Saying, that he thanketh God for their excellent faith and charity, and continually prayeth for their increase, he doth withal give witness to the preaching of their Apostle Epaphras, and extolleth the grace of God in bringing them to Christ, who is chief above all, and peacemaker by his blood. This is the Gospel was not of Epaphras alone, but of the universal Church, and of Paul himself who also suffereth for it.Saying, that he thanketh God for their excellent faith and charitie, and continually praieth for their encrease, he doeth vvithal giue vvitnes to the preaching of their Apostle Epaphras, and extolleth the grace of God in bringing them to Christ, vvho is cheefe aboue al, and peacemaker by his bloud. This is the Gospel vvas not of Epaphras alone, but of the vniuersal Church, and of Paul him self vvho also suffereth for it.✦
Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy:PAVL an Apostle of IESVS Christ by the vvil of God, and brother Timothee:✦Paulus Apostolus Jesu Christi per voluntatem Dei, et Timotheus frater :
2to them that are at Colossa saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus.to them that are at Colossa sainctes and faithful brethren in Christ IESVS.✦eis, qui sunt Colossis, sanctis, et fidelibus fratribus in Christo Jesu.
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ always for you, praying:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord IESVS Christ. Vve giue thankes to God and the Father of our Lord IESVS Christ alvvaies for you, praying:✦Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo. Gratias agimus Deo, et Patri Domini nostri Jesu Christi semper pro vobis orantes :
4hearing your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love which you have toward all the saints,hearing your faith in Christ IESVS, and the loue vvhich you haue tovvard al the sainctes,✦audientes fidem vestram in Christo Jesu, et dilectionem quam habetis in sanctos omnes
5for the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard in the word of the truth of the Gospel,for the hope that is laid vp for you in heauen, vvhich you haue heard in the vvord of the truth of the Gospel,✦propter spem, quæ reposita est vobis in cælis : quam audistis in verbo veritatis Evangelii :
6that is come to you, as also in the whole world it is, and fructificat: beareth fruit, is fruitful and groweth, even as in you, since that day that you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,that is come to you, as also in the vvhole vvorld it is, and fructifieth and grovveth, euen as in you, since that day that you heard & knevv the grace of God in truth,✦quod pervenit ad vos, sicut et in universo mundo est, et fructificat, et crescit sicut in vobis, ex ea die, qua audistis, et cognovistis gratiam Dei in veritate,
7as you learned of Epaphras our dearest fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Jesus Christ for you,as you learned of Epaphras our deerest fellovv-seruant, vvho is a faithful minister of IESVS Christ for you,✦sicut didicistis ab Epaphra carissimo conservo nostro, qui est fidelis pro vobis minister Christi Jesu,
8who also hath manifested to us your love in spirit.vvho also hath manifested to vs your loue in spirit.✦qui etiam manifestavit nobis dilectionem vestram in spiritu.
9Therefore we also from the day that we heard it, cease not praying for you and desiring, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom, and spiritual understanding:Therfore b vve also from the day that vve heard it, cease not praying for you and desiring, that you may be filled vvith the knovvledge of his vvil, in al vvisedom, and spiritual vnderstanding:✦Ideo et nos ex qua die audivimus, non cessamus pro vobis orantes, et postulantes ut impleamini agnitione voluntatis ejus, in omni sapientia et intellectu spiritali :
10that you may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing: Fructifying in all good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God:that you may vvalke c vvorthie of God, in al things pleasing: Fructifying in e al good vvorke, & increasing in the knovvledge of God:✦ut ambuletis digne Deo per omnia placentes : in omni opere bono fructificantes, et crescentes in scientia Dei :
