And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.

Therefore [on the basis of these facts], though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is appropriate,

yet out of [mutual] love, I appeal to you [to do what I ask]. For I Paul, am an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. [Note: Most calculations suggest that Paul was approximately 60 years old, which was considered a relatively advanced age in that day].

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.