Christ. 22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child with a father, he served with me for the gospel. 23 Him therefore I hope to send without delay, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me; 24 but I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. 25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger and minister to my wants. 26 For

he was longing after you all, and was much distressed, because ye heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick near to death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I sent him therefore with the more haste, that seeing him again ye might rejoice, and that I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive

him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in honor; 30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, hazarding his life, that he might supply what things were lacking on your part, of the ministration to me.

III.

FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me is not burdensome, and for you it is safe.

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2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I have confidence also in the flesh. If any other thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I more; 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

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'But what things were gain to me, these I have accounted loss for Christ. Nay more, and I account all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and account them refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God,

upon faith; 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death; 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I already obtained [the prize], or have already been perfected; but I pursue onward, if I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 18 Brethren, I do not count myself to have laid hold of it; but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind, and reaching forth to the things before, 14 I pursue on toward the mark, for the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be of this mind; and if in any thing ye are otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have attained, in

the same let us walk.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark those who so walk, as ye have us for an example. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; 19 whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence we also look for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working with which he is able also to subject all things to himself.

1Therefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

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2 I beseech Euodia, and I beseech Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yea, I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

V. 10. Or, participation of his sufferings

V. 12. Or, have already finished [the course]

V. 20. Or, our country

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4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things also, which ye learned, and received, and heard, and saw in me, these do; and the God of peace will be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye revived again in your care for my welfare; for which ye were also careful, but lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want; for I learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. 12 I both know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in every thing, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. 13 I can do all things, in him who strengthens me

14 Notwithstanding, ye did well to share with me in my affliction. 15 And ye also know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I went forth from Macedonia, no church communicated with mé in an account of giving and receiving, but ye only; 16 that also in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again to my necessity. 17 Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that abounds to your account.

18 But I have all, and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you, an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. 19 But my God will supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.

20 Now to God and our Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

V. 15. Or, in an account of debt and credit

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me salute you.

22 All the saints salute you, but especially they that are of Cæsar's household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits.

THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS.

I. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and

Timothy the brother, 2 to the saints in Colosse, and faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints, 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come to you, as also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit and increasing also in you, since the day ye heard it, and knew the grace of God in truth; as ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, who also made known to us your love in the Spirit.

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For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, bringing forth fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; "being strengthened with all strength, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who made us meet for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; 14 in whom we have the redemption, the remission of our sins; 15 who is the image

of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature; 16 because in him were all things created, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things have been created by him, and for him; 17and he is before all things, and in him all things subsist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that he may become in all things pre-eminent. 19 For He was pleased, that in him should all the fullness dwell; 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, whether the things on the earth, or the things in the heavens.

21 And you also, being in time past alienated, and enemies in your mind in wicked works, yet now has he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unaccused before him; 23 if indeed ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye heard, which was preached in the whole creation which is under heaven; of which I Paul was made a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church; 25 of which I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been manifested to his saints; 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; 28 whom we announce, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; 29 to which end I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me with power.

II. FOR I would have you know how great a conflict I have

- for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts might be