11in all power strengthened according to the might of his glory, in all patience and longanimitate: long-suffering, patient forbearance with joy,in al povver strengthened according to the might of his glorie, in al patience and longanimitie vvith ioy,✦in omni virtute confortati secundum potentiam claritatis ejus, in omni patientia et longanimitate cum gaudio,
12giving thanks to God and the Father, who hath made us worthy unto the part of the sortis: portion, allotted inheritance of the saints in the light:giuing thankes to God and the Father, vvho hath made vs vvorthy vnto the part of the lot of the sainctes in the light:✦gratias agentes Deo Patri, qui dignos nos fecit in partem sortis sanctorum in lumine :
13who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the son of his love,vvho hath deliuered vs from the povver of darkenes, and hath translated vs into the kingdom of the sonne of his loue,✦qui eripuit nos de potestate tenebrarum, et transtulit in regnum filii dilectionis suæ,
14in whom we have redemption, the remission of sins:in vvhom vve haue redemption, the remission of sinnes:✦in quo habemus redemptionem per sanguinem ejus, remissionem peccatorum :
15who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creaturæ: creation, all created things:vvho is the * image of the inuisible God, the first-borne of al creature:✦qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus omnis creaturæ :
16because in him were created all things in heaven, and in earth, visible, and invisible, whether Thrones, or Dominations, or Principalities, or potestates: Powers, an order of Angels: all by him and in him were created:because * in him vvere created al things in heauen, and in earth, visible, and inuisible, vvhether Thrones, or Dominations, or Principalities, or Potestates: al by him & in him vvere created:✦quoniam in ipso condita sunt universa in cælis, et in terra, visibilia, et invisibilia, sive throni, sive dominationes, sive principatus, sive potestates : omnia per ipsum et in ipso creata sunt :
17and he is before all, and all constant: hold together, are sustained : not are composed of in him.and he is before al, and al consist in him.✦et ipse est ante omnes, et omnia in ipso constant.
18And he is the head of the body, the CHURCH, who is the beginning, first-born of the dead: that he may be in all things holding the primacy:And he is the head of the body, the CHVRCH, vvho is the beginning, first-borne of the dead: that he may be in al things holding the primacie:✦Et ipse est caput corporis Ecclesiæ, qui est principium, primogenitus ex mortuis : ut sit in omnibus ipse primatum tenens :
19because in him it hath well pleased, all fullness to inhabit:because in him it hath vvel pleased, al fulnes to inhabite:✦quia in ipso complacuit, omnem plenitudinem inhabitare :
20and by him to reconcile all things unto himself, pacifying by the blood of his cross, whether the things in earth, or the things that are in heaven.and by him to reconcile al things vnto him self, pacifying by the bloud of his crosse, vvhether the things in earth, or the things that are in heauen.✦et per eum reconciliare omnia in ipsum, pacificans per sanguinem crucis ejus, sive quæ in terris, sive quæ in cælis sunt.
21And you, whereas you were aliquando: formerly, once alienated and enemies in sensu: mind, understanding, in evil works:And you, vvheras you vvere sometime alienated and enemies in sense, in euil vvorkes:✦Et vos cum essetis aliquando alienati, et inimici sensu in operibus malis :
22yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh by death, to present you holy and immaculate, and blameless before him:yet novv he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh by death, to present you holy & immaculate, and blameles before him:✦nunc autem reconciliavit in corpore carnis ejus per mortem, exhibere vos sanctos, et immaculatos, et irreprehensibiles coram ipso :
23if yet ye continue in the faith, grounded and stable, and unmoveable from the hope of the Gospel which you have heard, which is preached among all creatures that are under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.if yet ye cōtinue in the faith, grounded and stable, and vnmoueable from the hope of the Gospel vvhich you haue heard, vvhich is preached among al creatures that are vnder heauen, vvherof I Paul am made a minister.✦si tamen permanetis in fide fundati, et stabiles, et immobiles a spe Evangelii, quod audistis, quod prædicatum est in universa creatura, quæ sub cælo est, cujus factus sum ego Paulus minister.
