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there is neither male nor female: for ye all are one in Christ Jesus. 29 But if ye be Christ's, then ye are the seed of Abraham, [and] heirs according to the promise.

law, which was four hundred
and thirty years after, doth not
disannul, so as to make the
promise of none effect. 18 For
if the inheritance be from law,
it is no more from promise: but
God freely gave it to Abraham
by promise. 19 To what pur-
pose then was the law? It was
added because of transgressions,
till the seed should come, to
whom the promise was made;
and it was ministered by mes-time
sengers through the hand of a 3 So
mediator. 20 Now a mediator were
is not a mediator of one; but
God is one.

CH. IV. 1 Now, I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he is to be master of all; 2 but is under tutors and guardians, until the appointed by his father. we, likewise, when we children, were in servitude under the elements of the world: 4 but when the fulness 21 Is the law then against of the time was come, God the promises of God? By no sent forth his Son, born of a means for if a law had been woman,* born under the law, given, which could have be 5 to redeem those who were stowed life, then truly justifica-under the law, that we might tion would have been from the receive the adoption of sons. law. 22 But the scripture hath 6 And because ye are sons, included all together under sin, God hath sent forth the spirit that the promise, through faith of his Son into our hearts, cryin Jesus Christ, might be given ing," Abba, Father." 7 Whereto those who believe. 23 But before thou art no more a servant, fore faith came, we were kept under the law, included together to the faith which was afterward to be revealed. 24 So that the law was our instructor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified through faith. 25 But now faith is come, we are no longer under an instructor. 26 For ye are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized to Christ, have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free-man,

but a son; and if a son, then an heir [of God, through Christ].

8 AT that time, however, when ye knew not God, ye did slavish service to those who by nature are not gods: 9 but now, after ye have known God, or rather have been known by Him, why is it ye again turn to the weak and beggarly elements to which ye desire to be again in servitude? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. 11 I fear concerning you, lest I have bestowed on you labour in vain.

"The phrase, born of a woman,' bears no allusion to the supposed miraculous conception of Christ. It is a common Jewish phrase to express a proper human being. See Job. xiv. 1 ; xv. 14; xxv. 4. Matth. xi. 11. Luke vii. 28." Im. Ver. note.

12 Brethren, I beseech you, | 24 Which things are spoken

be as I am; for I also was as ye are: ye have wronged me in nothing. 13 But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at first: 14 and my trial, which was in my flesh, ye did not set at naught nor scorn: but ye received me as a messenger of God, or even as Christ Jesus. 15 What then [were] your congratulations? for I bear you witness that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I speak to you the truth? 17 Some zealously affect you, but not well: yea, they desire to exclude you, that ye may zealously affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected towards a good man at all times; and not merely when I am present with you. 19 My dear children, of whom I again travail in birth, until Christ be formed in you; 20 I could wish, indeed, to be present with you now, and to change my voice: for I am exceedingly in doubt concerning you.

21 TELL me, ye who desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; one by a bond-woman, and another by a free-woman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh; whereas he of the free-woman was by promise.

by me allegorically: for these women signify the two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai, bearing children to servitude, which is Agar: 25 (for this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the Jerusalem which now is: for she is in servitude with her children:) 26 but the Jerusalem from above, is the freewoman, who is our mother.

27 For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren, who bearest not; break forth and shout, thou who travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she who hath an husband."

28 Now, brethren, we, like Isaac, are the children of promise. 29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh, persecuted him who was born according to the spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? "Send forth the bond-woman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman."

31 [So then,] brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

CH. V. 1 Stand firmly, therefore, in the freedom with which Christ hath made us free,* and be not again put under the yoke of servitude.

2 BEHOLD, I Paul say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 Yea, I again testify to every

Some copies read, "we are not children of the bond-woman but of the free, with which liberty Christ hath made us free. Stand firmly, therefore, and be not," etc. See Griesbach.

man who is circumcised, that he is a debtor to perform the whole law. 4 Whosoever of you seek to be justified in the law, to such Christ is become of no effect; ye are fallen from the covenant of favour. 5 For we, by the spirit, look for the hope of justification from faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

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who

7 Once ye ran hindered you that ye might not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion came not from him who called you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I am persuaded concerning you, in the Lord, that ye will not think otherwise than I do: but he who troubleth you will sustain the condemnation, whosoever he be.

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19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, rivalries, wrath, disputes, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such-like: of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also declared before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gen11 And as to myself, breth-tleness, goodness, faithfulness, ren, if I still preach circumci- meekness, temperance: 23 sion, why do I still suffer per- against such things there is secution? then indeed would no law. the stumbling-block of the cross be done away.

