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🎧 First Epistle to the Corinthians
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See 1885 English translation

Chapter 45: The Role of the Wicked is to Disturb the Righteous.

YOU ARE FOND OF CONTENTION: brothers, and full of zeal about things that do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing unjust or counterfeit is written in them. There you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who were themselves holy. The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked. They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by transgressors; they were slain, but only by the accursed, and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them.

Exposed to such sufferings, they endured them gloriously. For what shall we say, brothers? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by those who feared God? Were Ananias, Azarias, and Mishael thrown into a furnace of fire by those who observed the great and glorious worship of the Most High? Far be it from us to think such a thing! Who, then, were they who did such things? The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a level of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose of heart, not realizing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all those who venerate His all-excellent name with a pure conscience; to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

But those who confidently endured these things are now heirs of glory and honor and have been exalted and made illustrious by God in their memory forever and ever. Amen.

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