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11 the principalities and powers* in the heavenly places; ac

cording to the eternal purpose + which he formed through 12 Christ Jesus our Lord; through whom we have freedom of 13 speech, and access with confidence by faith in him: where

fore I entreat that ye faint, not at my afflictions for you, 14 which are your glory: I say, for this cause I) bow my 15 knees to the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ,] of whom 16 the whole family in heaven and upon earth is named ‡, to

grant you, according to his glorious riches', that ye may be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; so that be18 ing rooted and grounded in love, ye, and all the saints, may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and 19 depth, and height, of this mystery; and to know the sur passing love of the knowledge of Christ §, so that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God ||.

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Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all which we ask or think, according to the power 21 which worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever.

Amen.

1 Gr. the riches of his glory. 2 very abundantly, N. See Wakefield. 3 Gr, generations of the age of ages.

*"the angels." See 1 Pet. i. 12. So Abp. Newcome, with the generality of interpreters. But the more probable meaning is, that even the priests and teachers of the Jewish church should see and acknowledge the wisdom of God in the conciliatory spirit of the gospel dispensation. Acts vi. 7. See Eph.i. 20: ii. 6. and the notes there.

+ according to a predisposition of the ages. Wakefield. "According to the purpose, or design, of the age (plur. for sing. superlative) which be constituted by Christ Jesus." Sn.

‡ heaven and earth, i. e. the body of believers collected from Jews and gentiles. See ch. i. 10. and Mr. Locke's note.

§ That is, the exceeding love of God in bringing us to the knowledge of Christ. Locke. This is the reading of the Alexandrine manuscript. Newcome and Griesbach adhere to the received text, viz. "the love of Christ which indeed surpasseth knowledge."

|| Or, into all the fulness of God, i. e. that ye may be admitted into the Christian church. See Schleusner; and ch, i. 23.

CH. IV. I THEREFORE, a prisoner on account of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk in a manner worthy of the calling 2 with which ye have been called; with all humility of mind and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing with one an3 other in love; earnestly endeavouring to preserve the unity 4 of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, even as ye have been called unto' one hope of 5 your calling; one Lord, 'one faith, one baptism, one God 6 and Father of all; who is above all, and through all, and 7 among us all. But on every one of us favour3 hath been be 8 stowed according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Where

fore it is said, "When he ascended on high, he led a multi9 tude of captives, [and] gave gifts to men :" (now, this expression, he ascended, what is it but that he descended 10 also into the lower [parts] of the earth? he that descended is the same that ascended also far above all the heavens, 11 that he might fill all things :) and he gave some to be apo

stles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, 12 pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for

the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of 13 Christ: till we all come to the same faith in the Son of God, and to the same knowledge of him, to a perfect man, to the 14 measure of the full stature of Christ: that we may be no

more children, tossed like waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, through the sleight of men, and 15 through their craftiness for the purpose of artful deceit; but

embracing the truth in love, may grow up in all things to 16 him that is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly compacted and connected by every assisting joint, according to the mighty working in the measure of every part, maketh its increase 10 to the edification of itself in love.

' in one hope, N. See Wakefield. you all, R. T. and N. 3 Or, the gift, i. e. of
the spirit; or, of particular offices and stations in the church. 4 Or, When he
had ascended. 5 now that, N. See Chandler.

and N. 7 Gr. the stature of the fulness.
and Rosenmuller.
9 every limb, Mss.

6 he first descended, R. T. 8 speaking, N. See Chandler 10 Gr. increase of the body.

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This I say therefore, and charge you in the Lord, that ye no more walk as the [other] gentiles walk, in the vanity 18 of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that 19 is in them, because of the hardness' of their heart: who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lascivi ousness, to the working of all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ *; since ye have heard 21 concerning him, and have been instructed in him, even as the 22 truth is in Jesus; to put off, according to your former be

haviour, the old man, who was corrupt according to deceit 23 ful desires; and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 and to put on the new man, who is created, according to God +, in righteousness and true holiness.

