to the resurrection from the 12 dead. Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself 2 yet to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the 14 things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling 15 of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, even this shall 16 God reveal unto 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 ensample. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross 19 of Christ: whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly 20 things. For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the 21 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. Wherefore, my brethren be- 1 4 loved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved. I exhort Euodia, and 12 exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yea, 3 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 fellowworkers, whose names are in the book of life. 5 Rejoice in the Lord alway: 4 again I will say, 5 Rejoice. Let your "forbearance be 5 known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing 6 be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, 7 which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatso-8 ever things are true, whatsoever things are honourable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are sof good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both 9 learned and received and 9 1 Or, apprehend, seeing that also I was apprehended 2 Many ancient authorities omit yet. Or, upward 4 Or, commonwealth 5 Ör, Farewell 6 Or, gentleness 7 Gr. reverend. 8 Or, gracious account of. 9 Gr. take 10 heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; 2 wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked 11 opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. 12 I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound 13 and to be in want. I can do all things in him that strength14 eneth me. Howbeit ye did well, that ye had fellowship 15 with my affliction. And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, 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 Thes- 16 salonica ye sent once and again unto my need. Not 17 that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account. But I 18 have all things, and abound: I am 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 God shall 19 fulfil every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now unto 20 our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ 21 Jesus. The brethren which are with me salute you. All 22 the saints salute you, especially they that are of Cæsar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus 23 Christ be with your spirit. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 11 PAUL, an apostle of Christ | Father of our Lord Jesus Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy 4our brother, 25 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossæ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 We give thanks to God the 1 Gr. rejoiced. 4 Gr. the brother. brethren in Christ Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your 4 faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints, because of the 5 hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye 2 Or, seeing that 3 Gr. unto the ages of the ages. 5 Or, to those that are at Colossæ, holy and faithful 9 heard before in the word of 6 the truth of the gospel, 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 of 7 God in truth; even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on 8 1our behalf, who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 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 all spiritual wisdom and un10 derstanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the 11 knowledge of God; 4 strengthened 5 with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and long12 suffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints 13 in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom 14 of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the 15 forgiveness of our sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all crea16 tion; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, 17 and in him all things consist. And he is the head of 18 the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 9 For it was the 19 good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through 20 him to reconcile all things 10 unto 11 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 21 you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now 12 hath he reconciled in 22 the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so 23 be that 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. Now I rejoice in my suffer- 24 ings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ 1 Many ancient authorities read your. good work, bearing fruit and increasing &c. 2 Or, unto all pleasing, in every 3 Or, by Gr. made 7 That is, powerful. 5 Or, in 6 Some ancient authorities read you. hold together. 8 Or, that among all he might have 9 Or, For the whole fulness of God was pleased to dwell in him 10 Or, into him 11 Or, him 12 Some ancient authorities read ye have been reconciled, As therefore ye received 6 Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and builded up 7 in him, and stablished in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. in my flesh for his body's and beholding your order, and sake, which is the church; the stedfastness of your faith 25 whereof I was made a minis- in Christ. ter, according to the 1dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the 26 word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid 2 from all ages and generations; but now hath it been manifested to 27 his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, 28 the hope of glory: whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in 29 Christ; whereunto I labour also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 21 For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen 2 my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the 4 full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mys3 tery of God, 5 even Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness 5 of speech. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying 9 8 Take heed lest there shall 8 be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: for in him 9 dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and in him 10 ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: in whom ye were also 11 circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been 12 buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, 13 being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he quicken together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out 14 10 the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of 3 Or, 1 Or, stewardship 2 Gr. from the ages and from the generations. in power 6 Or, by 8 Or, See whether 9 Or, elements by its ordinances 10 Or, the bond that was against uş the way, nailing it to the 15 cross; having put off from himself the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 things that are above, where 8 Mortify therefore your 5 members which are upon the earth; fornication, unclean Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body 18 is Christ's. Let no man rob you of your prize 2 by a voluntary humility and worship-ness, passion, evil desire, and ping of the angels, dwelling covetousness, the which is in the things which he hath idolatry; for which things' 6 4 seen, vainly puffed up by sake cometh the wrath of God 19 his fleshly mind, and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves 21 to ordinances, Handle not, 22 nor taste, nor touch (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and 23 doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any 6 value against the indulgence of the flesh. 31 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the upon the sons of disobedience; 10 in the which ye also 7 walked aforetime, when ye lived in these things. But now 8 put ye also away all these; anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to another; 9 seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and 10 have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: where 11 there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as God's 12 elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one 13 3 Or, taking 1 Or, having put off from himself his body, he made a show of the principalities &c. Or, of his own mere will, by humility &c. his stand upon 4 Many authorities, some ancient, insert not. elements 6 Or, honour 7 Many ancient authorities read your. Make dead. 9 Some ancient authorities omit upon the sons of disobedi ence. See Eph. v. 6. 10 Or, amongst whom 5 Or, 8 Gr. |