2 Many ancient ausee you all. 4 Or, farewell send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me: but I trust in the Lord that I myself also 24 shall come shortly. But I counted it necessary to 25 send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow1 Gr. apostle. worker and fellow-soldier, and your 'messenger and thorities read to minister to my need; since he longed 'after you all, 26 and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick: for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: 27 but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. I have sent him therefore the more dili- 28 gently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him 29 therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such 3 Many ancient authorities read the in honour: because for the work of Christ he came 30 Lord. nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To 3 write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe. Beware of the dogs, 2 beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision: for we are the circumcision, who worship by the 3 Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: though I myself might 4 have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man 5thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, 5 of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, per- 6 secuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. Howbeit 7 what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things 8 to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but 'dung, that I 8 Or, not having as may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having 9 that which is of a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that 10 I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may at-11 tain unto the resurrection from the dead. Not that 12 I have already obtained, or am already made per 5 Or, seemeth 6 Gr. gains. 7 Or, refuse* my righteousness the law 9 Gr. upon *Substitute marg. 7 ("refuse") for the text.—Am. Com. seeing that also fect: but I press on, if so be that I may 1apprehend* 1 Or, apprehend, that for which also I was apprehended by Christ was apprehended 13 Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself 2yet to have 2 Many ancient auapprehended but one thing I do, forgetting the : thorities omit yet. things which are behind, and stretching forward to 14 the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in 3 Or, upward 15 Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be per fect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye are otherwise minded, even this shall God reveal unto 16 you: only, whereunto we have already attained, by that same rule let us walk. 17 Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them which so walk even as ye have us for an en18 sample. For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the 19 enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in 20 their shame, who mind earthly things. For our citi zenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for 21 a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself. 4 Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of 3 the same mind in the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Or, wealth common 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: again I will say, "Re- 5 Or, Farewell 5 joicet. Let your "forbearance be known unto all men. 6 Or, gentleness 6 The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsover things are true, what *For "apprehend. apprehended" read "lay hold on . . . laid hold on", and in marg.1 for "apprehend. . . apprehended" read "lay hold laid hold on "-Am. Com. † For "apprehended" read "laid hold "-Am. Com. Omit marg. " ("Farewell ")—Am. Com. 1 Gr. reverend. soever things are 1honourable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if 3 Gr. take account there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think 2 Or, gracious of. 4 Gr. rejoiced. 5 Or, seeing that on these things. The things which ye both learned 9 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at 10 length ye have revived your thought for me; 5where- in ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I 11 have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know also 12 how to abound: in every thing and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. I can 13 do all things in him that strengtheneth me. How- 14 beit ye did well, that ye had fellowship with my affliction. And ye yourselves also know, ye Philip-15 pians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving, but ye only; for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and 16 again unto my need. Not that I seek for the gift; 17 but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account. But I have all things, and abound: I am 18 filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. And my 19 God shall fulfil* every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now unto our 20 6 Gr. unto the ages God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. of the ages. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren 21 which are with me salute you. All the saints salute 22 you, especially they that are of Cæsar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your 23 spirit. *For "fulfil" read "supply" [Comp. "Classes of Passages," xiv.]-Am.Com. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 1 PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will 1 Gr. the brother. 2 of God, and Timothy 'our brother, to the saints 2 and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossæ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 Or, to those that are at Colossa, holy and faithful brethren in Christ We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord 4 Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which 5 ye have toward all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace 7 of God in truth; even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minis8 ter of Christ on our behalf, who also declared unto thorities read your. us your love in the Spirit. 9 3 Many ancient au ing, in every good fruit and in For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in 4 Or, unto all pleas10 all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk work, bearing worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing creasing, &c. fruit in every good work, and increasing in the 5 Or, by 11 knowledge of God; strengthened 'with all power, 6 Gr. made poweraccording to the might of his glory, unto all pa- 7 Or, in ful. thorities read you. 12 tience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be par- 8 Some ancient au13 takers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and trans14 lated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of 15 our sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the gether. he might have was pleased to dwell in him firstborn of all creation; for in him were all things 16 created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have 1 That is, hold to- been created through him, and unto him; and he is 17 before all things, and in him all things 'consist. 2 Or, that among all And he is the head of the body, the church: who 18 3 Or, For the whole is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that fulness of God in all things he might have the preeminence. For 19 it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to 20 reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. And you, being in time past alienated 21 6 Some ancient au- and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet thorities read ye now "hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh 22 through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that 23 ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. 4 Or, into him 5 Or, him have been reconciled. 8 Gr. from the ages and from the generations. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and 24 fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church; whereof I was made a minister, ac- 25 7 Or, stewardship cording to the 'dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid from all* 26 ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to 27 make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we proclaim, admonishing 28 every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; whereunto I labour also, striving according to his 29 working, which worketh in me mightily. 9 Or, in power For I would have you know how greatly I strive 2 for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their 2 hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the 10full assurance of 11 The ancient au- understanding, that they may know the mystery of much in the text God, "even Christ, in whom are all the treasures of 3 10 Or, fulness thorities vary of this passage. *For "from all" read "for"-Am. Com. |