Bible verses about "individuality" | JMNT

³¹ Therefore whether you folks are habitually eating or continually drinking, or anything you are constantly doing, be continuously doing all things unto God's glory (or: performing everything [directed toward and leading] into a good reputation pertaining to God; making all things into a manifestation which calls forth praise to God).

¹⁴ You see then, the body is not one member (or: part), but to the contrary, [it is] many. ¹⁵ In case the foot should ever say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not from out of the midst of (= a part of) the body," not for this reason is it not from out of the midst of the body (or: = it is not from this statement that it does not exist with the body being its source and that it is not a part of the body)! ¹⁶ And if the ear should ever say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not forth from (= a part of) the body," not alongside of this (= not for this reason) is it not forth from (= a part of) the body! ¹⁷ If the whole body [were] an eye, where [would be] the hearing (or: the ability to hear)? If [the] whole [were] hearing (the ability to hear), where [would be] the sense of smell? ¹⁸ Yet, at this present time (or: = But as things are), God, for Himself, places (or: at once set in Himself) the members (or: parts) – each one of them – within the midst of and in union with the body, just as He intends (purposed; wills). ¹⁹ Now if the whole (or: all) were one member, where [would be] the body?

¹⁴ Let all of your [actions and affairs] be habitually birthed and produced within Love.

³³ correspondingly as I myself am also habitually accommodating and pleasing all folks in all things, not continually seeking the thing that bears together for advantage, profit, welfare and expedience of myself, but to the contrary, that which pertains to The Many – to the end that they can be saved (rescued, delivered, healed, made whole and restored to their original state and condition)!

³⁰ "Now even the hairs of you head are all ones having been counted and numbered!

⁷ "But in comparison, even the hairs of your head have all been numbered (or: given a number, and thus, counted)! So then, stop fearing (or: do not continue being caused to fear or be wary)! You folks constantly carry through to be of [more] consequence and value [than] many sparrows.

¹⁹ You see, continually being free from out of the midst of all things and from all people (or: from everything), I enslave myself to all people (or: everything and everyone), to the end that I can (may; would) gain [all] the more folks. ²⁰ So I come to be (or: became) as a Jew for (or: to; with) the Jews, to the end that I can (would; may) gain Jews; as under Law for (or: to; with) those under Law, to the end that I can (or: would; should; may) gain those under Law; ²¹ as without law (or: as lawless) – [though] not continually being without a law pertaining to God, but to the contrary, within a principle which is Christ (or: Christ's law; the custom which has the character and quality of Christ; or: [the] law which is [the] Anointing) – to those without law (for and with the lawless ones), to the end that I will progressively [other MSS: can; may; would] gain the folks without law (the lawless ones). ²² To (For; Among) those without strength (the weak ones), I become (or: came to be) as without strength (weak), to the end that I would (can; may) gain those without strength (the weak ones). I have become and continue to be all things for (to; among) all folks (or: peoples), to the end that I can (would; may) by every means (in every way; under all circumstances) save (rescue; deliver; restore to health, wholeness and their original condition) anybody! ²³ Now I habitually do all things (or: everything) because of the message of abundant wellness (the good news; the message of prosperous and ideal ease, and goodness), to the end that I would (could; can) for myself come to be its (or: His) joint participant (co-partner; sharer-in-common, along with others; equal fellow in communion and common Being).

²⁰ But, at this present time (now) [there are], indeed, many members (or: parts), yet one body.

