having become persuaded of this very thing, that He Who began in you a good work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Throughout the whole Praetorian guard and among all the others it has become plain that these chains of mine are for the sake of Christ;

Moreover, because of my imprisonment the Lord has caused most of the brothers to become confident to speak God's word more boldly and courageously than ever before.

And, having become assured of this, I know that I shall abide, and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

Only let your conduct be as becomes the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel,

but laid it aside to take on the nature of a slave and become like other men.

and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross,

that you may become blameless and innocent, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in a dark world,

Yea, and should I become the victim, in the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Him therefore I hope to send immediately as soon as I see clearly what will become of me.

Regarding zeal, persecuting the assembly, regarding the righteousness that is in law, having become blameless.

And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];

In the hope that, if I become like him in death, I may possibly attain to the resurrection from the dead.

It's not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus.

become followers together of me, brethren, and observe those thus walking, according as ye have us -- a pattern;

who will transform the body of our lowliness, in order for it to become similar in form to the body of his glory, according to the working of his power even to subject all things to himself.