3 Or, in

4 Some ancient

authorities read you.

5 That is, gether.

hold to

6 Or, that umong all he might have

work, and increasing in the 1 Or, by 11 knowledge of God; 2strengthened 3 with all power, ac- 2 Gr. made cording to the might of his powerful. glory, unto all patience and 12 longsuffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made 4 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 of the Son of his love; 14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of 15 our sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn 16 of all creation; 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 17 him; and he is before all things, and in him all things 18 5 consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; 6 that in all things he might have the pre19 eminence. 7 For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the ful-11 Or,

20 ness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto

7 Or, For the whole

fulness of God was pleased to dwell in him

8 Or, into him

9 Or, him

10 Some

ancient authorities read ye have

been reconciled.

steward

ship

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 in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church; whereof 25 I was made a minister, according to the 11 dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery 26 which hath been hid 12 from all ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God 27 was pleased 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: whom 28 we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; whereunto I 29 labour also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me 13 mightily.

For I would have you know 2 how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that 2 their hearts may be comfort

through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, 21 or things in the heavens. And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet 22 now 10 hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unre23 proveable before him: if so be

that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard,

the ages and from the generations.

13 Or, in power 14 Or, fulness

15 The ancient authorities vary much in the text of this passage.

in love, and unto all riches of the 14 full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, 15 even Christ, in whom are 3 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. This 4 I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. For though I am 5 absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

As therefore ye recei

Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk 7 in him, rooted and builded up in him, and stablished 1in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding 2 in thanksgiving. 8 3 Take heed lest there shall 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 9 after Christ: for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God10 head bodily, and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: 11 in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of 12 Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from 13 the dead. And you, 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 14 trespasses; having blotted out 5 the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of 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

1 Or, by
2 Some
ancient
authori-

ties insert in it. 3 Or, See whether

4 Or, elements

5 Or, the bond that was against us by its ordinances

6 Or, having Put of self his from himbody, he made a show of the principalities

&c.

7 Or, of his oun mere will, by humility &c.

& Or,
taking

his stand
upon

9 Many

authori

ties, some ancient, insert not.

10 Or, honour

11 Many

ancient
authori-

ties read

your.

12 Gr.

Make dead. 13 Some ancient authori

ties omit

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 upon the sons of things to come; but the body disobe 18 is Christ's. Let no man rob dience. you of your prize 7by a vo- See Eph. funtary humility and worship-14 ping of the angels, dwelling In the things which he hath whom

v. 6.

Or, amongst

9 seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not hold- 19 ing fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

If ye died with Christ from 20 the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, Handle 21 not, nor taste, nor touch (all 22 which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a 23 show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any 10 value against the indulgence of the flesh.

If then ye were raised to- 3 gether with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind 2 on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, 3 and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is 4 11 our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

12 Mortify therefore your 5 I members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, the which is idolatry; for which things' 6 sake cometh the wrath of God 13 upon the sons of disobedience; 14 in the which ye also 7 walked aforetime, when ye lived in these things. But 8 now put ye also away all these; anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to 9 another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the 10 new man, which is being re

1 PAFL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2

because

our gospel &c.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making men-1 Or, tion 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 5 God, your election, 1 how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the 2 Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we shewed ourselves toward you 6 for your sake. And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the 3 Or, word in much affliction, with fulness 7 joy of the 2 Holy Ghost; so

that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Mace8 donia and in Achaia. For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only

2 Or, Holy Spirit

in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves 9 report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to 10 wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivereth us from the wrath to come.

For yourselves, brethren, 2 you, that it hath not been know our entering in unto found vain: but having suf- 2 fered before, and been shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation is 3 not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: but even 4 as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God which proveth our hearts. For net

ther at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covet

claimed honour

2 Most of the ancient authorities read babes.

3 Some ancient

authori

6 ousness, God is witness; nor 1 Or, seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burdensome, as apostles of 7 Christ. But we were 2 gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own 8 children: even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become 9 very dear to us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe: 11 as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, 12 and testifying, to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who 3 calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

13

ties read called.

4 Gr. the word of hearing

5 Gr. a season of an hour.

6 Gr.

presence.

ancient authorlties read fellowworker

And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us 4 the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of 7 Some men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also work14 eth in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the 8 Or, 15 Jews; who both killed the plainly Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drave out us, and please not God, and are contrary to

with God.

all men; forbidding us to speak 16 to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins alway: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

But we, brethren, being be- 17 reaved of you for 5 a short season, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire: because we would 18 fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. For what is 19 our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his 6 coming? For ye are our 20 glory and our joy.

Wherefore when we could 3 no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; and sent Ti- 2 mothy, our brother and 7 God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; that no man be moved by these 3 afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. For verily, when we were 4 with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause I 5 also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour should be in vain. But when Timothy came 6 even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you; for 7 this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith: for now we live, 8 if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for y