Chapter 70

And you (which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works) hath he now reconciled in the body of his flesh thorow death, to make you holy, and such as no man could complain on, and without fault in his own sight, if ye continue grounded and stablished in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospell, whereof ye have heard, how that it is preached among all creatures, which are under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.

Now joy I in my passions which I suffer for you, and fulfil that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the congregation, whereof am I made a minister according to the ordinance of God, which ordinance was given me unto you ward, to fulfil the word of God, that mystery hid since the world began, and since the beginning of generations: But now is opened to his saints, to whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach warning all men, and teaching all men in all wisdom, to make all men perfect in Christ Iesu: Wherein I also labour and strive, even as far forth as his working worketh in me mightily.

The second Chapter.

I would ye knew what fighting I have for your sakes and for them of Laodicia, and for as many as have not seen my person in the flesh, that their hearts might be comforted and knit together in love, and in all riches of full understanding, for to know the mystery of God the father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit joying and beholding the order that ye keep, and your steadfast faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Iesu the lord, even so walk rooted and built in him, and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therein be plenteous in giving thanks.

Beware lest any man come and spoil you thorow philosophy and deceitful vanity, thorow the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are full in him, which is the head of all rule and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body off the flesh, thorow the circumcision that is in Christ, in that ye are buried with him thorow baptism, in whom ye are also risen again thorow faith, that is wrought by the operation of God which raised him from death.

And hath with him quickened you also which were dead in sin in the uncircumcision of your flesh, and hath forgiven our trespasses, and hath put out the obligation that was against us, made in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it on his cross, and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a shew of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.

Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink: or for a piece of an holyday, as the holyday of the new moon or of the saboth daye, which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in Christ. Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless puffed up with his fleshly mind, and holdeth not the head, whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from doctrine of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say? Touch not, Taste not, Handle not: which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men: which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body, and do the flesh no worship unto his need.

The .iij. Chapter.

If ye be then risen again with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things that are above, and not on things which are on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ which is our life shall shew himself, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is worshipping of idols: for which thing's sakes the wrath of God falleth on the children of unbelief. In which things ye walked once, when ye lived in them.

But now put ye also away from you all things, wrath, fierceness, maliciousness, cursed speaking, filthy speaking out of your mouths. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his works, and have put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that made him, where is neither greek nor jewe, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarous or Sithian, bond or free: But Christe is all in all things.

Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of minde, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another (if any man have a quarrel to another) even as Christ forgave you, even so do ye. Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness, and the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which peace ye are called in one body: and see that ye be thankful.

Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom. Teach and exhort your own selves, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs which have favour with them, singing in your hearts to the lord. And all things (whatsoever ye do in word or deed) do in the name of the lord Iesu, giving thanks to God the father by him.

Wives submit your own selves unto your own husbands, as it is comely in the lord. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter unto them. Children obey your fathers and mothers, in all things, for that is well pleasing unto the lord. Fathers rate not your children, lest they be of a desperate mind. Servants be obedient unto your bodily masters in all things: not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as though ye did it to the lord, and not unto men, remembering that of the lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance, for ye serve the lord Christ. But he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done: for there is no respect of persons.

The .iiij. Chapter.

Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and egal, remembering that ye have also a master in heaven.

Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving, praying also for us that God open unto us the door of utterance, that we may speak the mystery of Christ (wherefore I am also in bonds) that I may utter it, as it becometh me to speak. Walk wisely to them that are without, and redeem the time. Let your speech alwaye have faveoure with it and be salted, that ye may know how to answer every man.

The dear brother Tichicos shall tell you of all my business, which is a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the lord, whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know how ye do, and might comfort your hearts, with one Onesimus a faithful, and a beloved brother, which is one of you. They shall shew you of all things which are a doing here.

Aristarchus my prison fellow saluteth you, And Marcus Barnabas' sister's son: touching whom, ye received commandments. If he come unto you receive him: and Iesus which is called Iustus, which are of the circumcision. These only are my workfellows unto the kingdom of God, which were unto my consolation. Epaphras the servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and always laboureth fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect, and full in all that is the will of God. I bear him record that he hath a fervent mind toward you, and toward them of Laodicia and them of Hierapolis. Dear Lucas the physician greeteth you, and Demas. Salute the brethren which are of Laodicia, and salute Nymphas, and the congregation which is in his house. And when the pistel is read of you, make that it be read in the congregation of the Laodicians also: and that ye likewise read the pistel of Laodicia. And say to Archippus: Take heed to thine office that thou hast received in the lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds Grace be with you, Amen.

