They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.

He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was.

Some people pretend to be rich, but have nothing. Others pretend to be poor, but own a fortune.

People who promise things that they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

The most stupid fool is better off than those who think they are wise when they are not.

A man named Simon lived there, who for some time had astounded the Samaritans with his magic. He claimed that he was someone great,

You have no part or share in our work, because your heart is not right in God's sight.

For I see that you are full of bitter envy and are a prisoner of sin."

Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.

You should not fool yourself. If any of you think that you are wise by this world's standards, you should become a fool, in order to be really wise.

Now, concerning what you wrote about food offered to idols. It is true, of course, that "all of us have knowledge," as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a person up with pride; but love builds up.

Those who think they know something really don't know as they ought to know.

If you think you are something when you really are nothing, you are only deceiving yourself.

Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels. For no reason at all, such people are all puffed up by their human way of thinking

He will oppose every so-called god or object of worship and will put himself above them all. He will even go in and sit down in God's Temple and claim to be God.

they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God;

But these people act by instinct, like wild animals born to be captured and killed; they attack with insults anything they do not understand. They will be destroyed like wild animals,

They make proud and stupid statements, and use immoral bodily lusts to trap those who are just beginning to escape from among people who live in error.

But these people attack with insults anything they do not understand; and those things that they know by instinct, like wild animals, are the very things that destroy them.

These people are always grumbling and blaming others; they follow their own evil desires; they brag about themselves and flatter others in order to get their own way.

You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind.

Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith.

But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels.

Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?

Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.

Other people are selfish and reject what is right, in order to follow what is wrong; on them God will pour out his anger and fury.

Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day---no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy.

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions.

because you still live as the people of this world live. When there is jealousy among you and you quarrel with one another, doesn't this prove that you belong to this world, living by its standards?

But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship.

In the first place, I have been told that there are opposing groups in your meetings; and this I believe is partly true.

You tolerate anyone who orders you around or takes advantage of you or traps you or looks down on you or slaps you in the face.

But if you act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other, then watch out, or you will completely destroy one another.

in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups;

they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.

We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.

Of course some of them preach Christ because they are jealous and quarrelsome, but others from genuine good will.

Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves.

Do everything without complaining or arguing,

But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless.

Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry.

My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you?

What good is there in your saying to them, "God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!"---if you don't give them the necessities of life?

But someone will say, "One person has faith, another has actions." My answer is, "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions."

Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you.

You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.

Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, "The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires."

But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language.

Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved.