The latter are motivated by love, because they know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel.

I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of, because through my boldness the Messiah will be exalted through me, now as always, whether I live or die.

Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better.

For you have been given the privilege for the Messiah's sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.

You have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear that I am still having.

Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus:

And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.

Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another.

Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved.

For it is we who are the circumcision we who worship in the Spirit of God and find our joy in the Messiah Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh,

although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so.

What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah

It's not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus.

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.

Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you.

For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah.

I urge Euodia and Syntyche to have the same attitude in the Lord.

Yes, I also ask you, my true partner, to help these women. They have worked hard with me to advance the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Now I rejoice in the Lord greatly, because once again you have shown your concern for me. Of course, you were concerned for me but you did not have an opportunity to show it.

I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in.

I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little.

I have been paid in full and have more than enough. I am fully supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus what you sent a fragrant aroma, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.