But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.†23 But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.24 Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ, that we might be justified by faith.†25 But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.26 For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.†29 And if you be Christ’s, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
Masters, be gentle towards your servants, as holy Job has taught you; for there is one nature, and one family of mankind. For "in Christ there is neither bond nor free."
Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.4 Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.5 Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.7 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
In Psalm 104 [LXX], David, when referring to the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the very men who were his godly ancestors, who lived before Moses' day, calls them Christs, only because they all received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And when he tells how they were hospitably received by foreigners, and how they learned that God was their Savior when plots were devised against them, following Moses' account, he names them prophets also and Christs, before Moses had been born and before he had laid down the rule that such men should be anointed with oil.
And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.28 But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.
(Hom. 44. in Matt.) In this answer He sought not to disown His mother, but to shew that His birth would have profited her nothing, had she not been really fruitful in works and faith. But if it profited Mary nothing that Christ derived His birth from her, without the inward virtue of her heart, much less will it avail us to have a virtuous father, brother, or son, while we ourselves are strangers to virtue.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)