Translation:Epistle to the Laodiceans

For other English-language translations of this work, see Epistle to the Laodiceans.

Wycliffite Note

Laodiceans are also Collosians, as two towns and one people in manners.^[1] These are of Asia [minor],^[2] and among them had been false apostles that deceived many.^[3] Therefore the apostle brings them to mind of his conversion^[4] and true preaching of the gospel, and excites them to be steadfast in the true wisdom^[5] and love of Christ, and to be of one will. But this epistle is not in common Latin books, and therefore it was but late translated into the English tongue.^[6]

The Epistle

¹Paul apostle, not by men, nor because of man, but because of Jesus Christ,
to my brothers at Laodicea. ²Grace and the peace of God the father and the Lord, Jesus Christ be with you all. ³I thank Christ by all my prayer
that you are complete in Him, persist in carrying out His works, and abide in the promise and expectation of reward on Judgement Day. ⁴Neither have you let the false words of unwise men creep in on you,^[7]
those that would have turned you away from the truth of the gospel that I preached. ⁵God will help me to progress in the spreading of the gospel,
and to do good works for salvation and eternal life.

⁶And now I am released from the chains that I joyfully endured in Christ. ⁷This was done by your prayers and the ministry of the Holy Spirit for eternal salvation ⁸by life or by death, for, truly, to me, life is Christ and death is joy. ⁹And his mercy will work in you, so that you may learn to be in harmony.

¹⁰Therefore, beloved, do as you heard in my presence and respect God with your thoughts and actions and you will have everlasting life. ¹¹It is God that works in you, ¹²and do everything without hesitation. ¹³Beloved, have joy in Christ.

And be careful of men rotten with greed. ¹⁴Let all your petitions be public before God, and be steadfast in the wisdom of Christ. ¹⁵And do whatever is sound and true, and honorable, and just and able to be loved, ¹⁷and you will have peace. [Give my greetings to all the brothers with a holy kiss.]^[8]

¹⁸All the saints salute you. ¹⁹The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ²⁰And let this be read to the Colossians.^[9]

Footnotes

1. Laodicea and Colossae were only ten miles apart
2. Asia minor is where they were, but the original just said Asia.
3. "that deceived many"; literally "and deceived many"
4. The Middle English word could also mean "way of living" or "conversation"
5. "wisdom"; literally "wit"
6. The epistle to the Laodiceans wasn't in the early version of the Wycliffe translation(ca. 1384), but was translated in the later version(a revision ca. 1392).
7. "creep in on you" is used because the Latin word used for what the words do can also mean creep and that imagery works well in English.
8. The part in brackets was not in the oldest extant manuscript(which was used for this translation) and other sources, but is in some sources, including the one used for the previous version here
9. sometimes verse 17 is just the part in brackets, sometimes there is no verse 17, and sometimes 18-20 are numbered 17-19