The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

COLOSSIANS.

Here bigynneth the prologe on Colosencis [From e. Jeroms prologe on Colocencis. E. The prolog of the epistle to Colocensis. N. Heere sueth the prolog on the pistle to Colocensis. R. Prologus. T. No initial rubric in CIKMQUXacf.] .

COLOCENSIS ben also Laodicensis. These ben of Asie, and thei hadden be disseyued bi [of Eeko.] false apostlis. The apo|stle [postle CEIKQUXabcgoα.] hym silf cam not to hem, but he bringith hem aȝen to correccioun bi epi|stle; for thei hadden herd the word of Archippus, that hadde vndurfonge the mynysterie in to hem. Therfor the apostle [postle g.] , now boundun, wroot to hem from Effesie bi Titicus, the dekene, and Onesimus, the acolit.

Jerome in his prolog on this epistle seith this [From CMNUabchkoα. Jerom in his prologe seith al this. K. Here endith the prologe on this pistle, and here bigynneth the pistle to Colocensis. M. Jerom in his prolog on this pistle seith al this. Q. Thus endith the prolog, and bigynneth the pistle. R. Jerom in his prologe on the pistle of Poul to Colocencis seith al this. X. Here endeth the prologe, and bigynneth the pistil to Colociensis. g. No final rubric in AEITef.] .

[Here bigynneth the pistle to Colocensis [Poulis epistle to Colocencis. E. Here biginneth the pistle. I. Here bigynneth the pistil of Colosencis. e. No initial rubric in CKMQRUXabcghko.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] Poul, apostle [the apostle EQgh k sec. m. α.] of `Crist Jhesu [Jhesu Crist ERCOβ.] , bi the [verse 2] wille of God, and Tymothe, brother, to hem that ben at Colose, hooli and feith|ful [verse 3] britheren in Crist Jhesu, grace and

pees to ȝou of God oure fadir and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. We don thankyngis to God, and to the fader of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, euermore preiynge for ȝou, [verse 4] herynge ȝoure feith in Crist Jhesu, and the loue that ȝe han to alle hooli men, [verse 5] for the hope that is kept to ȝou in heuenes. Which ȝe herden in the word of [verse 6] treuthe of the gospel, that cam to ȝou, as also it is in al the world, and makith fruyt, and wexith, as in ȝou, fro that dai in which ȝe herden and knewen the grace of God in treuthe. [verse 7] As ȝe lerneden of Epafras, oure felawe most dereworthe, which is a trewe mynystre of Jhesu [verse 8] Crist for ȝou; which also schewide to vs ȝoure louyng in spirit. [verse 9] Therfor [And therfore R.] we fro the dai in which we herden, ceessen [ceesiden b.] not to preye for ȝou, and to axe, that ȝe be fillid [fulfillid k pr. m.] with the knowing of his wille in al wisdom and goostli vndurstondyng; [verse 10] that ȝe walke worthili to God plesynge bi alle thingis, and make fruyt in al good werk, and wexe in [in to k.] the science of [verse 11] God, and ben coumfortid in al vertu bi the miȝt of his clerenesse, in al pacience [verse 12] and long abiding with ioye, that ȝe do thankyngis to God and to the fadir, which made ȝou worthi in to the part of eritage of hooli men in liȝt. [verse 13] Which delyueride vs fro the power of derk|nessis, and translatide in to the kyng|dom [verse 14] of the sone of his louyng, in whom we han aȝenbiyng and remyssioun [remissiouns k.] of synnes. [verse 15] Which is the ymage of God vnuysible [inuisible a.] , the first bigetun of ech crea|ture. [verse 16] For in hym alle thingis ben maad, in heuenes and in erthe, visible and vn|uysible [inuisible a.] , ether trones, ether domina|ciouns, ether princehodes, ethir poweris, alle thingis ben maad of nouȝt bi hym,

