(always making supplication for you all with joy

in every prayer of mine) for your attachment to the gospel, from the first day even till now;

As it is just for me to think this of you all, because ye have me in your heart, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, being all of you partakers of the same grace with me.

For God is my witness, how much I long for you all, as with the bowels of Jesus Christ.

so that my bonds are manifest in all the palace, and all other places, to be for the sake of Christ;

and many of the brethren in the Lord, encouraged by my bonds, are much more bold to publish the word without fear.

the others out of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

for I know that this shall turn to my safety through your prayer, and the aid of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain: and if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:

for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is much preferable:

but to abide in the flesh is more necessary for you.

And as I am confident of this, I know that I shall abide and shall continue with you all, for your improvement and the joy of your faith:

Only behave worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of you, that ye stand firm in one Spirit, striving together as with one soul for the saith of the gospel;

For to you it is granted as a favor from Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake:

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed the gospel, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence; be still working out your own salvation though with fear and trembling:

for it is God that worketh in you both to will, and to work, out of his own good-pleasure.

And for the same cause do ye also rejoice, and congratulate with me.

For I have no one of a like spirit, who will with a kind of natural affection take care of your affairs.

For all seek their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

for he much longed after you all, and was greatly concerned because ye had heard that he was sick.

For indeed he was sick and nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his own life, so that he might fill up what was wanting in your kind offices towards me.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and for you it is safe.

For we are of the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh.

which were once gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless and I count all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all, and I account them but dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him,

not that I have yet won the prize, or am already perfect: but I press forward to acquire that perfection, for which also I have been apprehended by Christ Jesus.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Brethren, be imitators of me, and observe those that walk as ye have us for an example.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction,

whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things) For our conversation is in heaven,

And I entreat thee likewise, my faithful collegue, to assist them, for they laboured with me in the gospel, and Clement also, and my other fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that your care for me has now flourished again; for whom ye were indeed careful before, but ye wanted opportunity.

Not that I speak on account of want; for I have learnt in whatever circumstances I am, to be contented.

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to supply my wants.

Now to our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.