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things on the earth or things in the heavens; 21 and you being formerly alienated and enemies in mind in the wicked works, now, however, he has reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without fault and blameless in his presence; 23 if indeed you continue in faith founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature that is under heaven, of which I Paul became a minister.

of the full assurance of understanding, for the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, 3 in which are laid up all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. 4 But this I say that no one may beguile you with persuasive words. 5 For though in the flesh I am absent, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, in him walk, 7 rooted and builded up in him and strengthened in the faith as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

8 Take care that

24 Now I rejoice in sufferings for you, and, in your stead, I fill up that which remains of the afflic- there shall be no one that leads you tions of Christ in my flesh for his astray through philosophy and vain body's sake, which is the church, 25 deceit, according to the tradition of of which I became a minister ac- men, according to the rudiments of cording to the dispensation of God, the world, and not according to which was given to me for you to Christ, 9 for in him dwells all the fulfil the word of God, 26 the mys- fulness of the Godhead bodily, 10 tery that having been hid from the and you are complete in him, who ages and from the generations, now, is the head of all principality and however, has been made manifest authority, 11 in whom you were to his saints, 27 to whom God also circumcised with a circumcision wished to make known what is the made without hands, in the putting riches of the glory of this mystery off of the body of the flesh, in the among the Gentiles, which is Christ circumcision of Christ, 12 having in you, the hope of glory, 28 whom | been buried with him in baptism, in we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; 29 for which I also labor, striving according to his energy that is active in me in

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which you were also raised with him through faith in the energy of God who raised him from the dead; 13 and you being dead in the offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, having forgiven us all offenses; 14 having blotted out the handwriting in ordinances that was against us, which was opposed to us, he also took it out of the midst, having nailed it to the cross: 15 after spoiling principalities and authorities, he made a show of them

openly, having triumphed over them in it.

comes the wrath of God; 7 in which you also walked formerly when you 16 Let no one therefore judge lived in them; 8 but now do you you in eating or in drinking or in also put off all these, anger, wrath, respect of a feast or of a new moon malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out or of sabbaths, 17 which are a of your mouth: 9 lie not one to shadow of things to come, but the another, as you have put off the old body of Christ is the substance. 18 man with his deeds, 10 and have Let no one deprive you of your re-put on the new, that is renewed for ward by delighting in humility and knowledge according to the image worship of angels, intruding into of him that created him, 11 where those things which he has not seen, there is not Greek and Jew, circumvainly puffed up by the mind of his cision and uncircumcision, barbariflesh, 19 and not holding the head, an, Scythian, bondman, freeman, from whom all the body, through but Christ is all and in all. joints and bands, having nourish- 12 Put on therefore, as the elect ment, ministered and being knit to- of God, holy and beloved, bowels gether, increases with the increase of mercy, kindness, lowliness of of God. 20 If you die with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as living in the world are you subject to dogmas,-21 Touch not, neither taste nor handle,-22 which things are all to perish in the using, according to the commandments and teachings of men. 23 And these have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship and humility and austerity of the body, not in any honor for the satisfying of the flesh.

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mind, meekness, longsuffering, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any one have a quarrel with any, as Christ also forgave you, so also do you; 14 but over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, to which you were also called in one body, and become thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, in gratitude singing in your heart to God; 17 and everything whatever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be

5 Put to death therefore your members that are on the earth, lewdness, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6 because of which things

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with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is of you; they will make known all things here.

discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service, as pleasing men, but in simplicity of 10 Aristarchus, my fellow-prisheart, fearing the Lord. 23 What- oner, salutes you, and SO does ever you do, work from the soul as Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, conto the Lord, and not to men, 24 cerning whom you received comknowing that from the Lord you mandments,—if he come to you, reshall receive the reward of the in-ceive him,-11 and Jesus who is heritance. Serve the Lord Christ; called Justus, who are of the circum25 for he that does wrong shall re- cision: these only are my fellowceive for the wrong that he has workers for the kingdom of God, done, and there is no respect of per- who have been a comfort to me. sons. 1 Masters, give to your 12 Epaphras, who is of you, salutes servants that which is just and you, a servant of Christ Jesus, alequal, knowing that you also have ways striving for you in prayers, a Master in heaven. that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has great travail for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, salutes you, and Demas. 15 Salute the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in his house. 16 And when the epistle has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and see that you also read that from Laodicea. And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it in thanksgiving, 3 praying at the same time also for us, that God would open for us a door of the word to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I also have been bound, 4 that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always in grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every one. 7 All things that concern me will Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, make known to you, 8 whom I sent to you for this very purpose, that he may know your my state, and comfort your hearts, 9 bonds.

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18 The salutation of Paul with Own hand. Remember Grace be with you.

PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS-I.

my

1 1 Paul and Silvanus and to you and peace. 2 We thank God

Timothy, to the church of the always for you all, making mention Thessalonians in God the Father of you in our prayers, 3 incessantly and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace remembering your work of, faith,

and labor of love, and patience of pretext of covetousness, God is withope of our Lord Jesus Christ be-ness; 6 neither sought we glory fore our God and Father, 4 know- from men, neither from you nor ing, brethren beloved of God, your from others, when we could have election, 5 because our gospel came been burdensome as Christ's aposnot to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, as you know what sort of persons we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything; 9 for they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from the idols, to serve the living and true God, 10 and to await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.

2 1 For yourselves know, breth

ren, our entrance to you, that it has not been vain; 2 but having suffered before, and having been outraged, as you know, in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in a great contest. 3 For our exhortation was not from delusion, neither from uncleanness, nor in guile; 4 but as we have been approved by God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proves our hearts. 5 For neither used we at any time words of flattery, as you know; nor a

tles; 7 but we were gentle in the midst of you, as if a nurse should nourish her own children, 8 so, having strong affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but our cwn souls also, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil: working night and day that we might not burden any one of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God, how holily and righteously and blamelessly we conducted ourselves for you that believe, 11 even as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged you, each one of you, as a father his own children, 12 that you should walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And for this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because on receiving from us the word of the message of God, you accepted not the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which also works in you that believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets. and persecuted us, and please not God, and are opposed to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved,

so as to fill up their sins always. But the wrath has come upon them to completion.

17 But we, brethren, having been bereaved and separated from you for the space of an hour, in presence, not in heart, the more abundantly endeavored to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we wished to come to you, I Paul indeed, both once and again, and Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing, are not even you before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

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1 Wherefore, no longer enduring, we thought good to be left behind in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother, and God's fellow-workman in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and exhort you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be moved in these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are appointed to this: 4 for even when we were with you, we told you before that we are to be afflicted, as it also came to pass, and you know. 5 For this reason, I also, no longer enduring, sent to know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you, and our toil should have been in vain. 6 But Timothy, having just now come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you have a good remembrance of us always, greatly desiring to see us, even as we also to see you, 7 for this reason we were comforted over you, brethren, in all our distress and affliction through your faith; 8 for now we live if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God concerning you,

for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and complete what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now he himself, our God and Father, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; 12 and the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we toward you, 13 in order that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

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1 Finally then, brethren, we beseech you and exhort in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and please God, even as you do walk, that you would abound the more. 2 For you know what precepts we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from lewdness; 4 that each one of you know how to acquire for himself his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of desire, even as the Gentiles who know not God; 6 that no one go beyond and defraud in the matter his brother, because the Lord is an avenger for all such things, as we also told you before, and fully testified. 7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore, he that rejects, rejects not man, but God, who also gave his Holy Spirit to you.

9 But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I write to you; for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another; 10 for

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