Study Desk

And Isaiah says boldly: I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me.

I ask, then, has God rejected His people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

But what was God's reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring!

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.

For if you were cut off from your native wild olive and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience, so that He may have mercy on all.

For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone's eyes.

Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.

But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

For government is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's public servants, continually attending to these tasks.