CONCERNING ONESIMUS, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy the brother, to the beloved. Philemon and our fellow-laborer, [1:2]and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the a.s.sembly at your house. [1:3]Grace be to you and peace from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:4]I thank my G.o.d, always making mention of you in my prayers, [1:5] hearing of your love and faith which you have for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, [1:6]that your partic.i.p.ation of the faith may be made effectual by a knowledge of all the good which we have in Christ Jesus. [1:7]For I have great joy and comfort in your love, because the saints are refreshed by you, brother. [1:8]Wherefore, having great boldness to command you what is fit, [1:9]on account of love I rather request; being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, [1:10]I request you for my son Onesimus, whom I obtained in my bonds, [1:11]who was formerly not useful to you but is now most useful to you and me, [1:12]whom I have sent back. And do you receive him, that is, my soul, [1:13]whom I should like to retain for myself, that he might serve me for you in the bonds of the gospel, [1:14]but without your consent I will do nothing, that your service may not be compulsory but voluntary; [1:15]for perhaps he has been separated from you for a time that you may have him back forever, [1:16]no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. [1:17]If therefore you regard me as a friend receive him as myself. [1:18]If he injured you, or owes you any thing, set it to my account. [1:19]I, Paul, have written with my hand; I will pay; not to tell you that you owe yourself to me. [1:20]Yes, brother, let me be profited by you in the Lord; refresh my soul in Christ.

3 [1:21]I have written to you, having confidence in your obedience, knowing that you will do even more than I say. [1:22]But at the same time also prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you. [1:23]Epaphras, who is my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, [1:24]Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-laborers, salute you. [1:25]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25:4.)

CHAPTER I.

PAUL'S PRAYERS FOR THE COLOSSIANS, THE DIGNITY OF CHRIST, PAUL'S MINISTRY, FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of G.o.d, and Timothy the brother, [1:2]to the saints in Colosse and the faithful brothers in Christ. Grace be to you and peace from G.o.d our Father.

2 [1:3]We thank the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, [1:4]having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, [1:5]on account of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the true word of the gospel [1:6]which is present with you as also in all the world, and is fruitful and increases, as also with you, from the day that you heard and knew the grace of G.o.d in truth; [1:7]as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you, [1:8]and who made known to us your love in the Spirit.

3 [1:9]Therefore we also, from the day that we heard, cease not to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, [1:10]that you may walk worthily of the Lord in all that is pleasing [to him], being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of G.o.d; [1:11]being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; [1:12]giving thanks to the Father who has made us fit for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in light, [1:13]who delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, [1:14]in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, [1:15]who is the likeness of the invisible G.o.d, the first-born of all creation, [1:16]for by him were all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or princ.i.p.alities, or powers. All things were created through him and for him, [1:17]and he is before all things, and in him all things consist, [1:18]and he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that he might himself be preeminent in all things, [1:19]for in him [G.o.d] was well pleased that all fullness should dwell, [1:20]and through him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens. [1:21]And you, formerly alienated and enemies in mind by evil works, he has now reconciled [1:22]by the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blame and without fault before him, [1:23]if indeed you continue founded and established in the faith, and not moved from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached in all the creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

4 [1:24]Now I rejoice in sufferings for you, and supply the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church, [1:25]of which I was made a minister according to the dispensation of G.o.d given me for you, to complete the word of G.o.d, [1:26]the mystery concealed from ages and from generations, but now it has been manifested to his saints, [1:27]to whom G.o.d was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, [1:28]whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; [1:29]for which I also labor, striving with his power which operates in me with power.

5 [2:1]For I wish you to know what a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, [2:2]that your hearts may be comforted, being united in love and [raised] to all the riches of the full a.s.surance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of G.o.d, [2:3]in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [2:4]But I say this that no one may mislead you with persuasive words. [2:5]For if I am absent in the flesh, still I am present in spirit with you, rejoicing and beholding your order and the strength of your faith in Christ. [2:6]As therefore you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, [2:7]founded and built up in him, and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

6 [2:8]See that no one leads you off as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ, [2:9]for in him dwells all the fullness of the Deity bodily [2:10]and you are made perfect in him, who is the head of all princ.i.p.ality and power, [2:11]in whom you are also circ.u.mcised with a circ.u.mcision not made with hands, with the putting off of the body of the flesh, with the circ.u.mcision of Christ, [2:12]having been buried with him in baptism, in which you have also been raised together through the effectual faith of G.o.d who raised him from the dead; [2:13]and you being dead in sins and in the uncirc.u.mcision of your flesh, he has made you alive with him, having forgiven us all sins, [2:14]having blotted out what was written by the hand in ordinances which was against us, and has taken it away from between [us], having nailed it to the cross; [2:15][and] having subjugated princ.i.p.alities and powers, he made a public exhibition of them, leading them in triumph by it.

