he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation.

for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things,

If then you are risen with Christ, seek the things, that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.

be you therefore adorn'd with a compassionate temper, with benevolence, humility, meekness, patience as becometh saints and chosen favourites of God:

Let the christian doctrine be the familiar subject of your entertainment: in all wisdom instructing and exhorting one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, melodiously tuning your grateful praises to God.

who has deliver'd you from the state of darkness, and has translated you into the kingdom of his beloved son.

beware lest any one seduce you by the vain illusions of philosophy, founded upon human traditions, and meer shadows, and not upon Christ:

for in him all divine plenitude does substantially reside.

he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief.

which is not only come to you, but to all the world; where it produces its effects, and increases, as it does also among you, ever since you sincerely embrac'd the divine favour,

and whatever you do, do it heartily, as serving the Lord, and not men:

which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead.

he it is that we preach, exhorting, and instructing men in every part of divine knowledge, that they may all be perfectly acquainted with the doctrine of Christ Jesus.

Mortify therefore your sensual appetites, fornication, impurity, irregular passions, wicked desires, and that licentiousness practised by idolaters.

For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment:

Let no man therefore condemn you for meats or drinks, or in respect of feasts, or new moons, or sabbaths:

who also declared to us the love you bear to us upon a spiritual account.

let your discourse and your actions be all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father by him.

which you heard was offer'd to you, by the instructions of Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is to you a faithful minister of Christ:

continue therefore to follow the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you have receiv'd it:

Even you, who were in a dying sinful state, and were uncircumcised Gentiles, has God raised to life, as he did Christ, having pardoned all your sins:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church:

Persevere and be vigilant in prayer and in thanksgiving:

Dames, be submissive to your husbands, as becomes christians.

to whom God does disclose the glorious advantages of this mystery to you Gentiles, to wit, "that by Christ you may have the expectation of glory."

giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people:

You then that formerly were alienated from God, and were enemies by your imaginations and wicked practices, even you has Jesus Christ now reconciled to the body of his church,

may the peace of Christ, to which you are called to be but one body, influence your hearts, to be benevolent.

Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the divine appointment, and Timothy our brother,

and cancell'd the obligation of the ceremonial law, which was disadvantageous to us, removing that which divided us, and nailing it to the cross.

bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, when one has any cause of complaint against another: as the Lord forgave you, do you likewise forgive.

It is by him, that we have obtain'd the redemption, even the remission of our sins:

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

by whom also ye have obtain'd the true spiritual circumcision, not effected by men, when you were by a christian circumcision divested of all your carnal affections,

and having made peace by the blood of his cross, to reconcile all things to himself, both those in heaven, and those upon earth.

for it seemed good to the father to inhabit the whole body of the church by Christ:

these are vices which draw down the divine vengeance upon unbelieving nations;

I mention this, lest any one should deceive you by specious pretences.

and having divested principalitys and powers, he made them an example of obedience, and caus'd them to triumph in Christ.

let the things above, and not such worldly matters be the object of your thoughts.

and by him all things consist.

but now renounce them all, as well as anger, animosity, malice: let calumny and obscene discourse be banish'd from your lips.

Be prudent in your conduct to those, who are not christians: and make the best of of every opportunity.

in whom are reserv'd all the treasures of wd om and knowledge.

improv'd by knowledge into a resemblance of him, who made this change:

that your conduct may be worthy of the Lord, in every respect agreeable to him, being friutful in every kind of virtue, and increasing in divine knowledge:

servants, be entirely obedient to those, whom the laws have made your masters, and not meerly out of regard to their observation, as designing only to please men, but from a principle of integrity, as fearing God:

let an air of modesty appear in all your discourse; and let it be seasoned with discretion, in making a proper reply, when you are call'd into question.

among whom you had your conversation, when you followed their practices.

that their hearts might be comforted, and that being firmly united in love, they might possess the highest and fullest persuasion of the truth of this doctrine, by entring into this mystery, even of God the father, and of Christ,

