Bible verses about "unbelievers" | AUV

³⁰ Jesus answered him, “A certain man was traveling down from Jerusalem to Jericho [Note: This was a town about eighteen miles northeast of Jerusalem], when he was attacked by robbers, who stripped him [of his clothing and belongings] and beat him up, then went away leaving him half dead. ³¹ And it just happened that a certain priest was traveling down that [same] road, and when he saw the [injured] man, he went around him on the opposite side of the road. ³² In the same way, a Levite [Note: Levites were assistants to the priests], when coming to that place and seeing the [injured] man, also went around him on the opposite side [of the road]. ³³ But [then] a certain Samaritan [Note: This was a person despised by the Jews and regarded by them as a ‘half-breed’], as he traveled along, came to where the [injured] man was [lying], and upon seeing him [lying there], felt deep pity [for him]. ³⁴ So, he went over to him, poured oil and wine on him [i.e., as emergency medical treatment], then bandaged his wounds, placed him on his own animal, and took him to a lodge where he took care of him. ³⁵ Then the next day he gave the lodge keeper two coins [Note: These coins amounted to two days of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $140 in 1994] and told him, ‘Take care of this [injured] man; and whatever more you have to spend on him I will repay you when I come back [this way] again.’ ³⁶ [Now] which of these three men do you think acted like a neighbor to the man attacked by the robbers?” ³⁷ And the teacher of the law of Moses said, “The person who showed pity on him.” Then Jesus replied, “You go and do the same thing.”

¹⁵ If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

¹⁶ For God loved the world [of sinners] so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that every person who believes in Him would not [have to] be destroyed, but have never ending life.

²³ For the wages for sinning is [spiritual] death, but God’s free gift is never ending life in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus our Lord.

²⁰ For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities of eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, [capable of] being perceived through the things that He has made. So, these people have no excuse [i.e., for not believing in Him].

⁴ For they are servants of God for your good. But you should be afraid if you do what is evil, because they do not carry the sword [i.e., for executing criminals] for nothing. For they are servants of God who take revenge [on wrongdoing] by punishing the person who does evil.