7 [2:16]Let no man therefore judge you in eating and in drinking, or in respect to a feast, or new moon, or sabbath, [2:17]which are a shadow of things that were to come; but the body is Christ's. [2:18]Let no one wishing [it] deprive you of your reward by humility and a worship of angels, intruding into what he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind, [2:19]and not holding the head, from which all the body being supplied and compacted by means of joints and tendons grows with an increase of G.o.d. [2:20]If therefore you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do you practice ordinances as living in the world,-- [2:21]you shall not touch, you shall not taste, you shall not feel,-- [2:22]all which are to perish in the using--according to the commandments and instructions of men? [2:23]Which have an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship and humiliation, and in a rigorous treatment of the body, [which is held] in no respect for the surfeiting of the flesh.

CHAPTER II.

MORAL DUTIES, ETC.

1 [3:1]IF you, therefore, have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ sits on the right hand of G.o.d; [3:2]employ your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. [3:3]For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in G.o.d; [3:4]when Christ your life shall be made manifest, then shall you also be made manifest in glory.

2 [3:5]Put to death, therefore, your members which are on the earth, fornication, impurity, pa.s.sion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry, [3:6]for which comes the wrath of G.o.d. [3:7]In which also you walked formerly when you lived in them; [3:8]but now do you put away also all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, vile conversation out of your mouth; [3:9]lie not one to another; put off the old man with his doings, [3:10]and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge in the likeness of him that created him, [3:11]where there are not Greek and Jew, circ.u.mcision and uncirc.u.mcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.

3 [3:12]Put on, therefore, as elect and beloved saints of G.o.d, hearts of compa.s.sion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, [3:13]forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any one has a charge against any, as Christ forgave you, so [do] you also, [3:14]and in addition to all these [put on] love, which is the bond of perfection. [3:15]And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for which you have been called in one body; and be thankful. [3:16]Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching with all wisdom, and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to G.o.d, [3:17]and whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the G.o.d [and] Father through him.

4 [3:18]Wives, be subject to the husbands, as is fit in the Lord.

[3:19] Husbands, love the wives and be not bitter to them.

[3:20]Children, obey [your] parents in all things; for this is well pleasing in the Lord. [3:21]Fathers, be not fault-finding with your children, that they be not discouraged. [3:22] Servants, obey in all things masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as those pleasing men, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. [3:23]And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men; [3:24]knowing that you will receive from the Lord the recompense of the inheritance. You serve Christ the Lord; [3:25]for he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no respect of persons. [4:1]Masters, render to your servants what is just and equal, knowing also that you have a master in heaven.

5 [4:2]Be constant in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, [4:3]praying also at the same time for us, that G.o.d will open to us a door of utterance to declare the mystery of Christ, for which also I am bound, [4:4]that I may declare it plainly, as I ought to speak.

[4:5]Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming the time. [4:6]Let your words always be with kindness, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer every one.

6 [4:7]Tychicus will inform you of all things relating to me, who is a beloved brother, and faithful minister, and fellow-servant in the Lord, [4:8]whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that he may know your affairs and comfort your hearts, [4:9]with Onesimus the faithful and beloved brother, who is of you; they will tell you of all things here.

7 [4:10]Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas,--concerning whom you received commandments, if he comes to you receive him,-- [4:11]and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circ.u.mcision; these are the only co-laborers for the kingdom of G.o.d who have been a comfort to me. [4:12]Epaphras, who is of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always striving for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of G.o.d. [4:13]For I bear him witness that he has great zeal for you and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. [4:14]Luke the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you. [4:15]Salute the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the a.s.sembly at his house. [4:16]And when this letter has been read with you, cause that it be also read by the church of the Laodiceans; and do you also read that from Laodicea. [4:17]And say to Archippus, Attend to your ministry which you received in the Lord, to perform it fully. [4:18]The salutation with my hand, Paul's. Remember my bonds.

The grace be with you.

THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS [LAODICEANS].

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25:4.)

CHAPTER I.

THE BENEFICENCE OF G.o.d TO THE ELECT, CHRIST THE SAVIOUR, THE SALVATION OF THE GENTILES, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of G.o.d, to the saints in [Ephesus] and the faithful in Christ Jesus. [1:2]Grace be to you and peace from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:3]Blessed be the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [worlds] in Christ, [1:4]as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him, [1:5]having predestinated us in love to an adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [1:6]to the praise of his glorious grace, which he bestowed upon us in the beloved, [1:7]in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, [1:8]which he bestowed on us abundantly with all wisdom and knowledge [1:9]making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself [1:10]in respect to the dispensation of the fullness of times, to bring all things into one in Christ, the things which are in heaven and the things which are on earth, in him [1:11]in whom also we have been called, having been predestinated according to the purpose of him who works out all things according to the counsel of his will, [1:12]that we should be for a praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ; [1:13]in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also you having believed were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, [1:14]which is a pledge of our inheritance for the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

3 [1:15]Therefore, I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints, [1:16]do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, [1:17]that the G.o.d of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; [1:18]the eyes of your minds being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his call, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [1:19]and what the exceeding greatness of his power towards us who believe, according to the operation of his mighty power, [1:20]which he performed in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly [worlds], [1:21]above every princ.i.p.ality and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this life but also in that to come, [1:22]and put all things in subjection under his feet, and made him head over all things to the church, [1:23]which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all things in all.

