22 And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know not.

23 But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better:

24 But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith:

26 That your rejoicing may abound in Christ JESUS for me, by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or being absent may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel:

28 And in nothing be ye terrified by the adversaries: which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of salvation, and this from God:

29 For unto you it is given for Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him:

30 Having the same conflict as that which you have seen in me, and now have heard of me.

CHAP. 1.-1. Ephes. 4, 1; Col. 1, 10; 1 Thess. 2, 12.

3 Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory: but

CHAP. 1, ver. 22. This is to me, &c. His meaning is, that although his dying immediately for Christ would be his gain, by putting him presently in possession of heaven; yet he is doubtful what he should choose, becanse by staying longer in the flesh, he should

| in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves,

4 Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's.

5 For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ JESUS:

6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery, to be equal with God:

7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.

8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death: even to the death of the cross.

9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:

10 That 2 in the name of JESUS every knee should bow of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth,

11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord JESUS CHRIST

is in the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my dearly beloved (as you have always obeyed): not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence, with fear and trembling work out your salvation.

13 For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will

14 And 3 do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations:

and sincere children of God, with 15 That you may be blameless, out reproof, in the midst of a crook ed and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16 Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ, because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.

tim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you all.

17 Yea, and if I be made a vie

be more beneficial to the souls of his neighbours.

CHAP. 2, ver. 7. Emptied himself, exinanicit, made himself as of no account.

Ver. 12, With fear, &c. Note this against the false faith, and presumptuous security of modern sectaries.

18 And for the self-same thing do you also rejoice, and congratulate with me.

19 And I hope in the Lord JESUS, 4 to send Timothy unto you shortly: that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you.

20 For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affec. tion is solicitous for you.

21 For 5 all seek the things that are their own, not the things that are JESUS CHRIST'S.

22 Now know ye the proof of him, that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24 And I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come to you shortly.

25 But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother, and fellow-labourer and fellow-soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants:

26 For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard, that he was sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him: and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 Therefore I sent him the more speedily, that, seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be with out sorrow.

29 Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord, and treat with honour such as he is;

30 Because for the work of Christ, he came to the point of death, deliv ering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards my service.

CHAP. 2.-1. Heb. 2, 9.-2. Isai. 45, 24; Rom. 14, 11.-3. 1 Pet. 4, 9.-4. Acts 16, 1.

-5. 1 Cor. 13, 5.

CHAPTER III.

He warneth them against false teach ers: he counteth all other things loss, that he may gain Christ.

S to the rest, my brethren, reAjoice in the Lord. To write

the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you is nec. essary.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God, and glory in Christ JESUS, not having confidence in the flesh,

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I more,

5 Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, according to the law, a Pharisee,

6 According to zeal, persecuting the Church of God, according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame:

7 But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ.

8 Farthermore I count all things to be but loss, for the excellent knowledge of JESUS CHRIST my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ,

9 And may be found in him not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ JESUS: which is of God, justice in faith,

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death:

11 If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead:

12 Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect: but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ JESUS.

13 Brethren, I do not count my self to have apprehended. But one thing I do forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before,

14 I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ JESUS.

15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise

16 Nevertheless whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.

17 Be followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have our model.

18 For 2 many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

20 But our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord JESUS CHRIST,

21 Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to sub. due all things unto himself.

CHAP. 3.-1. Acts 23, 6.-2. Rom. 16, 17.

CHAPTER IV.

He exhorteth them to perseverance in all good and acknowledgeth their charitable contributions to him.

Tloved brethren, and most deTHEREFORE, my dearly besired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved:

2 I beg of Evodia, and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord.

3 And I entreat thee also my sin. cere companion, help those women that have laboured with me in the gospel with Clement and the rest of my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice.

5 Let your modesty be known to all men: The Lord is nigh.

6 Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which CHAP. 4, ver. 3. Sincere companion. Protestants render it true yoke-fellow, to insinuate that St. Paul here speaketh

8 For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.

9 The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 Now I rejoiced in the Lord exceedingly, that now at length your thought for me hath flourished again, as you did also think: but you were busied.

11 I speak not as it were for want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith.

12 I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound: (every where, and in all things I am instructed) both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound, and to suffer need;

13 I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well, in communicating to my trib ulation.

15 And you also know, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only:

16 For unto Thessalonica also, you sent once and again for my use.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that may abound to your account.

18 But I have all, and abound: am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, an odour of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing God.

1

19 And may my God supply all your want according to his riches, in glory in Christ JESUS.

20 Now to God and our Father be glory world without end: Amen. 21 Salute ye every saint in Christ JESUS.

to his wife: whereas he plainly telleth us, 1 Cor. 7, 8. that he had no wife.

1

17 And he is before all, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the Church, 2 who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead: that in all things, he may hold the prima cy;

19 Because in him, it hath wellpleased the Father, that all fulness

should dwell:

20 And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things on earth, and the things that are in heaven.

21 And you, whereas you were some time alienated, and enemies in mind, in evil works:

22 Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unspotted, and blameless before him:

23 If so ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and immov able from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh for his body, which is the Church:

25 Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I may fulfil the word of God:

26 The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints,

27 To whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ, in you the hope of glory,

29 Wherein also I labour, striving according to his working which he worketh in me in power.

CHAP. 1.-1. John 1, 3.-2. 1 Cor. 15, 20; Apoc. 1, 5.

CHAPTER II.

He wurneth then against the impostures of the philosophers and the Jew. ish teachers, that would withdraw them from Christ.

that would have you know,

what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh:

2 That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ JESUS:

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words.

5 For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you: rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.

6 As therefore you have received JESUS CHRIST the Lord, walk ye in him,

7 Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving:

8 Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ:

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporally:

10 And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

Ver. 2. Wanting. There is no want in the sufferings of Christ in himself as head but many sufferings are still

Christ:

wanting, or are still to come, in his body the Church, and his members the faithful.