and always whenever I pray for you all I do it with joy,

For I am certain that he who has begun the good work in you will finish it for the Day of Jesus Christ.

For God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus himself.

so that you may have a sense of what is vital, and may be men of transparent character and blameless life, in preparation for the Day of Christ,

Thus it is generally known throughout the Imperial Guard and elsewhere that it is for the sake of Christ that I am in prison,

and so most of the Christian brothers have been exceedingly encouraged by my example to declare God's message without any fear of the consequences.

These latter do it from love for me, for they know that God has put me where I am to defend our right to preach the good news.

But the others are preaching the Christ not sincerely but for their own ends, imagining that they are making my imprisonment harder to bear.

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, all this will turn out for my highest welfare,

for I eagerly and confidently hope that I shall never disgrace myself but that this time as always hitherto, living or dying, I shall do Christ credit by my unfailing courage.

For, as I see it, living means Christ and dying something even better.

I am undecided between the two, for I long to depart and be with Christ, for that is far, far better,

and yet your needs make it very necessary for me to stay on here.

So you will find in me fresh cause for Christian exultation, through having me with you again.

Whatever happens, show yourselves citizens worthy of the good news of the Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am kept away and only hear news of you, I may know that you are standing firm with one spirit, one purpose, fighting side by side for faith in the good news.

Never for a moment falter before your opponents, for your fearlessness will be a sure sign for them of their coming destruction, but to you it will be an omen, from God himself, of your deliverance.

For you have been granted the privilege not only of trusting in Christ but of suffering for him.

Do not act for selfish ends or from vanity, but modestly treat one another as your superiors.

When he had assumed human form, he still further humbled himself and carried his obedience so far as to die, and to die upon the cross.

For it is God who in his good will is at work in your hearts, inspiring your will and your action.

For I have no one like him who would take such a real interest in you.

For they are all looking out for their own interests, not for those of Jesus Christ.

For he has been longing to see you all, and has been greatly distressed because you heard that he was sick.

For he was sick, and nearly died, but God took pity on him, and not only on him, but on me, to save me from having one sorrow after another.

for he came near dying for the Lord's work, and risked his life to make up for what was lacking in the service you have done me.

Now, my brothers, goodbye, and the Lord be with you. I do not mind writing the same thing over and over to you; it is necessary for your safety.

Look out for those dogs, those mischief-makers, with their amputation!

But for the sake of Christ I have come to count my former gains as loss.

Why, I count everything as loss compared with the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have lost everything, and think it rubbish, in order to gain Christ

I am pressing toward the goal, for the prize to which God through Christ Jesus calls us upward.

For there are many who live, as I have often told you, and tell you now with tears, like enemies of the cross of Christ.

And I beg you, my true comrade, help them, for they toiled at my side in spreading the good news, with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Then, through your union with Christ Jesus, the peace of God, so far above any human thought, will guard your minds and thoughts.

I was very glad, as a Christian, to have your interest in me revive again after so long; for you have always been interested, but you have had no opportunity to show it.

Not that I have anything to complain of, for I have learned how to be contented with the condition I am in.

Even when I was at Thessalonica you sent money more than once for my needs.