⁴ For you see, just as (or: according to what is encompassed) in one body we continuously have (constantly hold and possess) many members, yet all the members do not have the same mode of acting (do not constantly hold the same function), ⁵ thus we, the many, are and continue to exist being one body within Christ (in union with [the] Anointed), yet individually (or: the situation being in accord with one), members of one another (or: but still, [being] on one level, [are] members whose source is, and who belong to, each other). ⁶ Now constantly holding (having; possessing) excelling grace-effects (or: gracious results of favor that carry-through), down from, in accord with and to the level of the grace and joyous favor being given to us, in us and for us, whether prophecy – [let it be] down from and in line with the above-word of the faith (or: in accord with the analogy of the loyalty; according to the proportion of trust; following the pattern of the corresponding relationship that pertains to the Faith; down along the upward-thought of faith or the up-message of the belief; in accordance with conformability from the faithfulness; on the level of the correspondence and ratio of confidence); ⁷ or whether serving (thoroughly dispensing in attendance on a duty) – [let us be, or live] in the service (the attendance to the duty; the arrangement for provision; the aid through dispensing); or whether the one constantly teaching – [let the person continue] in the teaching (the instructing or training); ⁸ or whether the person normally performing as a paraclete (one habitually calling alongside to aid, admonish, encourage, exhort and give relief) – [let the person flourish] in the calling alongside to give relief and aid, as well as for admonition, encouragement and exhortation; the one habitually sharing (imparting; giving together) – in simplicity (singleness; or: = with generosity); the one constantly setting himself before [a situation] or being a caregiver (or: standing in front and presiding; or: being in charge of giving care or aid) – in diligent haste (= eagerly); the one continuously mercying (applying mercy) – in cheerfulness (pleasantness; gleeful abandon).

¹ Brothers (= Fellow believers; = My family)! Even if a person (or: human) may be at some point overtaken (caught; laid hold of before; be surprised) within the effect of some slip or falling to the side (or: the result of some offense, lapse or mistake), you folks – the spiritual ones (the people influenced by the Breath-effect and Attitude) – repeatedly (or: continuously) adjust, mend or repair such a one so as to thoroughly prepare and equip him, within a spirit of gentle friendliness (attitude of meekness; breath of mildness), as you each are constantly keeping a watchful eye on yourself (carefully noting yourself with regard to the goal), and so you folks may not at some point be put to the proof (or: and you, yourself, would not be tried, tested or harassed by some ordeal). ² You folks be habitually lifting up and carrying one another's heavy burdens and oppressive matters (grievous weights of and from one another), and thus, you will continuously fulfill [or, with other MSS: In this way, at once fill up and fulfill] Christ's Law (or: the law which is Christ; the law of the Anointing; [other MSS: and in this manner, at once fill up the law of the Christ {the law whose character and source is Christ}]). ³ For you see, if anyone, being presently nothing, continues imagining (supposing; presuming) himself to be something, he continues leading his own mind astray (he keeps on deceiving himself; he misleads and cheats his intellect and way of thinking). ⁴ So let each one habitually put his own work to the test for approval (examine and prove the deeds and actions which he does), and then he will continue having a cause for exultation-effects (or: hold a sense of achievement) in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person, ⁵ for, each one will lift up and progressively carry (or: shoulder) his own specific little load (or: pack; small thing to be borne). ⁶ Now let the person being habitually orally-instructed (being sounded down [from above] into the ears so that they ring) in the Word (the message) constantly express common being to (or: hold common partnership in and fellowship for; share equally with) the one regularly giving the oral instruction (sounding down and making the ears ring), in all good things. ⁷ Do not be continually led astray (or: Stop being caused to wander and being deceived); God is not one to be sneered at (to have a nose turned up at; to be scorned, mocked or treated like a fool), for "whatever a person is in the habit of sowing, this also he will reap," ⁸ because the person continually sowing into the flesh of himself (= his estranged inner being), will progressively reap corruption (spoil; ruin; decay) forth from out of the flesh (= the estranged inner being); (or: the one habitually sowing into the flesh [system], of himself will continue to reap decay from out of the flesh [system];) yet the one constantly sowing into the spirit (or: the Breath) will be progressively reaping eonian life (life having the characteristics of the Age [of Messiah]; or: life from the Age that lasts on through the ages) forth from out of the spirit (or: the Spirit; the Breath; the attitude). ⁹ So – not being people [who are] let loose out from (or: set free from out of) [the laboring] (or: not being made unstrung or exhausted so as to be relaxing [from laboring]) – we should not in worthlessness be remiss (or: act badly by failing; be despondent; in bad quality, give up) in habitually doing (making; constructing; producing) the beautiful (the fine; the ideal; the noble), for in our own appropriate situation (or: in our own appointed season; or: to or by our own fitness and proportion) we will progressively gather in a harvest (or: will continue reaping). ¹⁰ Consequently, then, as we are continuing to hold a fitting situation [or, with other MSS: while we may continue having occasion or a fertile moment], we can keep on actively working the good [other MSS: we should habitually be performing the excellent; we can continue in the business of the virtuous] toward all – and especially toward the members of the family and household of the faith and trust (the conviction and loyalty)! ¹¹ Consider (or: See) how large [are the] letters [i.e., of the alphabet] [which] I write to you, in (or: by; with) my [own] hand! [comment: Paul is doing this to make his point, i.e., he is “shouting” at them via the script, so that they will take note of the point he is making] ¹² As many as continually want (intend; will; purpose) to make a good impression (a pleasing appearance; a fair face, front or facade) within flesh [i.e., in a flesh system or religion], these are habitually urging, or trying to compel or force, you folks (or: making you feel obliged) to proceed to be circumcised – only so that they may not be continually pursued and persecuted for (or: in; with) the cross of Christ Jesus (or: by the execution stake that pertains to the Anointed Jesus). ¹³ For not even the folks being presently (or: currently getting) circumcised (or, as a middle: habitually circumcising [people]; requiring [the practice of] circumcision; [other MSS: having been circumcised]) are themselves habitually keeping (guarding; protecting; observing; maintaining) [the] Law, but even so, they constantly want and intend you folks to proceed to be circumcised, so that they may have cause for boasting in your flesh [ritual or religion]. ¹⁴ Now may it not happen to me (or: in me) to take up the practice of boasting, except within the cross (the execution stake) of our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom (or: through which [i.e., the cross]) the organized System (or: the world of culture, economy, government and religion) has been, and continues being, crucified (executed on the stake) in me (or: to me; for me; by me; with me), and I by (to; in; with; for) the organized System (the world; = their culture, secular society, religion, and government). ¹⁵ For you see [some MSS add: within Christ Jesus], neither circumcision nor uncircumcision continues being anything, but rather: a new creation (a founding and settling [as a village] with a new character, in a place that was wild and without order; a new act of framing and building). ¹⁶ So as many as are habitually advancing [other MSS: will advance; can advance] in line by ranks, corresponding to this measuring rod (or: continue belonging to the rank living in conformity to this rule; or: shall in this standard progressively observe the rudimentary elements or elementary principles and walk in line with them), Peace (harmony; [= shalom]) and Mercy [are continually] upon them – even (or: that is) upon the Israel whose origin and source is God (or: God's Israel). ¹⁷ Pertaining to the rest (or: In regard to what is left over), let no one continue offering hard labor to me (or: let no one be making trouble for me or be holding me to his side for a beating), for I myself continuously carry the brand marks [of a slave or a soldier, showing ownership] of Jesus, within (or: the effects of being stuck by a point from Jesus, on) my body! ¹⁸ The grace and favor of, and whose origin and source are, our Lord, Jesus Christ [are continually] with your spirit (or: the Breath-effect belonging to you folks), brothers (= fellow believers; = [my] family)! It is so! (Amen; So let it be; Count on it!) [written circa A.D. late 56 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

