knowledge of the mystery of God; 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now I say this, lest any one should deceive you by persuasive words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him; 7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding [therein] in thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any one spoil you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the deity* bodily: 10 and ye are filled in him, who is the head, of all principality and power: 11 in whom also ye have been circumcised, with a circumcision not made by hands, in putting off the fleshly body, that is, in the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which ye were also raised with him, through faith in the mighty working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And to you, being dead [in] your sins, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath God given life, together with Christ, having freely pardoned all our trespasses; 14 having blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, and taken it out of the way, and nailed it to the cross: 15 and, having spoiled principalities and powers,† he made a show of them openly, and in it triumphed over them.‡ 16 Let no one therefore condemn you for your use of meats or drinks, or in respect of a feast, or new moon, or sabbath: 17 which are a shadow of the things approaching; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no one defraud you of your prize, in a voluntary humility of mind and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he hath [not] seen, rashly puffed up by his fleshly mind. 19 And not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, supplied and connected by joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though liv Godhead, N. Compare Eph. iii. 19, where Christians are said to be filled with all the fulness of God. "The scholastic word godhead," says Mr. Lindsey, "is rejected, because to common readers it countenances the strange notion of a God consisting of three persons." Lindsey's Second Address, p. 283, 284. "All those blessings which proceed from the Godhead, and wherewith we are filled, dwell in Christ, truly and substantially." Pierce in loco. "By his death he put an end to the Mosaic Institution, and priesthood and all the splendid offices and rites of the temple service. See Schleusner in verb. Agx", and Rosenmuller in loco." Im. Ver. note. i. e. in his sufferings on the cross. superceded the Levitical ing in the world, are ye subject who created him: 11 where to ordinances; 21 such as, “ Eat not, taste not, touch not;"* 22 (all which things are to be consumed by using them ;) according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which ordinances have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility of mind, and not sparing the body: yet are not in any honour, but serve to the satisfying of the flesh. there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision; barbarian and Scythian; slave and free-man: but Christ is all [things,] and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, bowels of pity, kindness, humility of mind, meekness, long-suffering: 13 (forbearing one another, and freely forgiving one another, if any one have a cause of complaint against another: even as Christ freely forgave you, so also do ye :) 14 and, besides all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of Christ, preside in your hearts, to which ye have been also called in one body; and be thankful. CH. III. 1 If then ye have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Mind the things above, not the things on the earth. 3 For ye have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, shall be mani-ye fested, then ye also will be manifested with him in glory. 16 Let the doctrine of Christ dwell in you richly teaching and admonishing one another, in all wisdom, with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; singing with thankfulness in your hearts, to God. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or action, do all in the name of [the Lord] Jesus, giving thanks to God, [even] the Father, through him. 5 DEADEN therefore your members as to the things on earth; as to fornication, uncleanness, passion, wicked lusts, and inordinate desire, which is idolatry; 6 for which things the anger of God cometh on the sons of disobedience: 7 in which ye also walked formerly, when ye lived in them. 8 But now do ye also put away all these; anger, wrath, maliciousness, evil-speaking, filthy talk-in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love ing, out of your mouth. 18 WIVES, Submit yourselves to your husbands, as it is fit, your wives, and be not bitter 9 Lie not one to another, towards them. 20 Children, since ye have put off the old obey your parents in all things; man with his deeds; 10 and for this is well-pleasing in the have put on the new man, who Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not is renewed in knowledge, ac- your children, lest they be discording to the image of Himcouraged. 22 Servants, obey, * So Wakefield. See Parkhurst under årroμai. in all things, your masters ac-, faithful and beloved brother, cording to the flesh; not with who is one of you. They will eye-service, as men-pleasers, make known to you all things but in singleness of heart, fear- which are done here. ing the Lord: 23 and whatsoever ye do, perform it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; 24 knowing, that from the Lord ye will receive the reward of the inheritance: [for] ye serve Christ as your Lord. 25 But he who doth wrong, will receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner, and Mark son to the sister of Barnabas, concerning whom ye have received commandments, (if he come to you receive him,) 11 and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision, salute you. These have been my only fellow-labourers as to the kingdom of God; and they have been a comfort to me. CH. IV. 1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in hea-eth you, always earnestly striv 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salut ven. 2 PERSEVERE in prayer, watching therein, with thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us also, that God would open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am even in bonds; 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom towards those who are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your discourse be always well-pleasing, seasoned with salt, so that ye may know how ye ought to answer every one. ing for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he hath a great concern for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for those at Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you. 15 Salute the brethren, who are at Laodicea; and Nymphas, and the church which assembleth in his house. 16 And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans s; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus; "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fully discharge it." 7 ALL things concerning me, Tychicus will declare to you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord; 8 whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that he may know your 18 THE salutation by the affairs, and comfort your hearts; hand of me Paul. Remember 9 together with Onesimus, al my bonds. Favour be with you. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. CHAP. I. 1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ; favour be to you, and peace [from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Achaia; but [also] in every place hath your faith towards God spread abroad, so that we need not to speak any thing concerning it. 9 For they themselves declare of us, what kind of entering in among you we had, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; 10 and to look for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the approaching wrath. CH. II. 1 FOR yourselves, brethren, know that our entering in among you was not in vain: 2 but even after we had before suffered, and had been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we had freedom of speech through our God to preach to you the gospel of God with much earnestness. 2 WE give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; 4 knowing, brethren, beloved of God, the choice of you* by him. 5 For the gospel preached by us came not to you in words only, but also in power, and in the holy spirit, and in full confirmation; as ye know what manner of persons we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having receiv-ness, ed the word amidst much affliction, with joy in the holy spirit: 7 so that ye have been examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord hath sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and 3 For our exhortation was not of error, nor of unclean nor in guile: 4 but as we were approved of God to be entrusted with the gospel, we so speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know: nor a pretence of covet "that God hath chosen you gentiles to be his peculiar people. 2 Thess. ii. 13." Newcome Dusness, (God is witness :) 6 own countrymen, even as they nor from men sought we glory, have from the Jews; 15 who either from you or from others; both killed the Lord Jesus, (when we might have used and the prophets, and have authority, as apostles of Christ:) persecuted us, and please not 7 but we were gentle among God, and are against all men : you, as a nursing mother cher-16 forbidding us to speak to sheth her children. 8 Being the gentiles, that they may be thus affectionately desirous of saved: so that they fill up the you, we are willing to bestow measure of their sins always : on you, not the gospel of God and now in the end, anger is only, but also our own lives, coming upon them. Decause ye are become dear Co us. 9 For ye remember, brethen, our labour and toil: how working night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any of you, we preached to you he gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and righteously, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you who believe: 11 as ye know how we exhorted, and com. orted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 that ye should walk in a manner worthy of God, who calleth you to his glorious kingdom. 13 For this cause also we hank God without ceasing, that, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ve embraced it, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which also Dowerfully worketh in you who believe. 14 For ye, brethren, are become imitators of the churches of God in Judæa, which are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things from your 17 NOW we, brethren, having been bereaved of you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, have abundantly endeavoured with great desire to see your face. 18 Wherefore we have been willing to come to you (even I Paul) both once and again; but the adversary hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus [Christ] at his coming? 20 for ye are indeed our glory and our joy. CH. III. 1 Wherefore, being no longer able to bear our solicitude, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 and sent Timothy our brother, and fellow-labourer, together with God, in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort [you] concerning your faith; 3 that no one should be moved by these mine afflictions: (for yourselves know that we are appointed to this: 4 for, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we should suffer affliction; even as it hath come to pass, and ye know.) 5 For this cause, also, |