"THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS"
CHAPTER 4
Verse 1. Masters,
My brethren, be
not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word,
the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey
us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships,
which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds,
yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever
the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and
boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire
kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is
the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body,
and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire
of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents,
and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of
deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out
of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren,
these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at
the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren,
bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both
yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with
knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and
strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion
and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace, Jas0301-18.
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort, 1Tm0601,02.
give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man, Luk2134-36.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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 escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief, 1Th0502-04.
3. Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance (the door of my lips, Ps14103), to speak the mystery of Christ,
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory, 1Tm0316.
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Rom1625-27.
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory, Eph0304-13.
for which I am also in bonds:
And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him, Act2513-15.
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, Act2632.
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain, Act2816-20.
4. That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Rom1013-15.
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, Jhn0334.
5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,
Wherefore remember,
that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the
flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from
the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the
world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the
law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making
peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached
peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also
are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit,
Eph0211-21.
redeeming the time.
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God, Eph0514-21.
6. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ, Phl0127.
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Phl0320.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory, Col0301-04.
Ye are the salt
of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men, Mat0513.
7. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ, Gal0109-12.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat2445-51.
8. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9. With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also, 2Tm0201,02.
10. Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
11. And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 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: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it, Col0208-15.
These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do, 1Th0511.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope, Rom1504.
12. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
14. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
15. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body, Eph0523.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all, Eph0118-23.
which is in his house.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, Mat1820.
16. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember
my bonds (chains,
Act2133). Grace be with
you. Amen.
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