Curated semantic-search results from the Bible and early Jewish and Christian writings.
These passages are drawn from a current, full-corpus deep search.
Top matching passages
Best matchGalatians 5:13–24
3/10 · fair
13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
1 Corinthians 8:7–13
2/10 · weak
7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
Galatians 5:1–12
3/10 · fair
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. 2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love. 7 You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9 A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
1 Clement 21:4–5
2/10 · weak
4 It is right therefore that we should not be deserters from His will. (1CL) 5 Let us rather give offense to foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God. (1CL)
Ignatius to the Trallians 8:1–2
2/10 · weak
1 Not indeed that I have known of any such thing among you, but I keep watch over you betimes, as my beloved, for I foresee the snares of the devil. Do ye therefore arm yourselves with gentleness and recover yourselves in faith which is the flesh of the Lord, and in love which is the blood of Jesus Christ. (IGN) 2 Let none of you bear a grudge against his neighbour. Give no occasion to the Gentiles, lest by reason of a few foolish men the godly multitude be blasphemed: for _Woe unto him through whom My name is vainly blasphemed before some._ (IGN)
1 Corinthians 10:22–33
3/10 · fair
22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of others. 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience— 29 the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God— 33 as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
1 Peter 2:8–19
3/10 · fair
8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 18 Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. 19 For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffer…
4 Maccabees 5:33–38
2/10 · weak
33 I will not so pity my old age, as on my account to break the law of my country. (WEB) 34 I will not play false to you, O law, my instructor, or forsake you, O beloved self-control! (WEB) 35 I will not put you to shame, O philosopher Reason, or deny you, O honored priesthood and knowledge of the law. (WEB) 36 Mouth! You shall not pollute my old age, nor the full stature of a perfect life. (WEB) 37 My ancestors will receive me as pure, not having feared your compulsion, even to death. (WEB) 38 For you will rule like a tyrant over the ungodly, but you will not lord it over my thoughts about religion, either by your arguments, or through deeds.” (WEB)
Sirach 41:16–22
1/10 · weak
16 Therefore show respect for my words; for it is not good to retain every kind of shame. Not everything is approved by all in good faith. (WEB) 17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, of a lie before a prince and a mighty man, (WEB) 18 of an offense before a judge and ruler, of iniquity before the congregation and the people, of unjust dealing before a partner and friend, (WEB) 19 and of theft in the place where you sojourn. Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner, of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking, (WEB) 20 of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute, (WEB) 21 of turning away your face from a kinsman, of taking away a portion or a gift, of gazing at a woman who has a husband, (WEB) 22 of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed, of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult, (WEB)
Sirach 8:3–11
2/10 · weak
3 Don’t argue with a loudmouthed man. Don’t heap wood upon his fire. (WEB) 4 Don’t make fun of a rude man, lest your ancestors be dishonored. (WEB) 5 Don’t reproach a man when he turns from sin. Remember that we are all worthy of punishment. (WEB) 6 Don’t dishonor a man in his old age, for some of us are also growing old. (WEB) 7 Don’t rejoice over anyone’s death. Remember that we all die. (WEB) 8 Don’t neglect the discourse of the wise. Be conversant with their proverbs; for from them you will learn discipline and how to serve great men. (WEB) 9 Don’t miss the discourse of the aged, for they also learned from their parents, because from them you will learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need. (WEB) 10 Don’t kindle the coals of a sinner, lest you be burned with the flame of his fire. (WEB) 11 Don’t rise up from the presence of an insolent man, lest he lie in wait as an ambush for your mouth. (WEB)