4 [2:1]And you being dead in trespa.s.ses and sins,-- [2:2]in which you formerly walked according to the life of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit which now operates in the children of disobedience, [2:3] among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, performing the wishes of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as others; [2:4]but G.o.d who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,-- [2:5]even when we were dead in sins he made us alive with Christ,--by grace are you saved, [2:6]and raised us up and seated us together with Christ Jesus in the heavenly worlds, [2:7]that he might show in the ages to come the transcendent riches of his grace in goodness to us by Jesus Christ. [2:8]For by grace are you saved through the faith; and that not of you; [it is] the gift of G.o.d; [2:9]not of works, that no one may boast; [2:10]for we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, in which G.o.d before appointed that we should walk.

5 [2:11]Wherefore, remember that you were formerly gentiles by birth, called uncirc.u.mcision by that called circ.u.mcision made in the flesh by the hand, [2:12] that at that time you were without Christ, alienated from the polity of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without G.o.d in the world; [2:13]but now, in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been made nigh by the blood of Christ. [2:14]For he is our peace, who made both one and broke down the middle wall of part.i.tion, [2:15]the enmity, and abolished by his flesh the law of commandments [consisting] of ordinances, that of the two he might create in himself one new man, making peace, [2:16]and reconcile both in one body to G.o.d through the cross, having destroyed the enmity by it. [2:17]And he came and preached the good news of peace to you who were far off, and peace to those nigh, [2:18]for through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father. [2:19]Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow-citizens of the saints and of the family of G.o.d, [2:20]being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, [2:21]by which all the building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, [2:22]in which you also are built up together for a spiritual habitation of G.o.d.

6 [3:1]For this cause I Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for you gentiles, [3:2]if indeed you heard of the dispensation of the grace of G.o.d given to me for you, [3:3]that by revelation the mystery was made known to me,--as I wrote before in a few words, [3:4]by reading which you can understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ,-- [3:5]which in other generations was not made known to the children of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, [3:6]that the gentiles are co-heirs and of the same body and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, [3:7]of which I was made a minister by the gracious gift of G.o.d, given to me by the operation of his power. [3:8]To me, who am the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ, [3:9]and to enlighten all men as to the dispensation of the mystery concealed from eternity in G.o.d who created all things, [3:10]that now to the princ.i.p.alities and powers in the heavenly [worlds] should be made known, through the church, the manifold wisdom of G.o.d, [3:11]according to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord, [3:12]in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him.

7 [3:13]Wherefore I desire you not to faint on account of my afflictions for you, which are your glory. [3:14]For this reason I bow my knees to the Father, [3:15]of whom all the family in heaven and on earth is named, [3:16]that he would grant to you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man, [3:17]that Christ may dwell in your hearts through the faith, you being founded and established in love, [3:18]that you may be able to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length, and depth and height, [3:19]and to know the love of Christ which exceeds knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of G.o.d. [3:20]To him that is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, by the power which operates in us, [3:21]to him be the glory in the church in Jesus Christ to all generations, for ever and ever; amen.

CHAPTER II.

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DUTIES.

1 [4:1]I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the call with which you were called, [4:2]with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, [4:3]using diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. [4:4]There is one body, and one spirit, as you also are called in one hope of your call; [4:5]one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [4:6]one G.o.d and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [4:7]And to each one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

2 [4:8]Wherefore he says, When he ascended on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. [4:9]But this, that he ascended, what is it but that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

[4:10]He that descended is the same also that ascended above all heavens, that he might fill all [places]. [4:11]And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, [4:12]for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ, [4:13]till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of G.o.d, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [4:14] that we may be no longer children, driven about like waves and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the art of men, and the craftiness of deceitful wiles, [4:15]but speaking the truth with love we may grow to him in all things, who is the head, Christ; [4:16]by whom all the body being joined together and compacted by the supply of every joint, according to the proportionate operation of every part, makes increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.

3 [4:17]This I say then and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds, [4:18]with their understandings darkened, alienated from the life of G.o.d on account of the ignorance which is in them, on account of the hardness of their hearts, [4:19] who being without feeling have given themselves up to lewdness, to commit every impurity with greediness.

[4:20]But you have not so learned Christ, [4:21]if you have indeed heard him, and been instructed by him as the truth is in Jesus, [4:22]that you should lay aside your former mode of life the old man destroyed by deceitful desires, [4:23]and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [4:24] and put on the new man, created after G.o.d in righteousness and true holiness.