boldness of speech, so as to make known the mystery of the Goodtidings, on account of which I am an ambassador in a chain; in order that in this matter I may speak with boldness, as I ought to speak.

Now that ye may also know my affairs, how I am faring, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful ministering-servant in the Lord, will inform you of everything; and I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ye may learn about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Peace be to the brethren, and love, mingled with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The loving-favor be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptness.

NOTE. It is thought by some scholars that this letter could not have been written to the church at Ephesus. The name of the church addressed is wanting in the Sinaitic and Vatican manuscripts. One early writer terms it the "Letter to the Laodiceans." Two or three passages have been thought to show that it was not written to the Ephesians; and the absence of personal salutations is supposed to point in the same direction. A careful examination of the passages referred to, however, fails to establish the point: and the latter fact, as well as the absence in ancient copies of the name of any church, gives support to the theory that it may have been a circular letter to a number of churches, including those at Ephesus and Laodicea. It may have been the letter to the latter church, referred to in the letter to the Colossians.

It was probably written from Rome, about A.D. 62.

(vi. 20-24.)

LETTER OF PAUL

TO THE

PHILIPPIANS

AUL and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints

in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, together with the pastors and deacons: Joy to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I GIVE thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, always, in every petition of mine on behalf of you all, making my prayer with joy because of your fellowship with respect to the Good-tidings from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. And indeed it is just to myself that I should have this feeling for you all, because of my having you in my heart, since ye are all sharers with me of the loving-favor, as well in my chains as in the defense and verification of the Good-tidings. For God is my witness, that I long after you all with the heart of Christ Jesus. And this I pray for, that your love may become still more and more abundant, with full knowledge and with all discernment, unto your choosing the things that are more excellent; so that ye may be pure and unoffending for the day of Christ, being filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Now I wish you to know, brethren, that what hath happened to

(i. 1–12.)

me hath resulted to the progress of the Good-tidings, rather than the contrary: so that my chains have become conspicuous in their relation to Christ in the entire camp of the imperial guard and to all others. And the most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more courageous to speak the word of God fearlessly.

a

Some indeed are proclaiming the Christ from envy and contention, but some also from good-will. Those who do it from love, do so because they know that I am appointed for the defense of the Good-tidings: those who do it from contention, proclaim the Christ without sincerity, thinking to add to the sufferings of my imprisonment. Well, what then? only this, that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I now rejoice, and indeed, I will continue to rejoice. For I know that this will turn out for my well-being, through your praying and an abundant supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ, in accordance with my earnest expectation and hope that I shall in no respect be put to shame, but with all boldness of speech, as always, so also now, Christ will be exalted through my body, whether by life or by death: for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to continue to live in the body, if this means fruit of my work, then what shall I choose for myself? I do not decide: for I am hard-pressed on both sides, having an earnest desire to depart and to be with Christ, for this is much more desirable; but to remain still in the body is more necessary on your account. And being assured of this, I know that I shall remain and continue together with you all, for your advancement and joy in the Faith, in order that your ground of boasting in Christ Jesus may become abundant through me, by my being present with you again.

Only conduct yourselves worthily as belonging to the community of the Good-tidings of the Christ: in order that, whether I come and visit you, or, being absent, may hear about you, that ye are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving unitedly for the Faith (i. 13-27.)

Or, what of that?

of the Good-tidings, being not in the least terrified by the opposers, (and this is a sure token of ruin to them, but of salvation for you, and that from God;) since to you it hath been graciously given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer on his account; for ye are having the same contention which ye saw in my case, and now hear of in regard to me.

a

If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any solace of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any tender affections and compassions, make my joy full, that ye have the same object in mind, having the same love, with united souls thinking the one thingnothing for the sake of rivalry or for the sake of ostentation, but with humility each esteeming others as superior to yourselves, each one not looking after his own interests, but each one also looking after the interests of others.

Have the same disposition in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who, although existing in a form of God, did not deem it a thing to be grasped at, to be equal to God: on the contrary, he despoiled himself, taking a servant's form, becoming in the likeness of men; and being found in condition as a man, he abased himself, becoming submissive as far as to death, and that the death of the cross. Wherefore indeed God hath exalted him exceedingly, and hath bestowed upon him the Name that is above every name: so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of beings in heaven, and of beings on earth, and of beings in the underworld; and that every tongue should openly acknowledge him as Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.

So then, my beloved, as ye have always been obedient, not in my presence merely, but now much more in my absence, so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh efficiently in you both the willing and the working.

For the sake of good-will do all things without murmurings and questionings; so that ye may prove to be blameless and guileless, (i. 28-ii. 15.)

"Or, trial, or, difficulty.

bOr, a divine form, or, likeness. Or, may become.

children of God without reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom ye show yourselves as lightgivers in the world, since ye possess the word of Life: so that I may have ground of boasting for the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain nor toiled in vain. But if I should even be poured out as a drink-offering upon the sacrifice and priestly-service of your faith, I rejoice, and share in the joy of you all; and for the same reason do ye also rejoice, and share in my joy.

Now I hope in the Lord to send Timothy to you very soon, in order that I also may be cheered when I have learned of your affairs. For I have no one else of the same mind with me, who will be genuinely solicitous about your affairs; for all are seeking their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But ye know his proved character, that as a child serveth a father, so he hath served me in respect to the Good-tidings. I hope therefore to send him presently, as soon as I see clearly the state of my affairs; but I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come very soon.

a

Yet I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and ministrant to my need; since he was longing to see you all, and was distressed because ye had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick very near to death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have grief upon grief. I am sending him the more urgently, therefore, that on seeing him again ye may rejoice, and I may be less grieved. Receive him then in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such men in honor, because he came very near to death on account of the work of the Lord, having risked his life that he might compensate for the absence of your ministration to me.

FURTHERMORE, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same thing to you is not indeed a tiresome thing to me, but it is a safe thing for you:

(ii. 16-iii. 1.)

Or, depressed.