EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE,
TO THE
EPHESIANS.
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:2grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly things in Christ;4as he hath elected us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love:5having predestinated us for his adopted children by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,6to the praise of the glory of his grace, whereby he hath made us acceptable in that beloved one;7in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;8wherein he hath abounded towards us with all wisdom and intelligence,9having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself;10at the dispensation of the fulness of the appointed times to gather together under one head all things in Christ, whether they be things in heaven or things in earth, in him:11in whom also we have obtained our inheritance, predestinated according to the purpose of him who effectually worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will:12that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first had hope in Christ.13In whom ye alsotrustedafter ye had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the holy Spirit of promise,14which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the final redemption, acquired by him, come, to the praise of his glory.
15For this cause I also, since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love ye have to all saints,16have not ceased offering up my praises for you, making mention of you in my prayers,17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation by the knowledge of him;18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he hath called you, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance for the saints,19and what the transcendent greatness of his power in us, who believe, according to the energy of his mighty strength20which he displayed in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly regions,21far above all principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;22and hath put all things under his feet, and hath appointed him head over all to the church,23which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins,2wherein in times past ye walked after the fashion of this world, after the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now worketh with energy in the children of disobedience:3among whom also we all have had our conversation in time past, in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as well as the rest.4But God, being rich in mercy, through the great love with which he hath loved us,5though we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved,)6and hath raised us up together with him, and made us sit down together in the heavenly regions in Christ Jesus.7That he might shew forth in the ages to come the transcendent riches of his grace, in the kindness shewed to us in Christ Jesus.8For by grace ye are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God:9not by works, lest any man should boast;10for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, for which God hath before prepared us, that we should walk therein.
11Wherefore remember that ye in time past were Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that called circumcision made by hands in the flesh;12that ye were at that time without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and atheists in the world:13but now in Christ Jesus, ye who formerly were far off, are become nigh by the blood of Christ.14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of separation,15destroying the enmity in his flesh, even the law of precepts, in ordinances, that he might from the two create in himself one new man, making peace,16and might reconcile them both in one body to God by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby;17and coming, hath preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were nigh:18for through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.19So then ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;20built up on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;21in whom the whole building exactly cemented together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord:22by whom also ye have been built up together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
FOR this causeamI Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,2if so be, that ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you:3that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote unto you before briefly;4wherein when ye read, ye may be able to perceive my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,5which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it hath been now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;6that the Gentiles should be co-heirs, and of the same body, and sharers with them of his promise in Christ by the Gospel:7of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given unto me by the effectual working of his power.8To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;9and to make all men see what the communication of that mystery means, which was hid from the beginning in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:10that now to the principalities and powers in the heavenly regions, the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church,11according to the purpose from everlasting, which he formed in Christ Jesus our Lord:12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence to God by the faith of him.
13Wherefore 1 beseech you, that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,15of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named;16that he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man;17that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that rooted and grounded in love,18ye may be strengthened to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and height and depth;19and to know the love of Christ, transcendently surpassing knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God.
20Now to him that is able to do above all things, exceeding abundantly, beyond what we ask or think, according to the power which effectually worketh in us;21to him be glory in the church, in Christ Jesus, unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
ITHEN, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation with which ye are called,2with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love;3careful to preserve unity of spirit, in the bond of peace.4There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye have been called to one hope of your calling;5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6one God, and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7But to every one of us hath the grace been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.8Wherefore the Scripture saith, “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men116.”9Now this, that he ascended, what does it imply? but that he also first descended into the more internal parts of the earth?10He that descended is the same also, who ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11And he himself appointed, some indeed apostles, and some prophets; and others preachers of the Gospel; and others pastors and teachers;12for the perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ:13until we all attain in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a state of complete manhood, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14that we should be no longer infants, floating on the waves, and carried about with every wind of novel doctrine, by the juggling of men, by their craftiness after the delusive wiles of error;15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:16From whom the whole body nicely joined together, and firmly connected by every joint of exact proportion, according to the energy exerted in the measure of every several part, causeth the increase of the body unto the edification of itself in love.
