may present every man perfect in Christ: 29 to which end I also toil, earnestly struggling according to His working which worketh in me with power.

CHAPTER II.

'For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all the wealth of the full assurance of the understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, even Christ: in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

8

But this I say in order that no one may beguile you with enticing speech. For if I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the firm foundation of your faith on Christ. As, then, ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk ye in Him, 'rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Beware lest there should be any one that may make you his prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ. Because in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are filled full in Him, who is the head of all principality and power; "in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not hand-wrought, in the putting off of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ. 12 Having been buried with Him in the baptism in which also ye were raised with Him through faith of the effectual working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven us all the trespasses: blotting out the handwriting (which was) against us by its ordinances, which was hostile to us, He has also taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross; 15 stripping away from Himself the principalities and the powers, He made a shew of them in boldness, triumphing over them in Him (it). 16 Let not any man therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in the matter of a feast day, or of a new moon, or of Sabbaths: "which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is Christ's. 18 Let no man defraud you of your reward, wishing to do it in lowliness and worshipping of the angels, insisting on things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, and not holding the Head, from whom the whole body, through the joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, groweth (with) the increase of God. 20 If ye died

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with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye submissive to ordinances, 21 (such as) handle not, neither taste nor touch, 22 which were all for destruction by the use, according to the commandments and teachings of men? 23 which things are indeed having the repute of wisdom in will-worship and lowliness and unsparing treatment of the body, not in any value, only to the satisfying of the flesh.

CHAPTER III.

If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on things upon the earth. For ye died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life is manifested, then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory.

'Make dead, therefore, your members which are upon the earth: fornication, impurity, lustfulness, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is idolatry: on account of which things cometh the wrath of God; in which ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things. But lay ye also aside all these: anger, wrath, malice, railing, foul language out of your mouth; do not lie to one another, having put off from you the old man with his deeds; 10 and having put on the new man, which is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him who created him; "where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all and in all. 12 Wherefore, put on, as elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of pity, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, 13 forbearing one another and forgiving each other, if any one have a complaint against any; as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 But over all these things (put on) love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, by psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to God. "And everything whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as it is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not irritate your children, that they may not be disheartened. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in

singleness of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatsoever ye do, work at it from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to men; "knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompence of the inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ; 25 for the wrong-doer shall receive for himself that which he did wrongfully; and there is no respect of persons.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Masters, render ye justice and equity to your servants, knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2

Persevere in prayer, watching in it in thanksgiving; 'praying at the same time for us, that God would open to us a door of discourse (the word) to speak the mystery of Christ, for which indeed I am bound; in order that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those without, buying up the opportunity: Let your speech be always in grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

These

Of all that pertains to me, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, will inform you whom I have sent unto you for this very thing, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts; along with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, salutes you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him. 11 And Jesus, who is called Justus,-who are of the circumcison. only are fellow-workers with me unto the kingdom of God; those who have been a solace to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness, that he has much labour for you, and them in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. "Luke, the physician, the beloved, and Demas, salute you. 15 Salute the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church in their house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans; also read ye the epistle from Laodicæa. "And say to Archippus, See to the ministry which thou receivedst in the Lord, in order that thou fulfil it.

"The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.

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I.

St. Paul's Salutation and Thanksgiving.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse Grace be unto you, and peace. from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit."-COLOSSIANS i. 1—8.

YOLOSSE was one of the principal cities of Phrygia,

COLOSS

which, at the date of this epistle, was a very rich and fertile country. Paul had twice visited that region,* but it is doubtful whether he reached Colossæ. The tenor of this epistle rather favours the conclusion that, up to the time of his writing it, the Apostle had not visited that city; but it is certain that he knew several of the Christians there, of whom Archippus, one of their ministers,† and Philemon, are specially named. The Colossians, having heard of Paul's imprisonment, sent to him Epaphras, another of their