Chapter I.—Reason of writing the epistle.

Having been informed of your godly⁶³²⁶³²    Literally, “according to God.” love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For as one who has been thought worthy of the most honourable of all names,⁶³³⁶³³    Literally, “of the most God-becoming name,” referring either to the appellation “Theophorus,” or to that of “martyr” or “confessor.” in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, the constant source of our life, and of faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred, but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world, and escape them, we shall enjoy God.

Having been informed of your godly⁶³⁴⁶³⁴    Literally, “according to God.” love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For as one who has been thought worthy of a divine and desirable name, in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, “who is the Saviour of all men, but specially of them that believe;”⁶³⁵⁶³⁵    1 Tim. iv. 10. by whose blood ye were redeemed; by whom ye have known God, or rather have been known by Him;⁶³⁶⁶³⁶    Comp. Gal. iv. 9. in whom enduring, ye shall escape all the assaults of this world: for “He is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able.”⁶³⁷⁶³⁷    1 Cor. x. 13.