17This then I urge and testify in the Lord, that ye walk no more as the other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,18darkened in understanding; alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them; through the blindness of their hearts:19who insensible to remorse, have delivered themselves over in lasciviousness, to the practice of all impurity, with insatiable avidity.20But ye have not so learned Christ;21if indeed ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:22that ye put off respecting your former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful passions;23but be renewed in the spirit of your minds;24and put on the new man, which is created godlike, in righteousness and true holiness.
25Wherefore putting away lying, speak truth, every one with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26Are ye provoked; and do you not sin? let not the sun go down upon your wrath:27nor give place to the devil.
28Let him that stole steal no more; but rather labour hard, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to him that is in want.
29Let no loose discourse proceed out of your mouth, but whatever is good for useful edification, that it may communicate grace to the hearers.30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye have been sealed unto the day of redemption.31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and scandal, be removed from you, with all malice:32but be ye kind one to another, full of sensibility, forgiving mutually, even as God in Christ hath forgiven you.
BE ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;2and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us, an oblation and sacrifice to God, for an odour of a sweet smell.3But fornication and all impurity, or insatiable desire, let it not be mentioned among you, as becometh saints;4or obscenity, or foolish talk, or loose witticisms; things which become nota Christian, but rather thanksgiving.5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, or impure person, or avaricious, who is an idolater, hath an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things, the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.8For ye were formerly darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light;9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10proving what is acceptable to the Lord.11And have no society with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather rebuke them.12For it is scandalous but to mention the things done of them in secret.13But all things which are rebukeable are made manifest by the light; for it is the light, by which every thing is made manifest.14Wherefore he saith, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light117.”
15Take heed, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.17Therefore be not unwise, but intelligent concerning what is the will of the Lord.18And be not drunk with wine, in which there is sottishness, but be filled with the Spirit;19speaking one to another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in the heart to the Lord;20giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God even the Father;21being subject one to another in the fear of God.
22Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and is himself the saviour of the body.24As then the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25Husbands, love your own wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;26that he might sanctify it, purifying it in the laver of water by the word,27that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having blemish, nor wrinkle, nor any such things; but that it may be holy and unblameable.28So ought husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself.29For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:30for we are the members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31For this reason shall a man forsake his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be as one flesh.32This mystery is great: but I am speaking with regard to Christ, and with regard to the church.33Nevertheless let every one of you individually see that each love his own wife even as himself; but the wife that she stand in awe of the husband.
CHILDREN, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.2“Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with a promise;)3that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long-lived upon earth118.”4And, ye fathers, exasperate not your children: but educate them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to your masters after the flesh, with fear and trembling, in simplicity of your heart as unto Christ;6not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul;7with good will doing service as to the Lord, and not unto men:8knowing that whatsoever good a man doeth, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be a bondman, or whether he be free.
9And ye masters, do the same things to them, avoiding menacing language: knowing that you also yourselves have a master in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him.
10Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11Be clothed in the panoply of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12For our conflict is not merely against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and against powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against wicked spirits in the aerial regions.13Therefore take the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all things to stand.14Stand therefore, girded about your loins with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness;15and underneath your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16and over all lifting up the shield of faith, with which ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:18praying at every opportunity with all prayer and supplication in Spirit, and watching for this very purpose with perseverance and intercession for all the saints;19and for me that there may be given unto me utterance to open my mouth with boldness, to make known the mystery of the gospel,20for which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But that ye also may know the things which concern me, and what I am doing, Tychicus will inform you of the whole, a beloved brother, and faithful in the Lord:22whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Written to the Ephesians from Rome by Tychicus.
EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE,
TO THE
PHILIPPIANS.
PAUL and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:2grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3I give thanks to my God on every remembrance of you,4always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy,5for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day even until now;6being confident of this very thing, that he who hath wrought in you the good work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:7as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I bear you on my heart, both in my bonds and in my defence and the confirmation of the gospel, as being all of you sharers in my grace.8For God is my witness, how earnestly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding;10that ye may prove the things that are excellent, in order that ye may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ;11filled with fruits of righteousness, which by Jesus Christ are to the glory and praise of God.
