they changed the true God for an idol, and adored and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever.

'Tis true, you bear the name of a Jew, you depend upon the law, and boast of your worship:

an instructer of the ignorant, a teacher to the weak, because you have a clear view of the true meaning of the law.

the faithfulness of God of no effect? by no means; yea, let God be acknowledged to be true, tho' men should be all deceivers; as it is written, " that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged."

for I bear them witness, that they have a zeal for God, but not guided by true knowledge.

'tis true, faith comes by preaching, and preaching is by the divine appointment.

if I could by any means excite the emulation of my dear countrymen, in order to save some.

for if you were taken from the wild olive, which was natural to you, to be grafted into a good olive-stock of a different nature, with how much greater reason shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

dear brethren, avenge not yourselves, but leave that to the resentment of another: for it is written, "vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

salute the church that is in their house. salute my dear Epenetus, who is the first christian convert of Asia.

and my dear Stachys. salute Apelles, an approved christian. salute the family of Aristobulus.

salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour for the Lord. salute my dear Persis, who laboured much in the gospel.