¹ Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the good news which I preached to you. You received it; you are standing firm in it; ² [and] you have been saved by it also, if you hold on to it firmly [i.e., continue believing and practicing it]. For if you do not [hold on to it firmly], you will have believed [it] all for nothing. ³ For I passed on to you the [following] main principles that I received [i.e., by revelation]: Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; ⁴ He was buried; He was raised [from the dead] on the third day, according to the Scriptures; ⁵ and He appeared to Cephas [i.e., Peter. See Luke 24:34], and then to the twelve apostles. [See Luke 24:33]. ⁶ After that He appeared to over five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, but some have died. ⁷ Then He appeared to James [Note: This was probably Jesus’ half-brother. See Acts 12:17; Gal. 1:19], and then to all of the apostles. [See John 20:26]. ⁸ Then last of all, He appeared to me also, as someone born abnormally. [Note: This probably refers to Paul being converted later than the rest of the apostles]. ⁹ For I am the least [significant] of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But I am whatever I am because of God’s unearned favor, and the favor He showed me was not for nothing [i.e., Paul made the most of his conversion by being extra diligent in his service to God]. But I worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I, but God’s favor on me [that accomplished it]. ¹¹ So, whether it was I, or the other apostles [who did the work], this is [the message] that we have preached, and that you people have received. ¹² Now if it is preached that Christ was raised from the dead, how can some people among you say that people will not be raised from the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection from the dead, [then] Christ has not been raised up either. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised up, then our preaching is for nothing, and your faith is for nothing too. ¹⁵ And also, we are found to be false witnesses about God because we testified that God raised up Christ [from the dead], when [in reality] He did not raise Him up if, in fact, the dead are not raised up. ¹⁶ For if dead people are not raised up, [then] neither has Christ been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised up, [then] your faith is for nothing; you are still condemned by your sins. ¹⁸ Then [also], those who have died in [fellowship with] Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If we have placed our hope in Christ while in this life only, we are to be pitied more than all [other] people. ²⁰ But now Christ has been raised up from the dead; [He is] the firstfruits of those who have died. [Note: By “firstfruits” is meant the first installment of the crop which promises the entire harvest eventually]. ²¹ For since death happened to a man [i.e., Adam], the resurrection from the dead also happened to a man [i.e., Christ]. ²² For as all people die [physically] in [their relationship to] Adam, so also will all people be made alive [physically] in [their relationship to] Christ. [Note: However, some view “made alive” as referring to the new spiritual life given to believers]. ²³ But each one [is raised up] in his own turn: Christ as the firstfruits [See verse 20]; then those who are Christ’s [i.e., believers], when He returns. ²⁴ Then [i.e., at Christ’s return] the end [of the world] will occur, when He will turn over the kingdom to God, the Father, after He has abolished all [hostile] dominion, authority and power. ²⁵ For Christ must [continue to] rule [over His kingdom, the church] until God has put all of His enemies under Christ’s feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be abolished is death. ²⁷ For He [i.e., God] placed everything in subjection under His [i.e., Christ’s] feet. But when God said, “Everything is in subjection [to Him],” it is clear that this did not include God [Himself], who placed everything in subjection to Him [i.e., Christ]. ²⁸ And after everything [else] has been subjected to Christ, then the Son Himself will also be subjected [i.e., He will subject Himself] to God, who subjected everything to Christ, so that God may rule over everything. ²⁹ Otherwise [i.e., if there were no resurrection], what do people accomplish by being immersed for those who have [already] died? If dead people are not raised up at all, why then are people immersed on their behalf? [Note: The foregoing rendition is the most commonly held one of over 30 interpretations given to this very difficult verse. Other possibilities are: a) “immersed in view of (being raised from) the dead,” b) “immersed in view of being dead (to sin),” c) “immersed in view of (having to suffer) death,” d) “immersed in view of (someday joining) the dead”]. ³⁰ Why do we also risk danger every hour [i.e., if there were no resurrection]? ³¹ I face death every day, I assure you brothers, as surely as I boast of [fellowship with] you in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² What benefit was it to me, from a human standpoint, if I fought wild animals in Ephesus, and [yet] the dead are not raised? [Note: This probably refers to Paul facing ferocious opposition from people there in Ephesus]. We should [just] eat and drink, for tomorrow we [may] die. ³³ Do not be fooled; bad company ruins good moral behavior. ³⁴ Come to your senses; do what is right and stop sinning. Some of you do not know God [i.e., in a personal way]. I am saying this to make you ashamed. ³⁵ But someone will ask, “How are dead people raised up?” and “What kind of a body will they have?” ³⁶ You foolish person. The seed you plant does not come to life [i.e., grow] unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you yourself sow is not the plant that will [eventually] come up, but simply a seed. It may be a grain of wheat or something else. ³⁸ But God gives it the [kind of] body He wants [it to have], so each seed gets its own plant. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same [Note: The word “flesh” here refers to the material composition of matter, and in no way suggests anything sinful, as it does in many other places in Paul’s writings]. But mankind has one [kind of] flesh; animals have another kind; birds have another; and fish [still] another. ⁴⁰ Also, there are heavenly bodies [i.e., stars and planets] and earthly bodies [i.e., men and animals]. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one [kind], and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another [kind]. ⁴¹ The sun has one [kind] of splendor, and the moon has another [kind], and the stars [still] another. For [even] one star’s splendor is different from another’s. ⁴² It is the same way with the resurrection of dead people. [A person’s body] is buried [only] to decay; it is raised up never to decay again. ⁴³ It is buried in dishonor; it is raised up in splendor. It is buried in weakness; it is raised up in power. ⁴⁴ It is buried as a physical body; it is raised up as a spiritual body. If there is [such a thing as] a physical body, [then] there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So, it is also written [Gen. 2:7], “The first man, Adam, became a living being.” The last Adam [i.e., Christ], became the Spirit who gives [never ending] life. [See John 5:21]. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual [body] does not come first, but the physical [body does]; then the spiritual [body comes]. ⁴⁷ The first man [i.e., Adam] came from the dust of the ground [See Gen. 2:7]; the second man [i.e., Christ] came from heaven. ⁴⁸ Just as earthly people are like the man who came from dust; so heavenly people are like the man who came from heaven. ⁴⁹ And just as we [now] appear [in both a physical and spiritual body] like the man who came from dust [i.e., Adam]; we will also [someday] appear [in both a physical(?) and spiritual body] like the man who came from heaven [i.e., Christ]. ⁵⁰ Now this is what I am saying, brothers; flesh and blood [i.e., physical bodies] cannot possess the kingdom of God [i.e., the heavenly realm]; neither can [bodies that] decay possess [a place] which does not decay. ⁵¹ Look, I am telling you a secret truth: We will not all die, but we will all be changed [i.e., physically and spiritually] ⁵² in a split second, as quickly as the twinkle of an eye, when the last trumpet blows. For the trumpet will blow and dead people [i.e., believers] will be raised up, never to decay again, and [the living] will be changed [i.e., physically and spiritually]. ⁵³ For this [body] that can decay must be clothed with [a body] which cannot decay. And this [body] that can die must be clothed with [a body] which cannot die. ⁵⁴ But when this [body] that can decay has been clothed with one which cannot decay, and this [body] that can die has been clothed with one which cannot die, then the Scriptural saying will be fulfilled [Isa. 25:8], “Death has been swallowed up [i.e., eliminated] by victory.” [Note: The reference here is to the time when believers will experience victory over death by being resurrected or taken directly to be with God]. ⁵⁵ [Hos. 13:14 says], “Death, where is your victory [over people]? Death, where is your [harmful] sting?” ⁵⁶ The [harmful] sting that causes [physical] death is sin [See Rom. 5:12]; and the power of sin [to do this] comes from the law. [See Rom. 8:2]. ⁵⁷ But I thank God for giving us victory [i.e., over sin and death] through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my dearly loved brothers, stand firm [in the faith]; do not be moved [from your commitment]. Always do your best to work for the Lord, since you know that your labor in the Lord’s [service] is not for nothing.

