The loving-favor of our Lord Jesus be with you. Now to him who is able to establish you, according to my Good-tidings and the proclaiming of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept hidden during past ages, but now is brought to light, and by means of the Writings of the Prophets, according to the commission of the eternal God, is made known to all the nations, for their obedience to the Faith—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory unto the ages: Amen. NOTE.-Written from Corinth, about A.D. 58. (xvi. 24-27.) LETTER OF PAUL ΤΟ PHILEMON AUL, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to PAD the sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy house: Joy to you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I GIVE thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers, since I am hearing of the love and fidelity which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, so that thy participation in the Faith may become effective in the complete knowledge of everything good in us toward Christ. For I have had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother. a Wherefore, although I have much boldness in Christ to command. thee that which is becoming, yet on account of our love I rather entreat thee, since I am such a one as Paul, an ambassador and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus: I entreat thee in behalf of my child, whom I have begotten while in my chains-Onēsimus, who was formerly unserviceable to thee, but now is serviceable both to thee and to me; whom I am sending back to thee in his own per b 8 & Or, you. (1-12.) A word-play: Onesimus meaning serviceable. son,- that is, my own heart: whom I was wishing to keep with myself, so that on thy behalf he might attend upon me, in these chains for the Good-tidings: but without thy consent I was not willing to do anything; so that thy kindness should not be from necessity, but from choice. For perhaps for this reason he was separated from thee for a short time, in order that thou shouldst have him back forever: no longer as a servant, but as more than a servant, as a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee both in his own person and in the Lord. If then thou considerest me as a partner, receive him as thou wouldst receive me. And if he hath wronged thee in anything, or is in debt to thee, charge that to me; I myself, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it in full (although I could say to thee that thou owest me even thine own self). Yes, brother: I would have delight in thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. Having confidence in thy compliance, I am writing to thee, for I know that thou wilt do even more than I am saying. Moreover, at the same time also prepare to entertain me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee: also Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. The loving-favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (13-25.) LETTER OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS AUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossæ: Joy to you, and peace, from God our Father. We always give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faitha in Christ Jesus, and of your love toward all the saints, on account of the hope which is awaiting you in the heavens, of which ye have previously heard in the message of the truth of the Good-tidings, that is still present with you, as also in all the world, bearing fruit and growing, as indeed it hath done in you from the day when ye heard and learned of the loving-favor of God truly: even as ye learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servitor of the Christ for you, who also hath made known to us your love in the Spirit." On this account we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you, and to make petition that ye may be filled with a complete knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment, so that ye may walk worthily of the Lord unto all (i. 1-10.) a pleasing conduct, bearing fruit in every kind of good work, and growing up by means of the clear knowledge of God, strengthened with all strength according to his glorious might, unto all endurance and long-suffering; while ye give thanks with joyfulness to the Father, who hath fitted us for a share of the inheritance of the saints in the light, who hath rescued us from the dominion of the darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; through whom we have the redemption - the remission of our sins; who is the likeness of God the Invisible, the first-born of all creation; for by him have been created all things in the heavens and on the earth, the things seen and the things unseen; whether thrones or lordships or headships or authorities, all things were created through him and for him; and he himself is before all things; and all things hold together through him, as he himself is the head of the body- the Church: " and he is the leader, the first-born from among the dead; that he might become the first in all respects. For it seemed good that in him all the fulness should dwell; and that through it he should completely reconcile all things to himself, having brought them into concord by means of the blood of his cross,-- whether things upon the earth or things in the heavens. с d b You also, though once estranged, and enemies from your state of mind while in your wicked doings, yet now he hath reconciled in his body of flesh by means of his death, in order to bring you to his presence holy and faultless and unblamable; provided that ye continue in the Faith, established and firm, and do not suffer yourselves to be shifted away from the hope of the Good-tidings which ye have heard, which hath been proclaimed in presence of every creature under the heaven: of which I Paul became a ministering servant. Now I am rejoicing on your account in the midst of my sufferings; and I am filling up on my part in my mortal body the defi |