Sent from Rome by Tichicus, and Onesimus.

The first pistel of S. Paul unto the Tessalonians

The first Chapter.

Paul Silvanus and Timotheus.

Unto the congregation of the Thessalonians, in God the father, and in the lord Iesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the lord Iesus Christ.

We give God thanks alwaye for you all, making mention of you in our prayers without ceasing, and call to remembrance your work in the faith, and labour in love and perseverance in the hope of our lord Iesus Christ, in the sight of God our father: because we know brethren beloved of God, how that ye are elect. For our gospell came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and also in the holy ghost and in much certainty, as ye know that we behaved ourselves among you, for your sakes.

And ye counterfeited us, and of the lord: and received the word in much affliction, with joy of the holy ghost: so that ye were an example to all that believe in Macedonia, and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the lord, not in Macedonia and in Achaia only: but your faith also which ye have unto God, spread herself abroad in all quarters, so greatly that it needeth not us to speak anything at all: for they themselves shew of you what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from images for to serve the living and true God, and for to look for his son from heaven, whom he raised from death: I mean Iesus which delivereth us from wrath to come.

The .ij. Chapter.

For ye yourselves brethren know of our entrance in unto you, how that it was not in vain: but even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated at Philippos (as ye well know) then were we bold in our God to speak unto you the gospell of God, with much striving. Our exhortation was not to bring you to error, nor yet to uncleanness, neither was it with guile: but as we were allowed of God, that the gospell should be committed unto us: even so we speak, not as though we intended to please men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Neither was our conversation at any time with flattering words (as ye well know) neither in cloaked covetousness, God is record: neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor yet of any other, when we might have been chargable, as the Apostles of Christ: but were tender among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children, so was our affection toward you our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the gospell of God only: but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Ye remember brethren our labour and travail. For we laboured day and night, because we would not be grievous unto any of you, and preached you the gospell of God. Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly (that no man could blame us) we behaved ourselves among you that believe, as ye know how that we exhorted and comforted, and besought every one of you, as a father his children, that ye would walk worthy of the lord, which hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For this cause thank we God without ceasing, because that when ye received of us the word, wherewith God was preached, ye received it not as the word of man: but even as it was in deed, the word of God, which worketh in you that believe. For ye brethren did counterfeit the congregations of God which in jewry are in Christ Iesu: for ye have suffered like things of your kinsmen, as we our selves have suffered of the Iewes, which as they killed the lord Iesus and their own prophets, even so have they persecuted us, and God they please not, and are contrary to all men: and forbid us to preach unto the gentiles, that they might be saved, to fulfil their sins: For the wrath of God is come on them, even to the utmost.

For as much brethren as we are kept from you for a season, as concerning the bodily presence but not in the heart, we enforced the more to see you personally with great desire, and therefore we would have come unto you, I Paul once and again: but Satan withstood us. For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not ye it in the presence of our lord Iesus Christ at his coming? yes ye are our glory and joy.

The .iij. Chapter.

Wherefore since we could no longer forbear, it pleased us to remain at Athens alone, and sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God, and our labourfellow in the gospell of Christ, to stablish you, and to comfort you over your faith, that no man should be moved in these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are even appointed thereunto. For verily when I was with you, I told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass, and as ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent that I might have knowledge of your faith, lest haply the tempter had tempted you, and that our labour had been bestowed in vain.

Now lately when Timotheus came from you unto us and declared to us your faith, and your love, and how that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we desire to see you. Therefore brethren had I consolation in you, in all our adversity, and necessity through your faith. For now are we alive if ye stand steadfast in the lord. For what thanks can we recompense to God again for you, over all the joy that we joy for your sakes before our God, while we night and day pray exceedingly, that we might see you presently, and might fulfil that which is lacking in your faith.

God himself our father, and our lord Iesus Christ guide our journey unto you: and the lord increase you, and make you flow over in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you, to stablish your hearts that they might be without ought to be complained on, in sanctifying {holiness} before God our father, at the coming of our lord Iesus Christ, with all his saints.

The .iiij. Chapter.

Furthermore we beseech you brethren, and exhort you in the lord Iesus, that ye increase more and more, even as ye have received of us, how ye ought to walk and to please God. Ye remember what commandments we gave you in the name of our lord Iesu. For this is the will of God, which is your sanctifying, that ye should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to keep his vessel in holiness and honour, and not in the lust of concupiscence, as do the heathen, which know not God, that no man go beyond, and defraud his brother in bargaining, because the lord is avenger of all such things: as we told you before time, and testified unto you. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness: but unto sanctifying. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, which hath sent his holy spirit among you.

