Yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you--yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.

And I am sending him back to you with this letter--though it is like tearing out of my very heart.

For my own sake I should like to keep him with me, so that, while I am in prison for the Good News, he might attend to my wants on your behalf.

It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this very reason, that you might have him back for ever,

If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me.