¹ Now concerning the collection for the [needy] saints [whom you wrote me about]: You people also should do what I directed the churches in Galatia to do. ² On every first day of the week [i.e., at the regular Sunday assembly] each one of you should set aside and store up [money] in proportion to your income, so that no collections will have to be taken when I come. ³ Then when I arrive, I will send letters with the men you appoint to take the gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it seems suitable for me to go also, they can go with me. ⁵ But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia, for I am planning to go through Macedonia [Note: This was the Roman province of northern Greece]. ⁶ And perhaps I will stay with you, even for the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷ But I do not plan to see you yet, as I will [only] be passing through. For I am hoping to stay with you for some time [i.e., in the future], if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will wait [here] in Ephesus until the Day of Pentecost [Note: This was an annual Jewish festival, held at spring harvest time]; ⁹ because a great door [of opportunity] has opened up to me [here] for doing an effective work [for God], but there are [also] many enemies who oppose me. [See Acts 19]. ¹⁰ Now if [or, probably, “when”] Timothy comes [i.e., there to Corinth], make sure he feels at ease [Note: Due to his youthful age and inexperience, Timothy was probably inclined to be easily intimidated], for he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. ¹¹ So, do not let anyone look down on him, but help him on his journey in peace so that he can come to me, for I am expecting him [to come] with the brothers. ¹² Now concerning our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the other brothers, but he was not at all willing to do so at this time. But he will go when he has the opportunity. ¹³ You people should be alert; stand firm in the faith; act like [godly] men; be [spiritually] strong. ¹⁴ Everything you do should be done lovingly. ¹⁵ You know that [members of] the family of Stephanas are the firstfruits of Achaia [i.e., the first converts in that province of southern Greece], and that they have committed themselves to serving God’s people [i.e., the saints]. ¹⁶ Now I urge you, brothers, that you should also submit to [the leadership of] such people and to everyone [else] who works and labors [with them]. ¹⁷ And I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived [here in Ephesus], for they have provided [me] with what you were not able to. ¹⁸ For they cheered me up, as they have cheered [or, will cheer] you up [also]. [Note: How these three men did this for Paul and the Corinthians is not known]. You should give recognition to such men. ¹⁹ The churches in Asia send you their greetings [Note: This was the westernmost province in present-day Turkey]. Aquila and Prisca [Note: This married couple were close friends and fellow-tentmakers of Paul], along with the church that meets in their house, send you their warm greetings in [fellowship with] Christ. ²⁰ All of the brothers [and sisters] send you their greetings [also]. Greet one another with a holy kiss [i.e., to signify affection, yet without sensuality]. ²¹ These greetings are being written with my own hand. [See II Thess. 3:17]. ²² If anyone [there] does not love the Lord, he deserves to be cut off from God. O Lord, come [back soon]. ²³ May the unearned favor of the Lord Jesus Christ [continue to] be with you. ²⁴ [I send] my love to all of you in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus. May it be so.

¹² Pay attention, brothers, so that there will not be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, [resulting] in falling away from the living God.

⁸ But the place for cowards, and unbelievers, and disgusting people [i.e., because of their terrible sins], and murderers, and sexually immoral people, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will be the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This is the second death.”

⁴ For the god of this world [i.e., Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the Gospel of the splendor of Christ, who is the image of God.

⁸ But if anyone does not provide for [the needs of] his own [relatives], and especially for his own [immediate] family, he has denied the faith [i.e., the fundamental beliefs of Christianity], and is worse than an unbeliever.

¹⁴ Do not team up with unbelievers [i.e., in close relationships, such as marriage, etc.]. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or, what fellowship can light have with darkness?

⁹ I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ I did not mean the sexually immoral people of this world, or with greedy people and swindlers, or with idolaters. For [to do this] you would have to go out of the world. [Note: If taken literally, this implies that there are no sinful people outside our planet]. ¹¹ But I wrote to you not to associate with anyone claiming to be a [Christian] brother who is [guilty of being] sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or who speaks abusively, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat [a social meal] with such a person. ¹² (OMITTED TEXT) ¹³ For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? [i.e., non-Christians]; God judges them. But should you not judge those people who are inside? [i.e., Christians]. [So], remove the evil person from your fellowship [See Deut. 17:7].

¹⁸ Their understanding [of spiritual things] is darkened and excluded from the [spiritual] life that God gives, because of the ignorance in their minds and the stubbornness in their hearts.

¹⁴ Do not team up with unbelievers [i.e., in close relationships, such as marriage, etc.]. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or, what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ And what harmony can Christ have with Belial? [Note: “Belial” means “worthlessness” and was used for referring to the devil]. Or, what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement is there between a temple of God and idols? For we are a temple of the living God, just as God said [Lev. 26:12], “I will live in them and walk among them [i.e., among His people]; and I will be their God and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ Therefore, the Lord says [Isa. 52:11], “You people should leave their company [i.e., unbelievers, verse 14] and separate yourselves from them, and do not touch anything unclean [i.e., their evil practices], and I will welcome you.” ¹⁸ The Lord Almighty [also] said [Hos. 1:10], “I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me.”