Chapter XI

COMMENDATION OF PHOEBE, SALUTATIONS, ETC.

1 [16:1]AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea, [16:2]that you receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and assist her in any thing in which she may have need of you; for she has been an assistant of many, and of myself also.

2 [16:3]Salute Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila my co-laborers in Christ Jesus, [16:4]who exposed their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the nations; [16:5]and [salute] the assembly at their house. Salute Epenetus my beloved, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ. [16:6]Salute Mary, who labored much for us. [16:7]Salute Andronicus and Junius, my relatives and my fellow-captives, who are distinguished among the apostles, and who were before me in Christ. [16:8]Salute Amplias my beloved in the Lord. [16:9]Salute Urbanus our co-laborer in Christ, and Stachus my beloved. [16:10]Salute Apelles, the approved in Christ. Salute those of the [family] of Aristobulus. [16:11]Salute Herodion, my relative. Salute those of the [family] of Narcissus who are in the Lord. [16:12]Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. [16:13]Salute Rufus the elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine. [16:14]Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them. [16:15]Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them. [16:16]Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

3 [16:17]I exhort you, brothers, to observe those that cause dissensions and offenses contrary to the teaching which you learned, and avoid them; [16:18]for such serve not our anointed Lord, but themselves, And by kind and complimentary words deceive the minds of the simple. [16:19]For your obedience has come to all; I rejoice in you therefore, but I wish you to be wise for that which is good, and simple for evil. [16:20]And the God of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

4 [16:21]Timothy my co-laborer salutes you, and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. [16:22]I, Tertius, who wrote the epistle, salute you in the Lord. [16:23]Gaius my entertainer, and the entertainer of all the church, salutes you. Erastus the treasurer of the city and Quartus the brother salute you. [16:24]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all; amen.

5 [16:25]And to him that is able to confirm you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery not revealed in ancient times, [16:26]but made manifest now by the scriptures of the prophets, by the command of the eternal God, for the obedience of the faith among all nations, [16:27]to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to him be the glory forever; amen.

THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25:4.)

CONCERNING ONESIMUS, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy the brother, to the beloved. Philemon and our fellow-laborer, [1:2]and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly at your house. [1:3]Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:4]I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, [1:5] hearing of your love and faith which you have for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, [1:6]that your participation of the faith may be made effectual by a knowledge of all the good which we have in Christ Jesus. [1:7]For I have great joy and comfort in your love, because the saints are refreshed by you, brother. [1:8]Wherefore, having great boldness to command you what is fit, [1:9]on account of love I rather request; being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, [1:10]I request you for my son Onesimus, whom I obtained in my bonds, [1:11]who was formerly not useful to you but is now most useful to you and me, [1:12]whom I have sent back. And do you receive him, that is, my soul, [1:13]whom I should like to retain for myself, that he might serve me for you in the bonds of the gospel, [1:14]but without your consent I will do nothing, that your service may not be compulsory but voluntary; [1:15]for perhaps he has been separated from you for a time that you may have him back forever, [1:16]no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. [1:17]If therefore you regard me as a friend receive him as myself. [1:18]If he injured you, or owes you any thing, set it to my account. [1:19]I, Paul, have written with my hand; I will pay; not to tell you that you owe yourself to me. [1:20]Yes, brother, let me be profited by you in the Lord; refresh my soul in Christ.

3 [1:21]I have written to you, having confidence in your obedience, knowing that you will do even more than I say. [1:22]But at the same time also prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you. [1:23]Epaphras, who is my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, [1:24]Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-laborers, salute you. [1:25]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25:4.)