But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you. For ye are taught of God to love one another. Ye and that thing verily ye do unto all the brethren, which are thorowout all Macedonia. We beseech you brethren that ye increase, more and more, and that ye study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you: that ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without and that nothing be lacking unto you.

I would not brethren have you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleep, that ye sorrow not as other do which have no hope. For if we believe that Iesus died, and rose again: even so them also which sleep by Iesus, will God bring again with him. And this say we unto you in the word of the lord, that we which live and are remaining in the coming of the lord, shall not come yer they, which sleep. For the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and trompe of God. And the dead in Christe shall arise first: then shall we which live and remain, be caught up with them also in the clouds to meet the lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the lord. Wherefore comfort your selves one another with these words.

The .v. Chapter.

Of the times and seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you: for ye your selves know perfectly, that the day of the lord shall come even as a thief in the night. When they shall say peace and no danger, then cometh on them sudden destruction, as the travailing of a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should come on you as it were a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, neither of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep as do other: but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night: and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us which are of the day be sober, armed with the breast plate of faith and love, and with hope of health, as an helmet. For God hath not appointed us unto wrath: but to obtain health by the means of our lord Iesu Christ, which died for us: that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as ye do.

We beseech you brethren, that ye know them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the lord, and give you exhortation, that ye have them the more in love: For their work's sake, and be at peace with them. We desire you brethren warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, forbear the weak have continual patience toward all men. See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice ever. Pray continually. In all thing give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Iesu toward you.

Quench not the spirit, despise not prophesying. Examine all things. Reap that which is good. Abstain from all suspicious things. The very God of peace sanctify you thorowout. And I pray God that your whole spirit, soul, and body, be kept faultless unto the coming of our lord Iesus Christ. Faithful is he, which called you: which will also do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you in the lord, that this pistel be read unto all the wholly brethren. The grace of the lord Iesus Christe be with you. Amen.

The first pistle unto the Tessalonyans written from Athens.

The second pistel of S. Paul to the Tessalonians

The first Chapter.

Paul, Sylvanus and Timotheus.

Unto the congregation of the Thessalonians, which are in God our father, and in the lord Iesus Christ.

Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the lord Iesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and every one of you swimmeth in love toward another between yourselves, so that we ourselves rejoice of you in the congregations of God, over your patience and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations that ye suffer: which is a token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye are counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer. It is verily a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you: and to you which are troubled rest with us, when the lord Iesus shall shew himself from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, rendering vengeance unto them that know not God, and to them that obey not unto the gospell of our lord Iesus Christ, which shall be punished with everlasting damnation, from the presence of the lord, and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made marvelous in all them that believe: because our testimony that we had unto you, was believed even the same day that we preached it. Wherefore we pray always for you that our God make you worthy of the calling, and fulfil all delectation of goodness, and the work of faith, with power: that the name of our lord Iesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, thorow the grace of our God, and of the lord Iesus Christ.

The second Chapter.

We beseech you brethren by the coming of our lord Iesu Christ, and in that we shall assemble unto him, that ye be not suddenly moved from your mind, and be not troubled, neither by spirit, neither by words, nor yet by letter, which should seem to come from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means, for the lord cometh not, except there come a departing first, and that that sinful man be opened, the son of perdition which is an adversary, and is exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he shall sit in the temple of God, and shew himself as God.

Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth: even that he might be uttered at his time. For already the mystery of iniquity worketh. Only he that holdeth, let him now hold, until it {hit} be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked be uttered, whom the lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the appearance of his coming, even him whose coming is by the working of Satan, with all lying power, signs, and wonders: and in all deceivableness of unrighteousness, among them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth, that they might have been saved. And therefore God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe lies: that all they might be damned which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We are bound to give thanks alwaye to God for you brethren beloved of the lord, for because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to health, thorow sanctifying of the spirit, And thorow believing the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospell, to obtain the glory that cometh of our lord Iesu Christ.

Therefore brethren stand fast and keep the ordinations, which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by oour pistel: Our lord Iesu Christ himself, and God our father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope thorow grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in all saying, and good doing.

The .iij. Chapter.

Furthermore brethren pray for us, that the word of God may have free passage, and be glorified, as it is with you: and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men. For all men have not faith: but the lord is faithful, which shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. We have confidence thorow the lord to youward, that ye both do, and will do, that which we command you. And the lord guide your hearts unto the love of God, and patience of Christ.