12Now I wish you, brethren, to know, that the things which have befallen me have rather conduced to the progress of the gospel;13so that my bonds are manifest in Christ through the whole palace, and all other places;14and very many of our brethren in the Lord, assuming confidence from my chains, are more abundantly bold, fearlessly to preach the word.15Some indeed do it in a spirit of envy and strife; but some also preach Christ with cordial good-will:16the one indeed preach Christ out of contention, not with purity of intention, thinking to add affliction to my bonds:17but the others of love, knowing that I am exposed for the defence of the gospel.18What then? if Christ is preached in whatever manner it be, whether in pretext or reality, even in this do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.19For I know that this shall issue in my salvation through your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,20according to my firm expectation and hope, that I shall be confounded by no event, but that with all boldness, as always hitherto, Christ shall now also be magnified in my body, whether by my life or death.21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.22But if it be his will, that I should live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my travail: and what to chuse I know not.23For I am in a strait between the two, having an earnest longing to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, for this is far, far better:24but to abide in the flesh may be more necessary for you.25And being so persuaded, I know that I shall stay and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith;26that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus for me by my coming again unto you.
27Only conduct yourselves worthily as becometh the gospel of Christ; that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul wrestling together in the faith of the gospel;28and not dismayed on any occasion by your adversaries; which is indeed the proof of perdition to them, but of salvation to you, and that from God.29For this favour on the part of Christ is granted you, not only that ye should believe on him, but also that ye should suffer for his sake;30experiencing the same conflict which ye have seen in me, and now hear to be in me.
IF there be then any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any communion of spirit, if any bowels and compassions,2fulfil ye my joy, that ye may be united in sentiment, having the same love, of one soul, of one mind.3Let nothing be done contentiously or vain-gloriously; but in humility reckoning others superior to yourselves.4Let not each aim at their own particular interests, but every man at those of others.
5Let the same sentiment of mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6who being in the form of God counted it no usurpation to claim equality with God:7but emptied himself, assuming the form of a servant, made after the similitude of mortal men;8and found in fashion as man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even to the death of the cross.9Wherefore God also hath transcendently exalted him, and bestowed on him a name which is above every name:10that to the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of beings celestial and terrestrial, and infernal;11and every tongue should confess that the Lord JesusisMessiah, to the glory of God the Father.
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always been obedient, not only during my presence with you, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling work out your own salvation.13For it is God who worketh effectually in you both to will and to perform of his good pleasure.
14Do all things without murmurings or disputes:15that ye may be blameless and harmless, the children of God, inoffensive, in the midst of an untoward and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as luminaries in the world;16holding up the word of life, that I may glory in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.17Yea, and should I become the victim, in the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.18In like manner do ye also joy and rejoice with me.
19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be refreshed in spirit, when I know your affairs.20For I have no one like minded with him, who will genuinely care for your affairs.21For all seek their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.22But ye have known the trial of him, that, as a son with a father, he hath served with me in the gospel.23Him therefore I hope to send immediately as soon as I see clearly what will become of me.24But I have confidence in the Lord that I myself shall come shortly.25But I have thought it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-labourer, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and the minister who supplied my want.26For indeed he greatly longed after you all, and was very sorry that ye had heard that he had been sick.27For sick indeed he was, nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.28I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him once more ye may rejoice, and I be less sorrowful.29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and honourably treat those that are such:30for in the work of Christ he was nigh unto death indifferent about life, that he might afford me that service which it was not in your power to render me.
MOREOVER, brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but is safe for you.2Beware of dogs, beware of the malicious labourers, beware of the concision.3For we are the circumcision, who serve God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.4Though I too might have confidence in the flesh; if any other man thinks that he may have confidence in the flesh, I may claim more:5circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews;6respecting the law, a Pharisee; with regard to zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is by the law, blameless.7But what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the transcendently excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as offals of ordure, that I may gain Christ,9and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is by the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10that I may know him, and the virtue of his resurrection, and communion with his sufferings, being conformed to his death;11if haply I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead.12Not that I have already attained, or am now perfect: but I pursue, that I may overtake that for which also by his apprehension of me I am destined by Christ Jesus.
