Philippians 1:3-8 - Thanksgiving

³ I thank my God [in prayer] every time I think of you. ⁴ In my every request for all of you, I make it with joy ⁵ for your sharing [with me] in [carrying on] the work of the Gospel from the first day [I left there] until now. [See 4:14-16]. ⁶ I am confident of this very thing, that God, who began something good among you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ's [return]. ⁷ It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart [i.e., you are dear to me], for you people are sharing in God's unearned favor with me [Note: Paul here refers to his ministry], both in my imprisonment and in my defense and confirmation of the Gospel [i.e., in my efforts to give proof of the Gospel's truth]. ⁸ For God is my witness that I long to see you with the [same] affection that Christ Jesus has [for you].