V... the effectual 16. o Or, elements. Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Ro. 10, 12. i Ep. 4, 32. Ga. s Or, complaint. According to mind, 19 and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and ...... The same working in the bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together," increaseth with measure of every the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the 'rudipart, maketh increase of the ments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to body, unto the edifying of itself ordinances, (21 touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 which all are to perish 5, 22. in love. Ep. 4, with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men ?* 23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and x In vain do they "neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. teaching for doc-3 If ye then be risen with Christ," seek those things which are above, where trines the com- Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your Paffection on things Mat. 15, above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore worship mandments of men. 9. Tit. 1, 14. y Ve. 18. Or, punishing; or, not sparing. z For bodily exercise profiteth little...1 Ti. 4, 8. a As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Juo. 17, 2. p Or, mind. b I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live: yet not I, but me....Ga. 2, 20. be fashioned like shall R Gross vices must be put your members which are upon the earth ;d fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covet-" ousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him :9 away, 5-11. 4, 7. 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, is, the fruit of Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;i Christ liveth in Humility and 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man practised, 12- have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so c Who shall also do ye. change our vile 14 And above all these things put on charity, which 4 Ep. 5, 22. 1 Pe. body, that it may is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, unto his glorious to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let body, according the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonwhereby he is ishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with due all things grace in your hearts to the Lord." 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or himself. deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." 18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the ing, but shewing Lord.? 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this... Not only to 21 Fathers, provoke not your fulfilled, 18 is wellpleasing unto the Lord." children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 and whatsoever do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men ; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which man truth with 4 he hath done; and there is no respect of persons." Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a ≈ Ep. 6, 9. Master in heaven.* With secret all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. 1 Pe. 2, 1. f... Speak every his neighbour... Ep. 4, 25. g... Which after God is created v...The Father... without respect of persons, judg eth according to every man's work. 1 Pe. 1, 17. y... Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgivin righteousness prayer & out ing; 3 withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us ness. Ep. 4, 24. spection, 2-6. a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I Ep. 6, 18. and true holi- ward circum z Ep. 6, 19, 20. without....1 Th. 4, 12. 6... Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Ma. 9, 50. d... My son One my bonds...per unto you, ye received faithful minister of Christ. Ch. 1, 7. h...Our dear fel Ch. 1, 7. h*......(Being at present)...... my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus. Philem. 23. am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.... For you a business......that 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." 6 Let honestly toward your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know them that are how ye ought to answer every man. All my state shall Tychicus declare "lowservant. who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that her Or, striving. might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. 9They shall make known unto e Ac. 20, 4. Ep. you all things which are done here. 10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner salut6, 21. 2 Ti. 4, 12. eth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom simus, whom I commandments: if he come unto you, receive him ;) 11 and Jesus, which is v Or, filled. have begotten in called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow-2 Ti. 4, 11. Phihaps he......de-workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. parted for a sea- 121 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ," saluteth you, always, 2 Ti. 4, 10. Philabouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and ceive him for "complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a......Our_fellowgreat zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 20 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be his house. read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus,' Take heed to the ministry Remember which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul.m Remember my bonds." Grace be with you. son, that thou (Philemon) shouldest re ever. Philem. 10. e...One Aristar chus, a Macedobeing nian of Thessalonica, with us. Ac. 27, 2; and 19, 29. Philem. 24. f... John (Mark) departing from them (at Perga, nearest station toColosse, Birks) returned to Jerusalem. Ac. 13, 13. Amen. k ye Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus. 235. The First Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the THESSALONIANS. (Ac. 17, 16.) THIS is probably the earliest of the epistles of St. Paul. Driven from Thessalonica by the violent opposition of the unbelieving Jews, Paul and Silas came to Berea, where Timothy joined the apostle; and when he was driven thence also, Paul came to Athens. At Athens, Timothy-Silas perhaps remaining at Berea-rejoined Paul, by whom he was immediately sent to Thessalonica-Paul remaining alone at Athens (Ch. iii., I). The reason of this was, the anxiety of Paul to know if the converts in Thessalonica were stedfast. It was no slight thing for the Jew, and the devout Gentile who worshipped Jehovah with him, to relinquish a faith which was surrounded with so much that was unmistakably of God, and embrace the modification of it preached by Paul, and to hold it fast amidst so much persecution. The Jews were extremely numerous at Thessalonica, and their rancour seems to have been greater there than in