because he was nigh unto death on account of the work of Christ, having jeoparded his life, in order that he might fulfill your deficiency of ministry towards me.

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but with all boldness, as always, even now Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

But I consider my life worthy of no consideration to myself, so as to finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear testimony to the gospel of the grace of God.

But I will most delightfully spend and be spent for your souls. If the more abundantly I love you am I loved the less?

being so desirous of you, that we are anxious not only to give the gospel of God, but our own souls, because you are beloved unto us.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

In this we know the divine love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The sacrifice

But I have all things, and I abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus those things from you, an odor of a sweet savor, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

I exhort you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, your reasonable service:

that I should be the minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles may be well received, having been sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Therefore let us offer to God a sacrifice of praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, confessing to his name.

and you, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, into a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ.

I joy

My boldness to you is great, my rejoicing over you is much: I have been filled with consolation, I superabound with joy in all our tribulation.

Now I rejoice in sufferings in your behalf, and am filling up the residue of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh in behalf of his body, which is the church;

therefore we were comforted, brethren, over you in all our distress and tribulation on account of your faith;

General references

in order that your rejoicing in Christ Jesus may abound in me through my coming again unto you.