13Brethren, I count not myself to have overtaken it; but this one object I pursue, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching out to those which are before,14I press towards the mark for the prize of the divine calling from on high in Christ Jesus.
15Let as many of us therefore as are perfect, be thus minded: and if ye entertain any other sentiment, God also will unveil this unto you.16Nevertheless, so far as we have advanced, be it our care to walk by the same rule, to mind the same thing.
17Be ye imitators, brethren, of me, and eye attentively those who walk so as ye have us for an example.18For many walk, whom I have often mentioned to you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19whose end is perdition, whose God is their belly, and their glory in their shame, whose minds are occupied with earthly things.20But our conversation is in heaven as its citizens, from whence also we are expecting the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,21who shall transform our body of humiliation, that it may be conformed to his body of glory, according to the effectual working of him who is able to subdue even all things to himself.
WHEREFORE, my brethren, beloved, and very dear to me, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, O beloved.
2I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntiche to be of one mind in the Lord.3And I beseech thee also, my genuine associate, assist those women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice.
5Let your moderation be known unto all men.
The Lord is at hand.6Be not anxious about any thing, but in every case by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known unto God.7And the peace of God which surpasseth all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are serious, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable, whatsoever things are laudable, if there be any virtue, or any thing praise-worthy, pay attention to these things.9Whatsoever things also ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these practise, and the God of peace shall be with you.
10Now I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now once more your thoughtful attention about me hath again sprung up, to which also your mind had been disposed, but ye had not found the opportunity.11Not that I mention this with a view to my indigence: for I have learned in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in every state and in all situations I am instructed either to be full or famishing, either to enjoy abundance, or to suffer want:13I am enabled for all things by Christ who strengtheneth me.14Nevertheless ye have done nobly in your communications to me during my affliction.
15But know also, Philippians, that at my first preaching the gospel, when I went from Macedonia, no church communicated to me in the way of giving and receiving but ye alone.16For in Thessalonica also ye sent me once, yea twice, a supply for my want.17Not that I am anxious for a gift; but I am anxious to see fruit abounding on your account.18But I have now all things, and abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus your bounty, an odour of sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.19But my God will fully supply all your want, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.20Now to God, even our Father, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me salute you.22All the saints salute you, specially those who are of Cæsar’s household.
23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Unto the Philippians, written from Rome by Epaphroditus.
EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE,
TO THE
COLOSSIANS.
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy a brother,2to the saints at Colosse, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you,4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love ye show to all the saints;5because of the hope laid up for you in the heavens, which ye have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel,6which is come unto you, as it is also unto all the world; and beareth fruit, as also among you, from the day that ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;7even as ye have learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-labourer, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you;8who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.9For this cause we also from the day we heard it have not ceased praying for you, and beseeching God that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;10that ye may walk worthy of the Lord, well pleasing him in all things, in every good work fruitful, and increasing in the knowledge of God;11strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy;12giving thanks to God, even the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in light;13who hath plucked us out from the dominion of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love:14in whom we have redemption through his blood, and forgiveness of sins.15Who is the image of the invisible God, the prime author of all creation:16for by him were all things created, celestial and terrestrial, visible or invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers, all were created by him, and for him:17and he is before all, and by him all things subsist.18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first begotten from the dead, that he might be in all things pre-eminent.19For it hath pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell;20and by him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace by the blood of his cross: by him, I say, whether they be things on earth, or things in the heavens.21And you who in time past were all aliens, and enemies in mind by wicked works, hath he now reconciled,22by the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreprehensible in his presence:23if ye abide in faith grounded and firm, and never moved aside from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which hath been preached to the whole creation which is under heaven, of which I Paul am a minister.
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh the measure of afflictions for Christ which remains to be endured for his body, which is the church,25of which I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which was given me for you to fulfil the ministry of the word of God—26the mystery which was hid from ages and from generations, but is now unveiled to his saints;27to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;29for which also I am labouring, conflicting in the energy of his might, which worketh in me powerfully.