[verse 17] and in hym, and he is bifor alle, and alle thingis ben in hym. [verse 18] And he is heed of the bodi of the chirche; which is the bigynnyng and the firste bigetun of deede men, that he holde the firste dig|nyte in alle thingis. [verse 19] For in hym it ples|ide [verse 20] al plente to inhabite, and bi hym alle thingis to be recounselid in to hym, and made pees bi the blood of his cros, tho thingis that ben in erthis, ether that ben in heuenes. [verse 21] And whanne ȝe weren sumtyme aliened, and enemyes bi wit in [verse 22] yuele werkis, now he hath recounselid ȝou in the bodi of his fleisch bi deth, to haue ȝou hooli, and vnwemmyd, and with out repreef bifor hym. [verse 23] If netheles ȝe dwellen in the feith, foundid, and stable, and vnmouable fro the hope of the gos|pel that ȝe han herd, which is prechid in al creature that is vndur heuene. Of [verse 24] which Y Poul am maad mynystre [a mynistre I.] , and now Y haue ioye in [in the K pr. m. R.] passioun for ȝou, and Y fille tho thingis that failen [failiden k.] of the [Om. E.] passiouns of Crist in my fleisch, for his bodi, that is the chirche. [verse 25] Of which Y Poul am maad mynystre bi the dis|pensacioun of God, that is ȝouun to me [verse 26] in ȝou, that Y fille the word of God, the priuyte, that was hid fro worldis and generaciouns. But now it is schewid to [verse 27] his seyntis, to whiche [whom I.] God wold make knowun the richessis of the glorie of this sacrament in hethene men, which is Crist in ȝou, the hope of glorie. [verse 28] Whom we [ȝe I pr. m.] schewen, repreuynge ech man, and techinge `ech man [alle men Q.] in al wisdom, that we offre ech man perfit in Crist Jhesu. [verse 29] In which thing also Y trauele in stryu|ynge bi the worching of hym, that he worchith in me in vertu.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] But Y wole that ȝe wite, what bisy|nesse Y haue for ȝou, and for hem that ben at Laodice, and whiche euere saien [verse 2] not my face in fleisch, that her hertis ben coumfortid, and thei ben tauȝt in charite, in to alle the richessis of the plente of the [Om. EIKRbcehk sec. m. Oαβ.] vndurstondyng, in to the knowyng of mysterie of God, the fadir [verse 3] of Jhesu Crist, in whom alle the tre|souris of wisdom and of science ben hid. [verse 4] For this thing Y seie, that no man dis|seyue ȝou in heiȝthe of wordis. [verse 5] For thouȝ Y be absent in bodi, bi spirit Y am with ȝou, ioiynge and seynge ȝoure ordre and the sadnesse of ȝoure bileue that is in Crist. [verse 6] Therfor as ȝe han takun Jhesu [verse 7] Crist oure Lord, walke ȝe in hym, and be ȝe rootid and bieldid aboue in hym, and confermyd in the bileue, as ȝe han lerud [lernd Kc passim. lerned alii.] , aboundinge in hym in doynge of thankyngis. [verse 8] Se ȝe that no man dis|seyue ȝou bi filosofie and veyn fallace, aftir the tradicioun of men, aftir the ele|mentis of the world, and not aftir Crist. [verse 9] For in hym dwellith bodilich al the ful|nesse of the [Om. EI pr. m. Qgα.] Godhed. [verse 10] And ȝe ben fillid in hym, that is heed of al principat and power. [verse 11] In whom also ȝe ben circumcidid in circumcisioun not maad with hoond, in dispoyling [ether nakidnesse K marg.] of the bodi of fleisch, but [verse 12] in circumcisioun of Crist; and ȝe ben biried togidere with hym in baptim, in whom also ȝe han rise aȝen bi feith of the worching of God, that reiside hym fro deth. [verse 13] And whanne ȝe weren deed in giltis [ȝoure giltis k.] , and in the [Om. ca.] prepucie of ȝoure

