-5a NET).<\/p>\n

After they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. \u00a0Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed them from the scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, \u201cThis Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.\u201d \u00a0Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.\u00a0 But the Jews became jealous (\u0396\u03b7\u03bb\u03ce\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, a form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9)<\/em>, and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They court you eagerly<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9), but for no good purpose<\/i>,[19]<\/sup><\/a> Paul wrote the Galatians. \u00a0The word translated good<\/i> in for no good purpose<\/i> is \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2<\/a>, literally beautifully<\/i>. \u00a0Paul used it often in an edgy almost sarcastic way.\u00a0 Then you will say, \u201cThe branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.\u201d \u00a0Granted<\/i> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2)!<\/i> \u00a0They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. \u00a0Do not be arrogant, but fear!<\/i>[20]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 For you are certainly giving thanks well<\/i> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2), he wrote to the one who speaks in a tongue<\/i>[21]<\/sup><\/a> but does not interpret, but the other person is not strengthened<\/i>.[22]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough<\/i> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2)![23]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I think this same edginess comes into play here in Galatians as Paul hit on the primary motive of the religious mind\u2019s jealousy: they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9).[24]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Then he explained the difference between a positive and negative \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9.\u00a0 However, it is good <\/i>(\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f78\u03bd, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>) to be sought eagerly<\/i> (\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, another form of \u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c9) for a good <\/i>(\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff7, another form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you<\/i>.[25]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The words translated good<\/i> here, \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f78\u03bd and \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff7, are forms of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2, beautiful<\/i> literally, \u201cgoodness\u201d in appearance. \u00a0It is a beautiful image of the difference between attempting to be good<\/i> by one\u2019s own efforts and relying on the intrinsic goodness<\/i> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7) of God.\u00a0 For I know that nothing good<\/i> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03cc\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03cc\u03c2) lives in me<\/i>, Paul wrote the Romans, that is, in my flesh. \u00a0For I want to do the good<\/i> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f78\u03bd, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2), but I cannot do it<\/i>.[26]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0The religious works of the religious mind lack the \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7 of God (and probably his \u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 as well).<\/p>\n

And so Paul\u2019s description of love is to Be devoted<\/i> (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03af\u1fb3, brotherly affection<\/i>) to one another with mutual love<\/i> (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03cc\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03b9, familial affection<\/i>), showing eagerness<\/i> (\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b7\u03b3\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9, lead the way<\/i>) in honoring<\/i> (\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u1fc7, or valuing<\/i>) one another<\/i>.[27]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0This is what John did with the words that I used to begin this section.\u00a0 And this is what Paul did: Now on the topic of brotherly love<\/i> (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03af\u03b1\u03c2) you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love<\/i> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03c0\u1fb6\u03bd) one another<\/i>.\u00a0 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia.\u00a0 But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more<\/i>\u2026[28]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/a>What follows is interesting as a regional\/cultural difference or Paul\u2019s personal taste or something gleaned from experience.\u00a0 In Jerusalem God\u2019s kindness was manifest as a communal ethic: All who believed were together and held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need<\/i>.[29]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 When Ezra followed Shecaniah\u2019s<\/a> suggestion to have the men who married foreign women divorce them<\/a> according to the law<\/a><\/i>,[30]<\/sup><\/a> A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem <\/i>[Table<\/a>]. \u00a0Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders<\/i> [Table<\/a>].[31]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 With a historical precedent like that Jesus\u2019 followers in Jerusalem may have forfeited their property to the authorities if they had tried to keep it.<\/p>\n

Paul worked with his own hands<\/a> even as he ministered the Gospel.\u00a0 When James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me<\/i>, Paul wrote the Galatians, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. \u00a0They requested only that we remember the poor <\/i>[in Jerusalem], the very thing I also was eager to do<\/i>.[32]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 James commented how some in the Jerusalem church had become judges with evil motives<\/i>[33]<\/sup><\/a> favoring the rich: Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? \u00a0Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?<\/i>[34]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Against this backdrop Paul counseled the Thessalonians to show God\u2019s kindness through a more working-class ethic, to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.\u00a0 In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need<\/i>.[35]<\/sup><\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Romans, Part 53\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 69<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to To Make Holy, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 89<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
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<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Romans 12:9b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Ephesians 5:8-10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> John 7:18 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Philippians 2:13 (KJV)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> http:\/\/www.kididdles.com\/lyrics\/c125.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Ephesians 4:17-24 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Romans 5:17 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Romans 12:10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> 1 John 2:12-14 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> Titus 3:4-6 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Acts 17:5 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Galatians 4:17, 18 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 14:39 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Galatians 4:17a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> Romans 11:19, 20 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[21]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 14:13 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[22]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 14:17 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[23]<\/sup> 2 Corinthians 11:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[24]<\/sup> Galatians 4:17b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[25]<\/sup> Galatians 4:18 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[26]<\/sup> Romans 7:18 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[27]<\/sup> Romans 12:10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[28]<\/sup> 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[29]<\/sup> Acts 2:44, 45 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[30]<\/sup> Ezra 10:3 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[31]<\/sup> Ezra 10:7, 8a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[32]<\/sup> Galatians 2:9, 10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[33]<\/sup> James 2:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[34]<\/sup> James 2:6b, 7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/a>[35]<\/sup> 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So how can I view, Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good,[1] and what follows as a definition of love rather than as rules?\u00a0 I\u2019ve constructed the following table to help. The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1736,3116,20,2719],"tags":[2373,2386,2395,2388,2392,2393,2390,2396,2385,2397,2398,2391,415,2399,2387,2394,2055,2232,728,882,2389],"class_list":["post-3699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-love","category-romans","category-section-three","tag-1-corinthians-134","tag-1-corinthians-136","tag-1-corinthians-1417","tag-1-john-212-14","tag-1-thessalonians-49-12","tag-acts-171-5","tag-acts-175","tag-acts-244-45","tag-ephesians-58-10","tag-ezra-107-8","tag-galatians-29-10","tag-galatians-417-18","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-james-26-7","tag-john-718","tag-romans-1119-20","tag-romans-1210","tag-romans-129","tag-romans-517","tag-romans-718","tag-titus-34-6"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3699"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18159,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3699\/revisions\/18159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}