FOR I wish you to know how great a struggle I sustain for you, and those at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;2that their hearts may be comforted, firmly united together in love, and unto all riches of full assurance of understanding, in the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4Now this I say, lest any man pervert you with specious discourse.5For though I am absent from you in person, yet I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your regular order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.6As therefore ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him:7rooted and built up on him, and confirmed in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8Beware that no man make a prey of you by means of philosophy and vain delusion, after the tradition of men, after the principles of the world, and not after Christ:9for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;10and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:11in whom also ye have been circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands, by the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ:12buried with him in baptism, in which also ye have been raised up together with him by faith, the energy of God, who raised him from the dead.
13And you, who were dead in sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened with him, freely forgiving you all trespasses;14and hath blotted out the handwriting in ordinances that was against us, which was the obstacle to us, and took it from the midst, nailing it to the cross;15spoiling principalities and powers, he exposed them to view openly, triumphing over them on it.16Let no man therefore judge you concerning what you eat, or what you drink, or the observance of a feast, or new moon, or the sabbaths;17which aremerelyshadows of things to come: but the body is Christ’s.18Let no man juggle you out of your prize, voluntary inhishumility and the worship of angels, intruding into things which he never saw, vainly puffed up by his carnal imagination;19and not firmly attached to the head, from which the whole body, by joints and ligaments, harmoniously adjusted and closely compacted, increaseth with increase from God.
20If then ye have been dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye dogmatically taught,21eat not, nor talk, nor touch,22(all which things tend to corruption by abuse) according to the injunctions and doctrines of men?23Which things indeed hold forth an appearance of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and bodily mortification,thoughnot of any value,buta gratification to the flesh.
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.2Fix your minds on things above, not on things on the earth.3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.4When Christ shall appear, who is our life, then shall you also with him be manifested in glory.5Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth, fornication, impurity, the vile passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is idolatry:6for which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience;7in which ye also walked formerly when ye lived among them:8but now ye have put away all these things, anger, asperity, malice, scandal, obscenity, out of your mouth.
9Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his practices;10and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.11Where there is no difference whether a man be Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian or Scythian, slave or freeman: but Christ is all and in all.
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering;13forbearing one another, and freely forgiving one another, if any man hath a complaint against another: even as Christ hath freely forgiven you, so also do ye.14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.15And let the peace of God set up its throne in your hearts, whereunto also ye have been called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing with grace in your heart unto the Lord.17And everything that ye do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18Wives be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and use no asperity against them.
20Children, be obedient to your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
21Parents, irritate not your children, lest their spirit be broken.
22Servants, obey in all things your masters after the flesh, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but, in simplicity of heart, fearing God.23And in every thing that ye do, labour from the soul, as for the Lord, and not man;24knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye are servants to the Lord Christ.25But he that is guilty of injustice shall receive punishment for the wrong he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
MASTERS, afford to your servants that which is just, and an equivalent, knowing that ye also have a Master in the heavens.
2Persevere in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;3praying also at the same time for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, that I may speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains:4that I may make it evident, as I ought to speak.
5Walk wisely with regard to those without, redeeming the time.6Let your discourse be always gracious, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to reply to every man.
7All my affairs will Tychicus make known unto you, a beloved brother, and faithful minister, and fellow-servant in the Lord:8whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that he might know your affairs, and comfort your hearts;9with Onesimus, that faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you: they will make known unto you all things that have passed here.
10There salute you Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner, and Mark nephew to Barnabas, concerning whom ye have received injunctions; if he come unto you, receive him,11and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow-labourers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.
12Epaphras, one of you, saluteth you, a servant of Christ, always wrestling for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.13For I bear him witness that he hath great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
14Luke, the beloved physician, saluteth you, and Demas.
15Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is at his house.16And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it also be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye also read that from Laodicea.17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received from the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18The salutation of Paul with mine own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Written to the Colossians from Rome by Tychicus and Onesimus.