some other places. Paul, therefore, wrote this epistle to animate the courage of the Thessalonians, and to strengthen their faith. It is remarkable that Paul manifests no anxiety for the Athenians, and it was almost only by an accident that he was led to address them at all. He departed from them (Acts xvii., 33), and never attempted to resume speaking to them. From Silas and Timothy being joined with Paul in the salutation of this epistle it is evident that it was written, not from Athens, but from Corinth, and about the year 52. a We are to thank God 1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessaand the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: always for you, is meet, because Salutation, 1. a Or, beloved of tion. the gospel a Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the The multitude rose up rose up together them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, & commanded to beat them. And when they had upon them, they laid manystripes cast them into prison....Ac. 16, 22, 23. i Paul...... three sabbath 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, The effects of in the sight of God and our Father: 4knowing, brethren abeproof of its loved, your election of God. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and God, your elec in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having reasoned received the word in much affliction,d with joy of the Holy Ghost:7 ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. b Ch. 2, 13. c...Our entrance in unto you...... was not in vain. Ch. 2, 1. d The Jews which believed not...... set all the city (Thessalonica) on an uproar... Ac. 17, 5. e Ye know that ye wereGentiles, carried away un BA to these dumb The character idols, even ye were led. 1 Co. 12, 2. as the teachers of also a proof of days with 2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was 7 we day, that chargeable might not be any of you. 2 Th. 3, 8. to e And I will very be spent for you (Gr., your souls). 2 Co. 12, 15. versation be as ...Ph. 1, 27. e... But received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Ga. 4, 14. n... That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Ph. 2, 16. d...Let your con- for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any becometh the of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and Gospel of Christ God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh ... Without ceasalso in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: request...to come 5 who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets," and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved," to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. The Jews which not, believed lewd fellows of the baser sort, company, and and gathered a set all the city on an uproar........ Ac. 17, 5. 15 Paul's love to g......They have and anxiety slain themwhich for the Thessa shewed before of lonians, 17- out. h Ac. 13, 50; and 14, 5, 19; and 17, and 19, 9; and : ye 1 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? 20 For ye are our glory and joy. Wherefore when we could no 3 longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in y Or, chased us the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I See that none sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain." But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that. Your whole which is lacking in your faith ?P 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men,1 even as we do toward you: 13 to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." 5, 13; and 18, 12; 22, 21, 22. URTHERMORE then we beseech you, brethren, and "exhort you render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow thatwhich is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Ch. 5, 15. spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Christ. Ch. 5, 23. 1 Co. 1, 8. Ph. 1, 10. 4 FURTHERMORE, that as ye have received of us how ye ought 50r, request. by to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and R more. 2 For know what commandments we gave you by the ye into the king-Necessity of Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctificadom of God. purity and ho Ac. 14, 22. Jesus 3 liness, 1-9. tion, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of Or, beseech. 77 8... Not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind..... who being past feeling have giv en themselves over unto lasci viousness, to work all un cleanness with greediness. Ep. 0 Or, oppress; or, ye shall there- fore sanctify K Or, rejecteth. u Lu. 10, 16. v The second (great commandment of the law) is... Thou shalt love thy neigh bour as thyself. Mat. 22, 39. ... Ye......know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. Ac. 20, 34. λ Or, of no man. y Blessed be...... God... ... which hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Pe. 1, 3. 2. He which raised up the you 5notμ Or, exhort. should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 9-12. 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for more; thing. The certainty f For ye were sometimes darkness, but DOW are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Ep. 5, 8. For now is our salvation nearer than when we 13, 11. believed. Ro. h... Having your 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: breastplate and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 then we which are alive and remain Ep. 6, 14. shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord ini...God our Savithe air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 18 Wherefore "comfort one another with these words. 5 BUT Practical god liness more im- than curious enqui rics, 1-11. loins girt about with truth, and having on the righteousness. of our, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Ti. 2, 3, 4. Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lond both of the dead 14, 9. UT of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the To this end Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day and living. Ro. and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of all sleep, but we salvation." For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvachanged, in ation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.* 11 Wherefore "comfort your-m Say not, I will eye, at the last selves together, and edify one another, even as also 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among 3 and and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; you, raised incorrup- tues specified, to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.' And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any there shall also man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to 7 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing ed. 1 Co. 15, 51, 52. 2 Th. 1, 7. b ...Where I am, |