God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.

And what I pray for is this--that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,

Until you are able to appreciate all moral distinctions. And I pray, too, that you may be kept pure and blameless against the Day of Christ,

If, then, any encouragement comes through union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any communion with the Spirit, if there is any tenderness or pity,

Then indeed I shall know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and all that it means to share his sufferings,

Who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.

In conclusion, Brothers, wherever you find anything true or honorable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if 'virtue' and 'honour' have any meaning, there let your thoughts dwell.