fleisch, he quikenyde togidere ȝou with hym; [verse 14] forȝyuynge to ȝou alle giltis, [ether synne K marg.] doynge awei that writing of [of the gk.] decre [ether doom K marg.] that was aȝens vs, that was contrarie to vs; and he took awei that fro the myddil, pitchinge it on the cros; [verse 15] and he spuylide principatis and poweris, and ledde out tristili, opynli ouercomynge hem in hym silf. [verse 16] Therfor no man iuge ȝou in mete, or in drink, or in part of feeste dai, or of neomenye, [neomenye, eithir newe moon R.] [verse 17] or of sabatis, whiche ben schadewe of thingis to comynge; for the bodi is of Crist. [verse 18] No man disseuye ȝou, willynge to teche in mekenesse, and religioun of aungelis, tho thingis whiche he hath not seyn, walkinge veynli, [and veynly b.] bolnyd with wit of his fleisch, [verse 19] and not holdynge the heed, of which al the bodi, bi boondis and ioynyngis togidere vndur mynystrid and maad, wexith in to encreessing of God. [verse 20] For if ȝe ben deed with Crist fro the elementis of this [the k.] world, what ȝit as men lyuynge to the world demen ȝe? [verse 21] That ȝe touche not, nether taaste, [verse 22] nether trete with hoondis tho thingis, whiche alle ben in to deth bi the ilke vss, aftir the comaundementis and the [Om. R.] techingis of men; [verse 23] whiche han a resoun of wisdom in veyn religioun and mekenesse, and not to spare the bodi, not in ony onour to the fulfillyng of the fleisch.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Therfor if ȝe han risun togidere with Crist, seke ȝe tho thingis that ben aboue, where Crist is sittynge in [on b.] the riȝthalf

of God. [verse 2] Sauere ȝe tho thingis, that ben aboue, not tho that ben on the [Om. EI pr. m. Q pr. m. gα.] erthe. [verse 3] For ȝe ben deed, and ȝoure lijf is hid with Crist in God. [verse 4] For whanne Crist schal appere, ȝoure lijf, thanne also ȝe schulen appere with hym in glorie. [verse 5] Therfor sle ȝe ȝoure membris, whiche ben on the erthe, fornycacioun, vnclen|nesse, letcherie, yuel coueitise, and auer|yse, [verse 6] which is seruyse of mawmetis; for whiche thingis the wraththe of God cam [verse 7] on the sones of vnbileue; in whiche also ȝe walkiden sum tyme, whanne ȝe lyueden in hem. [verse 8] But now putte ȝe awei alle thingis, wraththe, indignacioun, ma|lice, blasfemye and foule word [wordis k.] of ȝoure mouth. [verse 9] Nyle ȝe lie togidere; spuyle ȝe ȝou fro the elde man with his dedes, [verse 10] and clothe ȝe the newe man, that is maad newe aȝen in to the knowing of God, aftir the ymage of hym that made [verse 11] hym; where is not male and female, he|thene man and Jew, circumcisioun and prepucie, barbarus [barbarus, eithir straunge man R.] and Scita [Scita, eithir knowen man R.] , bonde man and fre man [Om. IR.] , but alle thingis and in alle thingis Crist. [verse 12] Therfor ȝe, as the chosun of God, hooli and louyd, clothe ȝou with the entrailis of merci, be|nygnite, and mekenesse, temperaunce, [verse 13] pacience; and support ȝe echon [ech R pr. m. gk. ech oon R sec. m. hα.] other, and forȝyue to ȝou silf, if ony man aȝens ony hath a querele; as the Lord forȝaf to ȝou, so also ȝe. [verse 14] And vpon alle these thingis haue ȝe charite, that is the boond of perfeccioun [parfitenesse R.] . [verse 15] And the pees of Crist enioye in ȝoure hertis, in which ȝe ben clepid in o bodi, and be ȝe kynde. [verse 16] The word of Crist dwelle in ȝou plenteuousli, in al wisdom; and teche and moneste

ȝou silf in salmes, and ympnes, and spiri|tual songis, in grace synginge in ȝoure hertis to the Lord. [verse 17] Al thing, what euere thing [thingis R pr. m.] ȝe don, in word or in dede, alle thingis in the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, doynge thankyngis to God and to the fadir bi hym. [verse 18] Wymmen, be ȝe su|getis [suget CEIKMQRUXabceghkoαβ.] to ȝoure hosebondis, as it bihoueth in the Lord. [verse 19] Men, loue ȝe ȝoure wyues, and nyle ȝe be [Om. Qh pr. m.] bittere to hem. [verse 20] Sones, obeie ȝe to ȝoure fadir and modir bi alle thingis; for this is wel plesinge in the Lord. [verse 21] Fadris, nyle ȝe terre ȝoure sones to [in to ko.] indignacioun, that thei be not maad [ymaad a.] feble hertid. [verse 22] Seruauntis, obeie ȝe bi alle thingis to fleischli lordis, not seruynge at iȝe [the iȝe Rk sec. m. β.] , as plesynge to men, but in sym|plenesse of herte, dredinge the Lord. [verse 23] What euer ȝe doen, worche ȝe of wille, [verse 24] as to the Lord and not to men; witinge that of the Lord ȝe schulen take ȝelding of eritage. Serue ȝe to the Lord Crist. [verse 25] For he that doith iniurie [that is, wrong e marg.] , schal resseyue that that he dide yuele; and accepta|cioun [accepcioun CEIKMQRUXabceghkoαβ.] of persoones is not anentis God.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] Lordis, ȝyue ȝe to seruauntis that that is iust and euene, witinge that also ȝe han a Lord in heuene. [verse 2] Be ȝe bisi in preier, and wake in it, in doynge of [verse 3] thankyngis; and preie [preieth E. preie ȝe R.] ech for othere, and for vs, that God opene to vs the dore of word, to speke the misterie [mynysterie bek.] of [verse 4] Crist; for which also Y am boundun, that Y

