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Chap. iv.

Admonitions and tion, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven ;f from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. CHAP. IV.

10

1 General exhortations: his joy for their liberality toward him, and God's grace in them: 20 he concludeth with prayer and salutations. THEREFORE, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 And I intreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanks

ƒ But our conversation is for heaven.

instructions.

giving, let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

14 Notwithstanding, ye have well done, that ye did com~municate with my affliction.

He concludeth with

Philippians. prayer and salutations.

15 Now ye Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

17 Not because I desire a gift; but I desire fruit, that may abound to your account.

18 But I have all, and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.

20 Now, unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cesar's household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.

It was written to the Philippians from Rome, by Epaphroditus.

PREFATORY REMARKS

TO THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS.

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COLOSSE was an ancient, rich, and populous city of Phrygia in Asia Minor, in the vicinity of Hierapolis and Laodicea. Grecian philosophy was early introduced into this country, and the precepts of Pythagoras concerning abstinence from animal food, the doctrines of Plato concerning the worship of angels, and the impure rites of Bacchus and Cybele, were prevalent and much admired. But notwithstanding the prevalence of this idolatry and superstition, the apostles preached among them with success, and established several churches. Soon however false teachers appeared among them, and by accommodating their doctrines to the former prejudices of the people; some inculcating the precepts of Grecian philosophy; others, teaching the abrogated ceremonies of the Jewish law, they threw the churches into a state of disquietude and danger. Under these circumstances Epaphras, superintended these churches, repaired to Rome to consult Paul, who at this time was in prison for the sake of the Gos

who

Faith in Christ

Chap. i.

recommended.

pel. Paul therefore, ever attentive to the cause of his Master, wrote this Epistle to guard the Christians at Colosse against the errors of false teachers. He also exhorts them to persevere in the doctrines of the Gospel, and to place all their hope of salvation in Christ alone.

This Epistle is supposed to have been written A. D. 61, about the same time with that to the Ephesians; and there is so great a similarity between the two, that they serve to illustrate each other.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE COLOSSIANS.

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4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel;

6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth

also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellowservant, who is for a faith

ful

minister of Christ:

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience & long-suffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,

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and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins;

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature;

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him;

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things

consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence;

19 For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things into himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled,

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable, in his sight;

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled,

Of Paul's ministry.

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and be not moved away the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church;

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would 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 preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

CHAP. II.

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Beware of philosophy

Chap. ii.

you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and be holding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him ;

up

in

7 Rooted and built him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,a after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,b and not after Christ:

9 For in him dwelleth all

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and vain traditions.

the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality c and power

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

12 Buried with him in baptism,d wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened e together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances,f that

c Principality, government.

d Buried with him, &c. Baptism is a Christian ordinance, emblematical or significant of death and burial, and the resurrection. As Christ submitted to be baptized, that is, to be bu ried under the water by John, it was an emblem of his future death and

burial; and his being raised out of

the water, was emblematical of his So. Christians being baptized, may figu resurrection from the grave. ratively be said to be buried with Christ in baptism, and in baptism to be raised with him.

e Hath be quickened, he hath made alive.

f The hand-writing of ordinances, is here supposed to be the precepts of the moral law, and blotting them out,the forgiveness of transgression upon repentance.

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