Christ is your life, and when he shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.

by which there is now neither Greek, or Jew; circumcised, or uncircumcised; Barbarian, or Scythian; slave, or freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

for you are dead to them, and Christ has secured your life with God.

to our faithful brethren the christian converts at Coloss. favour and peace be to you from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

and ye are filled by him, who is the chief of all principality and power:

for tho' I am absent in person, yet I am present with you in my mind, and am glad to perceive the regularily of your affairs, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

this is what I earnestly strive to effect, by virtue of that power, which effectually operates in me.

As to what relates to me, you will be inform'd of it by Tychicus my dear brother, who is a faithful minister of the Lord, and serves him with me.

I sent him on purpose to acquaint you with my circumstances, and give you matter of comfort.

the whole will of God. for I can witness for him, that he is ardently concern'd for you, and the christians of Laodicea,

I have sent him with Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother, who is of your city: they will inform you of what passes here.

Jesus, who is called Justus, salutes you: these are the only Jews who by assisting me in preaching the gospel,

but he that does wrong shall be punish'd for his injustice: for no regard will be shown to the external characters of men.

as for you, masters, give to your servants what is just and suitable: considering that you also have a master in heaven.

by which indeed they make a pretence to wisdom, by a worship of their own devising, by an air of humility, and self-denial, and a disregard to the gratifications of sense.

church which uses to meet in his house. when this epistle has been read among you, take care that it be read likewise in the church of the Laodiceans, and

knowing that as you are the servants of Christ our Lord, you shall receive from him the inheritance for your reward.

for these were only the shadows of future things, prefiguring Christ, who is the substance.

Salute our brethren of Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the

that you read the epistle from Laodicea. give Archippus this instruction from me, take care to discharge the function, you

not adhering to the head, from which all the parts of the body derive its nutrition, and being firmly united together by its joints and ligaments, receives a divine increase.

have received from the Lord. I Paul salute you, and this salutation I write with my own hand. remember my bonds. grace be with you. AMEN.

which yet were all made to be consumed for our use, notwithstanding the injunctions and doctrines of men:

that I may publish it in the manner, it should necessarily be done.

"don't eat this, don't taste that, nor touch it:"

children, obey your parents upon all occasions, for that is graceful in a christian.

In our prayers we continually give thanks to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ upon your account,

Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits:

If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances?

for the sake of that happiness, which you hope for, and is reserv'd for you in heaven, of which you have already been inform'd by the preaching of the truth, that is, the gospel:

provided you continue well-grounded and settled in the faith, and do not abandon that hope which has been offer'd to you by the gospel, and is proclaim'd to all mankind; of which I Paul am made a minister.

to all this add love, which is the band of perfect union:

husbands, love your wives, and do not exasperate them.

For I wish you knew how great my concern is for you, and for those of Laodicea, and for such as have never seen me in person:

fathers, don't treat your children with severity, lest they be discourag'd.

that mystery, which has been hid from ages and generations, but is now made manifest to his saints:

being fortified in so effectual a manner, as to sustain your trials with constancy and joy:

Aristarchus my companion in bonds salutes you. and so does Mark, nephew to Barnabas, for whom you have receiv'd recommendations. if he come to you, give him a kind reception.

and Hierapolis. our dear brother Luke the Physician, and Demas salute you.

through his own death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his own sight:

have cordially reliev'd me. Epaphras a servant of Christ, and your countryman, salutes you, who is always very earnest in his prayers, that you may be perfectly acquainted with, and constantly observe,

of which I have been established a minister, according to the charge which God has given me to preach his gospel faithfully among you. ---

put up your requests likewise for me, that God would give me an opportunity to declare the mystery of Christ (for which I am even in bonds:)

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the affection you have to all christians;

being firmly attach'd to, and founded upon him: establishing yourselves in the faith you have been taught, and being thankful for the improvement you make therein.