Part 47 (1/2)

(2)I beseech Euodia, and I beseech Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. (3)Yea, I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help these women, who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

(4)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (5)Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (6)Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to G.o.d. (7)And the peace of G.o.d, which pa.s.ses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(8)Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9)The things also, which ye learned, and received, and heard, and saw in me, these do; and the G.o.d of peace will be with you.

(10)But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye revived again in your care for my welfare; for which ye were also careful, but lacked opportunity. (11)Not that I speak in respect of want; for I learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. (12)I both know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in every thing, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. (13)I can do all things, in him who strengthens me.

(14)Notwithstanding, ye did well to share with me in my affliction.

(15)And ye also know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I went forth from Macedonia, no church communicated with me in an account of giving and receiving[4:15], but ye only; (16)that also in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again to my necessity. (17)Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that abounds to your account.

(18)But I have all, and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you, an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to G.o.d. (19)But my G.o.d will supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.

(20)Now to G.o.d and our Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

(21)Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me salute you.

(22)All the saints salute you, but especially they that are of Caesar's household.

(23)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits.

THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS.

I.

PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of G.o.d, and Timothy the brother, (2)to the saints in Colosse, and faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(3)We give thanks to G.o.d the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (4)having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints, (5)because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (6)which is come to you, as also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit and increasing also in you, since the day ye heard it, and knew the grace of G.o.d in truth; (7)as ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, (8)who also made known to us your love in the Spirit.

(9)For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10)that ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, bringing forth fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of G.o.d; (11)being strengthened with all strength, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy; (12)giving thanks to the Father, who made us meet for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light; (13)who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; (14)in whom we have the redemption, the remission of our sins; (15)who is the image of the invisible G.o.d, the first-born of every creature, (16)because in him were all things created, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or princ.i.p.alities, or powers; all things have been created by him, and for him; (17)and he is before all things, and in him all things subsist. (18)And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that he may become in all things pre-eminent. (19)For He was pleased, that in him should all the fullness dwell; (20)and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, whether the things on the earth, or the things in the heavens.

(21)And you also, being in time past alienated, and enemies in your mind in wicked works, yet now has he reconciled (22)in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unaccused before him; (23)if indeed ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye heard, which was preached in the whole creation which is under heaven; of which I Paul was made a minister.

(24)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church; (25)of which I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of G.o.d which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of G.o.d, (26)the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been manifested to his saints; (27)to whom G.o.d willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; (28)whom we announce, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; (29)to which end I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me with power.

II.

FOR I would have you know how great a conflict I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (2)that their hearts might be encouraged, they being knit together in love, and unto all the riches of the full a.s.surance of the understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of G.o.d, even Christ; (3)in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

(4)And this I say, that no one may beguile you with enticing words.

(5)For though I am absent in the flesh, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith toward Christ.

(6)As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him; (7)having been rooted and being built up in him, and being established in the faith as ye were taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

(8)Beware lest there shall be any one that despoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9)Because in him dwells all the fullness of the G.o.dhead bodily. (10)And ye are made complete in him[2:10], who is the head of all princ.i.p.ality and power; (11)in whom ye were also circ.u.mcised with a circ.u.mcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circ.u.mcision of Christ; (12)being buried with him in the immersion, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of G.o.d, who raised him from the dead. (13)And you also, being dead in your trespa.s.ses and the uncirc.u.mcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, graciously forgiving us all our trespa.s.ses; (14)blotting out the handwriting in ordinances that was against us, which was opposed to us, and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; (15)despoiling princ.i.p.alities and powers[2:15a], he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it[2:15b].