12 I could even wish that they who disturb you were cut off.

24 Now those who are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the spirit, let us also walk by the spirit. 26 Let us not be vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

13 FOR, brethren, ye have been called to freedom: only use not freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve CH. VI. 1 Brethren, if a man one another. 14 For all the law be even discovered in any of is fulfilled in one command- fence, ye, who are spiritual, ment, even in this ; " Thou shalt should restore such an one in love thy neighbour as thyself." the spirit of meekness; consi15 But if ye bite and devour dering thyself, lest thou also be one another, take heed that ye tempted. 2 Bear ye one anbe not consumed by one an-other's burdens; and thus ful

other.

fil the law of Christ. 3 For if

any one think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every one try his own work; and then he will have boasting in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every one will bear his own burden.

6 Now let him who is taught this doctrine, make him who teacheth partaker in all good things. 7 Be not deceived: God is not deluded: for whatsoever a man soweth, that will he also reap. 8 For he who soweth to his own flesh, from the flesh will reap corruption: but he who soweth to the spirit, from the spirit will reap aionian life. 9 And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due time we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have opportunity, therefore, let us do good to all; but especially to those who are of the household of faith.

:

11 YE see how large a letter I have written to you with

mine own. hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, such would compel you to be circumcised, only lest they should be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither do they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me, that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom a world is crucified to me, and I to [the] world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision any thing, nor uncircumcision; but a new creation. 16 And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 Henceforth let no one trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the [Lord] Jesus. 18 Brethren, the favour of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS.

CHAP. I.

1 PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, to the saints, and faithful in Christ

Jesus, who are in Ephesus :* 2 favour be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

* The words & Eper, (in Ephesus,) are wanting in one manuscript: they were also wanting in some ancient copies in the time of Basil, in the fourth century. Marcion's copy reads "Laodicea." And though the external evidence is very great in favour of Ephesus, vet Mill, Benson, Paley, and many others think it probable that this letter was addressed by Paul to the Laodiceans, and is alluded to Col. iv. 16. It is indeed hardly possible, that the apostle should have dictated a letter to a society of Christians amongst whom he had resided

3 BLESSED be the God and own will: 12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, having first hoped in Christ: 13 in whom ye also, having trusted,

truth, the glad tidings of your salvation,) in whom, I say, ye also, having trusted, have been sealed with the holy spirit of promise, 14 (which is the earnest of our inheritance,) to the redemption of the pur-> chased possession, to the praise of his glory.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us, with every spiritual blessing in heavenly things, in Christ: 4 accord-(after ye heard the word of ing as he chose us, in him, before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy and spotless before him in love: 5 having predestinated us to the adoption of sons, through Jesus Christ, to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious favour, with which 15 WHEREFORE I, also, havhe hath highly favoured us in ing heard of your faith in the the beloved: 7 in whom we Lord Jesus, and love towards have redemption through his all the saints, 16 cease not to blood, even forgiveness of our give thanks for you; making offences, according to the mention of you in my prayers, riches of his favour; 8 in which 17 that the God of our Lord he hath abounded towards us Jesus Christ, the Father of in all wisdom and prudence; glory, may give you a spirit 9 having made known to us the of wisdom and of revelation, mystery of his will, according in the knowledge of him: 18 to his good pleasure, which he that, the eyes of your mind purposed in himself 10 con- being enlightened, ye may cerning the dispensation of the know what is the hope of his fulness of times, that he would having called you, [and] what gather togethert to himself, in are the glorious riches of his one, all things in Christ, which inheritance among the saints; are in the heavens, and which 19 and what is the exceeding are on the earth, even in him; 11 greatness of his power towards in whom we have also obtained us who believe, according to an inheritance, having been pre- the working of his mighty destinated according to the pur-strength, 20 which he wrought pose of him who worketh all in Christ, when he raised him things after the counsel of his from the dead, and seated him

three years, without once alluding to that circumstance, or to any of the extraordinary events which had occurred during his abode in Ephesus. See Acts xix. 2 Cor. i. 8. 1 Cor. xv. 32. Paley's Hor. Paul. p. 242." Im. Ver. note.

By the terms we and us, the apostle often speaks affectionately of the gentiles. See Locke. Their redemption signifies their deliverance from idolatry and vice: this was through the blood of Christ, by whose death the new covenant was ratified. The forgiveness of sin was transferring them from a heathen state, in which they are represented as sinners, to a covenant and privileged state, in which they are said to be justified and holy.

The primary signification of the word avaxɛpaλalow, which the apostle here uses, is, to sum up an account, or, to reduce many sums to one. See Schleusner.

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