of the saints in light, who delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, who is the likeness of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for by him were all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and for him, and he is before all things, and in him all things consist, and he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that he might himself be preeminent in all things, for in him [God] was well pleased that all fullness should dwell, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens. And you, formerly alienated and enemies in mind by evil works, he has now reconciled by the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blame and without fault before him, if indeed you continue founded and established in the faith, and not moved from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached in all the creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

4 Now I rejoice in sufferings for you, and supply the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church, of which I was made a minister according to the dispensation of God given me for you, to complete the word of God, the mystery concealed from ages and from generations, but now it has been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; for which I also labor, striving with his power which operates in me with power.

5 For I wish you to know what a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that your hearts may be comforted, being united in love and [raised] to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. But I say this that no one may mislead you with persuasive words. For if I am absent in the flesh, still I am present in spirit with you, rejoicing and beholding

your order and the strength of your faith in Christ. As therefore you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, founded and built up in him, and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

6 See that no one leads you off as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Deity bodily and you are made perfect in him, who is the head of all principality and power, in whom you are also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, with the putting off of the body of the flesh, with the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you have also been raised together through the effectual faith of God who raised him from the dead; and you being dead in sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made you alive with him, having forgiven us all sins, having blotted out what was written by the hand in ordinances which was against us, and has taken it away from between [us], having nailed it to the cross; [and] having subjugated principalities and powers, he made a public exhibition of them, leading them in triumph by it.

7 Let no man therefore judge you in eating and in drinking, or in respect to a feast, or new moon, or sabbath, which are a shadow of things that were to come; but the body is Christ's. Let no one wishing [it] deprive you of your reward by humility and a worship of angels, intruding into what he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind, and not holding the head, from which all the body being supplied and compacted by means of joints and tendons grows with an increase of God. If therefore you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do you practice ordinances as living in the world,—you shall not touch, you shall not taste, you shall not feel,—all which are to perish in the using — according to the commandments and instructions of men? Which have an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship and humiliation, and in a rigorous treatment of the body, [which is held] in no respect for the surfeiting of the flesh.

CHAPTER II.

MORAL DUTIES, ETC.

1 IF you, therefore, have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God; employ your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God; when Christ your life shall be made manifest, then shall you also be made manifest in glory.

2 Put to death, therefore, your members which are on the earth, fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry, for which comes the wrath of God. In which also you walked formerly when you lived in them; but now do you put away also all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, vile conversation out of your mouth; lie not one to another; put off the old man with his doings, and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge in the likeness of him that created him, where there are not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.

3 Put on, therefore, as elect and beloved saints of God, hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any one has a charge against any, as Christ forgave you, so [do] you also, and in addition to all these [put on] love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for which you have been called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching with all wisdom, and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God, and whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the God [and] Father through him.

4 Wives, be subject to the husbands, as is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love the wives and be not bitter to them. Children, obey [your] parents in all things; for this is well pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, be not fault-finding with your children, that they be not discouraged. Servants, obey in all things masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as those pleasing men, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. And whatever

you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men; knowing that you will receive from the Lord the recompense of the inheritance. You serve Christ the Lord; for he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no respect of persons. Masters, render to your servants what is just and equal, knowing also that you have a master in heaven.

5 Be constant in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, praying also at the same time for us, that God will open to us a door of utterance to declare the mystery of Christ, for which also I am bound, that I may declare it plainly, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming the time. Let your words always be with kindness, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer every one.

6 Tychicus will inform you of all things relating to me, who is a beloved brother, and faithful minister, and fellow-servant in the Lord, whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that he may know your affairs and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus the faithful and beloved brother, who is of you; they will tell you of all things here.

7 Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas, - concerning whom you received commandments, if he comes to you receive him, and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these are the only co-laborers for the kingdom of God who have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always striving for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has great zeal for you and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you. Salute the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly at his house. And when this letter has been read with you, cause that it be also read by the church of the Laodiceans; and do you also read that from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Attend to your ministry which you received in the Lord, to perform it fully. The salutation with my hand, Paul's. Remember my bonds. The grace be with you.

THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS [LAODICEANS].

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

CHAPTER I.

THE BENEFICENCE OF GOD ΤΟ THE ELECT, CHRIST THE SAVIOUR, THE SALVATION OF THE GENTILES, ETC.

1 PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in [Ephesus] and the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [worlds] in Christ, as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him, having predestinated us in love to an adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, which he bestowed upon us in the beloved, in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he bestowed on us abundantly with all wisdom and knowledge making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself in respect to the dispensation of the fullness of times, to bring all things into one in Christ, the things which are in heaven and the things which are on earth, in him in whom also we have been called, having been predestinated according to the purpose of him who works out all things according to the counsel of his will, that we should be for a praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ; in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also you having believed were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is a pledge of our inheritance for the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

3 Therefore, I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your