in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, tender love and mercy,

Be filled with my joy, that ye be of one mind, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind,

Do nothing by quarreling or vain glory, but by humility esteem one another better than yourselves.

And every man look not to his own, but to the things of others.
(Epistle on Palm Sunday.)

Let every man be of the same mind as Jesus Christ was,

Which, though he were in the form of God, yet did he not think it robbery to be equal with God,

But emptied himself, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made like unto another man, and was found in the likeness of men;

And humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name,

That at the name of JEsu all the knees of them which are in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth, should bow,

and let every tongue confess that JEsus Christ is the LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father].

So then, my beloved, as ye have always been obedient, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence: work out that ye may be saved with fear and trembling.

For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do, according to his good pleasure.

do everything without murmuring and without doubt,

That ye may be blameless, pure, and children of God, blameless in the midst of the unrighteous and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

That ye may keep the word of life, for a glory unto me in the day of Christ, as I have not walked in vain, nor labored in vain.

And if I be offered above the sacrifice and worship of your faith, I will rejoice and be glad with you all.

In the same ye shall rejoice, and be glad with me.

But I hope in JESUS the Lord, that I shall send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be refreshed, when I shall know how ye are.

For I have no man that is so much of my mind, that careth so earnestly for you.

For they all seek their own, not Christ’s JEsu.

But ye know that he is righteous: for as a child unto his father he hath served the gospel with me.

The same, I hope, will I send from this hour, when I have found out how I am.

But I trust in the LORD, that I myself also shall come shortly.

But I have thought it necessary to send unto you the brother Epaphroditus, who is my helpmate and companion, and your apostle, and the minister of my need, 26. Because he longed after you all, and was greatly grieved that ye had heard that he was sick.

And though he was sick unto death, yet God had mercy upon him, and not upon him only, but upon me also, that I might not have one sorrow upon another.

But I have sent him the more quickly, that ye may see him, and be glad again, and that I also may have less sorrow.

Receive ye him therefore in the LORD with all joy, and cherish it.

For because of the work of Christ he came so near to death, having little thought of his life, that he might serve me in your stead.
(Philippians)
Chapter 3
Of the righteousness of faith against false apostles.

Further, brethren, rejoice in the Lord. That I write unto you always one thing doth not grieve me, and maketh you the more sure.

Behold the dogs, behold the evil workers, behold the cutting in pieces!

For we are the circumcision, which serve God in the Spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and lean not on the flesh.

Though I also have a desire to glory in the flesh. If another man thinketh that he may glory in the flesh, I much more,

Circumcised on the eighth day, one of the people of Israel, of the family of Benjamin, an Ebraite of the Ebraites, and a Pharisee according to the law,

according to zeal a persecutor of the church, according to righteousness in the law having been blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ’s sake.

For I reckon all things as evil against the abundant knowledge of JESUS Christ my Lord, for which I have reckoned all things as evil, and reckon them as filth, that I might win Christ.

and be found in him, that I have not my righteousness which is of the law, but which is by faith in Christ, even the righteousness that is imputed of God unto faith, 10. To know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, that I might be made like unto his death,

That I may come forth to the resurrection of the dead.

Not that I have already apprehended it, or am already perfected: but I pursue after it, if I may apprehend it, after that I am apprehended of Christ JESUS.

My brethren, I count not myself yet to have apprehended it. But I say this: I forget what is behind and reach out to what is ahead,

and pursue after the set purpose, after the jewel which holds forth the heavenly calling of GOD in Christ JEsu.

As many therefore as are perfect among us, let us be so minded. And if ye hold any other thing, let God reveal it unto you,

But so far that we walk after one rule, whereunto we are come, and are of the same mind.
(Epistle on the twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.)

Follow me, brethren, and observe them which walk so as ye have us for an example.

For many walk, of whom I have often told you, but now I say also with weeping: The enemies of the cross of Christ;

Which end is damnation, whose belly is their God, and their glory is put to shame, of them that are earthly minded.

But our walk is in heaven, from whence also we wait for the Saviour JESUS CHRIST the LORD,

Who shall transfigure our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorified body, according to the working, that he may also subdue all things unto him].
(Philippians)
Chapter 4
Of the steadfastness and spiritual joy of the Christian, of the Philippian good, Paul proved.

Therefore, my dear and beloved brethren, my joy and my crown, consist ye therefore in the Lord.

The Evodia I exhort, and the Syntyche I exhort, that they may be of one mind in the Lord.

Yea, I beseech thee also, my faithful companion, help them which have fought with me concerning the gospel, with Clement, and with the rest of my helpers, whose names are in the book of life.
(Epistle on the fourth Sunday of Advent.)

Rejoice in the LORD always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your wisdom be known unto all men. The Lord is near.

do not be anxious about anything, but in all things let your petition be made known before God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

And the peace of God, which is above all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus].

Further, brethren, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honourable, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is chaste, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is good, whatsoever is virtue, whatsoever is praise, think on these things.

All things whatsoever ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen of me, do; and the LORD of peace shall be with you.

But I am glad in the Lord, because ye have been able to take care of me again, though ye have taken care of me in every way: but the time hath not suffered.

I say not this because of want: for I have learned to be content with them with whom I am.

I can be low, and I can be high; I am skillful in all things, and in all things; both to be full, and to hunger; both to have left, and to lack.

I can do all things through him who makes me mighty, Christ.

But ye have done well that ye have taken heed to my affliction.

But ye of Philippi know that from the beginning of the gospel, when I went forth out of Macedonia, no church divided with me according to the account of the issue and the income, but ye only.

For unto Thessalonica ye sent for my need once, and afterward once.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit, that it may be superfluous in your reckoning.

For I have all things, and have superfluous. I am fulfilled, because I received through
Epaphroditus that which came from you, a sweet savour, a pleasing sacrifice, acceptable unto God.

But let my God satisfy all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ JESUS.

But unto God and unto our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hail all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.

All the saints salute you, and especially those of the emperor’s house.

the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Written from Rome by Epaphroditus.
Text of the unrevised Luther Bible 1545
[Processed by BackToLuther. German text published here.]
The letter of Paul to the Colossians ^
Chapter 1
Salvation, obtained through Christ, is offered to men by the Word.

Paul, an apostle of JEsu Christ by the will of GOD, and brother Timothy: 2. to the saints of Colosse and to the believing brethren in Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks to God and to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we pray for