⁷ Likewise, [with] the inanimate (soulless; = lifeless) things [which] are normally giving a sound – whether a flute or lyre (or: a wind instrument or a stringed instrument): how will it proceed being known [what] is being played on the flute or on the lyre unless it should give a distinction in the tones (a set order throughout with a difference made through divisions in the arrangement or the sending of the sounds apart)?

¹⁴ You see then, the body is not one member (or: part), but to the contrary, [it is] many. ¹⁵ In case the foot should ever say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not from out of the midst of (= a part of) the body," not for this reason is it not from out of the midst of the body (or: = it is not from this statement that it does not exist with the body being its source and that it is not a part of the body)! ¹⁶ And if the ear should ever say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not forth from (= a part of) the body," not alongside of this (= not for this reason) is it not forth from (= a part of) the body! ¹⁷ If the whole body [were] an eye, where [would be] the hearing (or: the ability to hear)? If [the] whole [were] hearing (the ability to hear), where [would be] the sense of smell? ¹⁸ Yet, at this present time (or: = But as things are), God, for Himself, places (or: at once set in Himself) the members (or: parts) – each one of them – within the midst of and in union with the body, just as He intends (purposed; wills). ¹⁹ Now if the whole (or: all) were one member, where [would be] the body? ²⁰ But, at this present time (now) [there are], indeed, many members (or: parts), yet one body.

⁴ So let each one habitually put his own work to the test for approval (examine and prove the deeds and actions which he does), and then he will continue having a cause for exultation-effects (or: hold a sense of achievement) in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person,