For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,

And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him -- and not to him only, but also to me -- so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

Not that I have already attained this -- that is, I have not already been perfected -- but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

But our citizenship is in heaven -- and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.