24Who now rejoice in suffering for you, and do accomplish those things that desunt: are lacking, are wanting : not desire of the passions of Christ, in my flesh for his body, which is the CHURCH:Vvho novv reioyce in suffering for you, and do accomplish those things that vvant of the passions of Christ, in my flesh for his body, vvhich is the CHVRCH:¶✦Qui nunc gaudeo in passionibus pro vobis, et adimpleo ea quæ desunt passionum Christi, in carne mea pro corpore ejus, quod est Ecclesia :
25whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me toward you, that I may fulfil the word of God,vvherof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, vvhich is giuen me tovvard you, that I may fulfil the vvord of God,✦cujus factus sum ego minister secundum dispensationem Dei, quæ data est mihi in vos, ut impleam verbum Dei :
26the mystery that hath been hidden from worlds and generations, but now is manifested to his saints,the mysterie that hath been hidden from vvorldes and generations, but novv is manifested to his sainctes,✦mysterium, quod absconditum fuit a sæculis, et generationibus, nunc autem manifestatum est sanctis ejus,
27to whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this sacramenti: mystery, the hidden mystery in the Gentiles, which is Christ, in you the hope of glory,to vvhō God vvould make knovven the riches of the glorie of this sacrament in the Gentiles, vvhich is Christ, in you the hope of glorie,✦quibus voluit Deus notas facere divitias gloriæ sacramenti hujus in gentibus, quod est Christus, in vobis spes gloriæ,
28whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:vvhom vve preache, admonishing euery man, and teaching euery man in al vvisedom, that vve may present euery man perfect in Christ IESVS:✦quem nos annuntiamus, corripientes omnem hominem, et docentes omnem hominem, in omni sapientia, ut exhibeamus omnem hominem perfectum in Christo Jesu :
29Wherein also I labour striving according to his operation which he worketh in me in power.Vvherein also I labour striuing according to his operation vvhich he vvorketh in me in povver.✦in quo et laboro, certando secundum operationem ejus, quam operatur in me in virtute.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
24Do accomplish that wanteth. As Christ the head and his body make one person mystical and one full Christ, the Church being therefore his plenitude, fullness, or complement, so the passions of the head and the afflictions of the body and members make one complete mass of passions. With such difference for all that, between the one sort and the other, as the preeminence of the head (and specially such a head) above the body, requireth and giveth. And not only those passions which he suffered in himself, which were fully ended in his death, and were in themselves fully sufficient for the redemption of the world and remission of all sins, but all those which his body and members suffer, are his also, and of him they receive the condition, quality, and force to be meritorious and satisfactory. for though there be no insufficiency in the actions or passions of Christ the head, yet his wisdom will, and justice requireth and ordaineth, that his body and members should be fellows of his passions, as they look to be fellows of his glory: that so suffering with him and by his example, they may apply to themselves and others the general medicine of Christ's merits and satisfactions, as it is effectually also applied to us by Sacraments, sacrifice, and other ways also: the one sort being no more injurious to Christ's death then the other, notwithstanding the vain clamours of the Protestants, that would under pretence of Christ's Passion, take away the value of all good deeds. Hereupon it is plain now, that this accomplishment of the wants of Christ's Passions, which the Apostle and other Saints make up in their flesh, is not meant but of the penal and satisfactory works of Christ in his members, every good man adding continually (and specially Martyrs) somewhat to accomplish the full measure thereof: and these be the plenitude of his passions and satisfactions, as the plenitude of his person: and therefore these also through the communion of Saints and the society that is not only between the head and the body, but also between one member and an other, are not only satisfactory and many ways profitable for the sufferers themselves, but also for other their fellow-members in Christ. for though one member cannot merit for an other properly, yet may one bear the burden and discharge the debt of an other, both by the law of God and nature. and it was a ridiculous Heresy of Wycliffe to deny the same. Yea (as we see here) the passions of Saints are always suffered for the common good of the whole body, and sometimes withal by the sufferers' special intention they are applicable to special persons, as here the Apostle joineth in his passions for the Colossians, in an other place his afflictions for the salvation of the Corinthians, sometimes he wisheth to be Anathema, that is (Origen's exposition in li. nu. ho. 10 & 24.) a sacrifice for the Jews, and he often speaketh of their death as of a libation, host, or offering, as the fathers do of all Martyrs' passions. All their sufferings being dedicated and sanctified in Christ's blood and sacrifice, make the plenitude of his Passion, forcible cry, intercession, and satisfaction for the Church and the particular necessity