schewe it, so as it bihoueth me to speke. [verse 5] Walke ȝe in wisdom to hem that ben with outen forth, aȝenbiynge tyme. [verse 6] Ȝoure word be sauered in [with gk.] salt eueremore in grace; that ȝe wite, hou it bihoueth ȝou to answere to ech man. [verse 7] Titicus, most dere brother, and feithful mynyster, and my felowe in the Lord, schal make alle thingis knowun to ȝou, that ben aboute me. [verse 8] Whom Y sente to ȝou to this same thing, that he knowe what thingis ben aboute ȝou, and coumforte ȝoure hertis, [verse 9] with Onesyme, most [my moost k.] dere and feithful brother, which is of ȝou; whiche schulen make alle thingis that ben doon here, knowun to ȝou. [verse 10] Aristark, prisoner with me, gretith ȝou wel, and Mark, the co|syn of Barnabas, of whom ȝe han take maundementis; if he come to ȝou, res|seyue [verse 11] ȝe hym; and Jhesus, that is seid Just; whiche ben of circumcisioun; thei aloone ben myn helperis in the kingdom of God, that weren to me in solace. [verse 12] Epafras, that is of ȝou, the seruaunt of Jhesu Crist, gretith ȝou wel; euere bisi for ȝou in preyeris, that ȝe stonde perfit and ful in al the wille of God. [verse 13] And Y bere witnessyng to hym, that he hath myche trauel for ȝou, and for hem that ben at Loadice [Laodice C et alii.] , and that ben at Ierapo|lim. [verse 14] Luk, the leche most dere, and De|mas, greten ȝou wel. [verse 15] Grete ȝe wel the britheren that ben at Loadice [Laodice C et alii.] , and the womman Nynfam, and the chirche that is in hir hous. [verse 16] And whanne this pistle is red among ȝou, do ȝe, that it be red in the chirche of Loadicensis [Laodicencis C et alii.] ; and rede ȝe that pistle that is of [at b.] Loadicensis [Laodicencis C et alii.] . [verse 17] And seie ȝe to Archippus, Se the myn|ysterie, that thou hast takun in the Lord, that thou fille it. [verse 18] My salutacioun, bi the hoond of Poul. Be ȝe myndeful of my

boondis. The grace of the [oure I.] Lord Jhesu Crist [Om. EQRbceghko.] be with ȝou. Amen.

Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and bigynneth the [a α.] prologe on the firste pistle to Tessalonicensis [From CIQXacα. Here endeth the pistle to Colocensis; se now the prologe of the firste pistel to Tessalonicensis. K. Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and here bigynneth the prologe on the pistle to Tessalonicensis. Mgo. Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and here bigynneth the firste pistle to Tessalonycensis, with the prologe. U. Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and here begynneth the prologe on the firste pistle to Tessalonycensis. b. Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and bigynneth the prolog to Tessalonicensis. h. Heere endith the pistle to Colocensis, and bigynneth the prologe to Laodi|censis. m. Here eendith the pistil to [the X] Colosensis, and bigynneth a prolog on the pistil to Laodisensis. PX. Here eendith the pistil to Colosensis, and bigynneth the prolog on the pistil to Laodicensis. S. Here endith the pistil to Colocensis, and biginneth the pistil to Laodicensis. W. No final rubric in AERek.] .