for he that in this serves Christ is well pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore pursue the things of peace and those which edify one another. On account of food destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but evil is to the man that eats with offense; it is good not to eat meat nor drink wine, nor [do] any thing by which your brother stumbles. You have faith; have it for yourself before God, Blessed is he that condemns not himself in what he approves; but he that doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not of faith; and every thing which is not of faith is sin.

4 And we, the strong, ought to bear the infirmities of those who are not strong, and not to please ourselves. Let us each please our neighbor in that which is good for edification; for Christ also pleased not himself, but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached thee fell on me. For those things which were written before were written for our instruction, that through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures we may have hope. And the God of patience and consolation grant you to have the same mind one to another, according to Christ Jesus, that being of one mind you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mouth.

5 Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of God. For I say that Christ was made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises of the fathers, and that the nations should glorify God for mercy; as it is written, For this cause will I praise thee among nations, and sing to thy name. And again he says, Rejoice nations with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all nations, and let all peoples praise him. And again, Isaiah says, There shall be a root of Jesse and he shall stand up to rule nations, in him shall nations hope. And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

6 And I am persuaded, my brothers, even I myself, concerning you, that you are full of kindness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another; but I have written more boldly to you in part, to refresh your minds on account of the grace given me by God that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the nations, administering as a priest the gospel of God, that the offering

of the nations may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I have therefore cause of boasting in Christ Jesus in respect to things relating to God; for I dare not to speak of what Christ has not performed by me for the obedience of the nations, by word and work, by the power of miracles and prodigies, by the power of the Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And I have been anxious so to preach where Christ was not named, that I might not build on another's foundation; but as it is written, They shall see to whom nothing was told concerning him, and they who have not heard shall understand.

7 Wherefore I was also much hindered from coming to you; but now having no longer a place in these regions, and having a desire to come to you for many years, should I go to Spain I will come to you; for I hope, going by, to see you, and to be sent forward by you there, when first I am in part filled with you. But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor of the saints at Jerusalem. They have been pleased indeed, and their debtors they are; for if the nations have participated in their spiritual things, they ought also to serve them in things pertaining to the flesh. Having therefore performed this, and sealed to them this service, I will go by you to Spain; and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. But I exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those that obey not in Judea, and that my service which is for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and be refreshed together with you. And may the God of peace be with you all; amen.

CHAPTER XI.

COMMENDATION OF PHOEBE, SALUTATIONS, ETC."

1 AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea, that you receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and assist her in any thing in which she may

have need of you; for she has been an assistant of many, and of myself also.

2 Salute Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila my co-laborers in Christ Jesus, who exposed their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the nations; and [salute] the assembly at their house. Salute Epenetus my beloved, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ. Salute Mary, who labored much for us. Salute Andronicus and Junius, my relatives and my fellow-captives, who are distinguished among the apostles, and who were before me in Christ. Salute Amplias my beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbanus our co-laborer in Christ, and Stachus my beloved. Salute Apelles, the approved in Christ. Salute those of the [family] of Aristobulus. Salute Herodion, my relative. Salute those of the [family] of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. Salute Rufus the elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

3 I exhort you, brothers, to observe those that cause dissensions and offenses contrary to the teaching which you learned, and avoid them; for such serve not our anointed Lord, but themselves, and by kind and complimentary words deceive the minds of the simple. For your obedience has come to all; I rejoice in you therefore, but I wish you to be wise for that which is good, and simple for evil. And the God of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with

you.

4 Timothy my co-laborer salutes you, and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. I, Tertius, who wrote the epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius my entertainer, and the entertainer of all the church, salutes you. Erastus the treasurer of the city and Quartus the brother salute you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all; amen.

5 And to him that is able to confirm you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery not revealed in ancient times, but made manifest

now by the scriptures of the prophets, by the command of the eternal God, for the obedience of the faith among all nations, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to him be the glory forever;

1 PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy the brother, to the beloved Philemon and our fellow-laborer, and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly at your house. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, that your participation of the faith may be made effectual by a knowledge of all the good which we have in Christ Jesus. For I have great joy and comfort in your love, because the saints are refreshed by you, brother. Wherefore, having great boldness to command you what is fit, on account of love I rather request; being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, I request you for my son Onesimus, whom I obtained in my bonds, who was formerly not useful to you but is now most useful to you and me, whom I have sent back. And do you receive him, that is, my soul, whom I should like to retain for myself, that he might serve me for you in the bonds of the gospel, but without your consent I will do nothing, that your service may not be compulsory but voluntary; for perhaps he has been separated from you for a time that you may have him back forever, no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If therefore you regard me as a friend receive him as myself. If he injured you, or owes you any thing, set it to my account. I, Paul, have written with my hand; I will pay; not to tell you that you owe yourself to me. Yes, brother, let me be profited by you in the Lord; refresh my soul in Christ.

3 I have written to you, having confidence in your obedience,

knowing that you will do even more than I say. But at the same time also prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you. Epaphras, who is my fellowcaptive in Christ Jesus, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my colaborers, salute you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25: 4.)

PAUL'S PRAYERS

CHAPTER I.

FOR THE COLOSSIANS, THE DIGNITY OF CHRIST, PAUL'S MINISTRY, FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the saints in Colosse and the faithful brothers in Christ. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father.

2 We thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, on account of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the true word of the gospel which is present with you as also in all the world, and is fruitful and increases, as also with you, from the day that you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you, and who made known to us your love in the Spirit.

3 Therefore we also, from the day that we heard, cease not to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthily of the Lord in all that is pleasing [to him], being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has made us fit for a portion in the inheritance