of the members, in which, as some do abound in good works and satisfactions (as S. Paul, who reckoneth up his afflictions and glorieth in them 2 Cor. 11: and Job, who avoucheth that his penalties far surmounted his sins: and our Lady much more, who never sinned, and yet suffered so great dolours) so other some do want, and are to be holpen by the abundance of their fellows. Which intercourse of spiritual offices and the recompense of the wants of one part by the fullness of the other, is the ground of the old libels of Indulgence whereof is treated before out of S. Cyprian (See the Annotations 2 Cor. 2. v. 10.) and of all indulgences or pardons, which the Church daily dispenseth with great justice and mercy, by their hands in whom Christ hath put the word of our reconcilement, to whom he hath committed the keys to keep and use, his flock to feed, his mysteries and all his goods to dispense, his power to bind and loose, to remit and retain, and the stewardship of his family to give every one their meat and sustenance in due season.Do accomplish that vvanteth. As Christ the head and his body make one person mystical and one full Christ, the Church being therfore his plenitude, fulnes, or complement so the passions of the head and the afflictions of the body and members make one complete masse of passions. Vvith such difference for al that, betvvene the one sort and the other, as the preeminence of the head (and specially such a head) aboue the body, requireth and giueth. And not only those passions vvhich he suffered in him self, vvhich vvere fully ended in his death, and vvere in them selues fully sufficient for the redemption of the vvorld & remission of al sinnes, but al those vvhich his body and members suffer, are his also, and of him they receiue the condition, qualitie, and force to be meritorious and satisfactorie. for though there be no insufficiencie in the actions or passions of Christ the head, yet his vvisedom vvil, and iustice requireth and ordaineth," that his body and members should be felovves of his passions, as they looke to be felovves of his glorie: that so suffering vvith him and by his example, they may applie to them selues and others the general medicine of Christes merites and satisfactions, as it is effectually also applied to vs by Sacraments, sacrifice, and other vvaies also: the one sort being no more iniurious to Christes death then the other, notvvithstanding the vaine clamours of the Protestants, that vvould vnder pretence of Christes Passion, take avvay the valure of al good deedes. Herevpon it is plaine novv, that this accomplishment of the vvants of Christes Passions, vvhich the Apostle and other Sainctes make vp in their flesh, is not meant but of the penal and satisfactorie vvorkes of Christ in his members, euery good man adding continually (and specially Martyrs) somevvhat to accomplish the full measure thereof: and these be the plenitude of his passions and satisfactions, as the plenitude of his person: & therfore these also through the communion of Sainctes and the societie that is not onely betvvene the head and the body, but also betvvene one member and an other, are not only satisfactorie and many vvaies profitable for the sufferers them selues, but also for other their fellovv-members in Christ. for though one member can not merite for an other properly, yet may one beare the burden and discharge the debt of an other, both by the lavv of God and nature. and it vvas a ridiculous Heresie of Vvicleffe to deny the same. Yea (as vve see here) the passions of Sainctes are alvvaies suffered for the common good of the vvhole body, and sometimes vvithal by the sufferers special intention they are applicable to special persons, as here the Apostle ioyeth in his passions for the Collossians, in an other place his afflictions for the saluation of the Corinthians, sometimes he vvisheth to be Anathema, that is (Origens exposition in li. nu. ho. 10 & 24.) a sacrifice for the Ievves, and he often speaketh of their death as of a libation, host, or offering, as the fathers do of al Martyrs passions. Al their suffrings being dedicated and sanctified in Christes bloud and sacrifice, make the plenitude of his Passion, forcible crie, intercession, and satisfaction for the Church and the particular necessitie of the members, in vvhich, as some do abound in good vvorkes and satisfactions (as S. Paul, vvho reckeneth vp his afflictions and glorieth in them 2 Cor. 11: and Iob, vvho avoucheth that his penalties farre surmounted his sinnes: and our Ladie much more, vvho neuer sinned, and yet suffered so great dolours) so other some do vvant, and are to be holpen by the aboundance of their fellovves. Vvhich entercourse of spiritual offices and the recompense of the vvants of one part by the fulnes of the other, is the ground of the old libels of Indulgence vvherof is treated before out of S. Cyprian (See the Annotations 2 Cor. 2. v. 10.) and of al indulgences or pardons, vvhich the Church daily dispenseth vvith great iustice and mercie, by their hands in vvhom Christ hath put the vvord of our reconcilement, to vvhom he hath committed the keies to keepe and vse, his flocke to feede, his mysteries and al his goods to dispense, his povver to binde and loose, to remitte and reteine, and the stevvardship of his familie to giue euery one their meate and sustenance in due season.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.