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Wherefore put away lying, and speak every man truth 26 to his neighbour; for we are members one of another. If ye be angry, yet sin not: let not the sun go down upon 27 your wrath and give not advantage to the slanderer. 28 Let him that stole, steal no more: but let him rather la bour, acquiring by his hands what is good, that he may be 29 able to bestow on him that needeth. Let no corrupt dis

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course proceed out of your mouth; but that which is good to useful edification3, that it may minister benefit to the 30 hearers. And offend not the holy spirit of God, whereby 31 ye have been sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speak 32 ing, be put away from you, and all malice. And be ye

1 blindness, N. See Chandler and Rosenmuller. Or, providing with his hands, N.m. 3 the edification of the faith, Mss. and N. 4 Or, that it may be grateful to the hearers. Chandler. 5 See Chandler. q. d. Offend not God, by whose holy spirit ye are sealed, “ Grjeve not," N.

* Or, it should not be so with you since ye have learned Christ: i. e, the doctrine of Christ. Chandler.

+ "created in the likeness of God, by the righteousness and holiness of the gospel." Sn.

Ne præbeatis aures faciles obtrectatori et calumniatori, vel Nolite ita agere, ut adversarii religionis christianæ habeant quod vos carpere possint. Schleusner. Newcome with the public version translates the word "devil," which hardly gives an intelligible sense.

kind one to another, tenderly affectioned, forgiving one another, as God also through Christ hath forgiven you'. CH. v. Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell.

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Now let not fornication, or any uncleanness, or covetousness +, be even named among you, (as becometh saints ;) 4 or filthiness, or foolish talking, or scurrilous jesting, which 5 are not fit': but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know 3, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man*, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of 6 Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain

words: for because of these things the anger of God cometh 7 on the sons of disobedience. Be not therefore partakers 8 with them. For ye were formerly darkness, but now ye 9 are light in the Lord: walk as children of light; (for the fruit of light is in all goodness, and righteousness, and 10 truth;) searching out what is well-pleasing to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark12 ness; but rather even reprove them. For it is shameful

even to speak of those things which are done by them in 13 secret. But all things that are discovered, are made mani

fest by the light: (for it is the light which maketh every 14 thing manifest.) Wherefore the spirit saith; "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light."

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See then that ye walk exactly; not as unwise, but as 16 wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be not inconsiderate, but understand what the 18 will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein

1 us. Mss. 2 which is not, Mss. 3 Or, For know this, N. m. 4 Or, one of excessive appetites. Wakefield. 5 of the spirit, R.T.

* Through Christ, i. e. not through the merits, but according to the authorised declarations of Christ.

+"Some think that the word means excessive desire. See iv.19." Newcome.

19 is dissoluteness; but be filled with the spirit; speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things to God even the Father*, 21 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting your selves one to another in the fear of Christ'.

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Wives, [submit yourselves] to your own husbands, as to 23 the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church: (and he [is] the Sa 24 viour also of this his body :) however, as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in 25 every thing. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also 26 loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water, 27 through the word preached, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having blemish, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy and spotless. 28 Husbands ought so to love their wives, as their own bodies. 29 He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but every one nourisheth and cherish 30 eth it, as Christ also doth the church: for we are members 31 of his body; we are of his flesh, and of his bones. "Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall 32 cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." This mystery is great; but I speak concerning Christ, and con 33 cerning the church. However, let every one of you likewise so love his wife as himself; and let the wife take care that she reverence her husband.

CH. VI. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is 2 right: "Honour thy father and mother," (which is the first 3 commandment with promise,)" that it may be well with

1 q. d. with Christian reverence and affection-" of God." R. T. Lord, R. T.

as the

* Or, to our God and Father, Gal.4. 4. N. m. In the name, i. e. under the authority of Christ, as instructed by him.

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