because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God's grace together with me.

and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.

The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.

I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.

Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill.

since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.

But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness -- a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.

I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

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

I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent -- a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.