Of this I am fully persuaded, that He who has begun a good work in you will go on completing it until the day of Jesus Christ.

For God is my witness that I long to see you with the [same] affection that Christ Jesus has [for you].

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has turned out rather to help than to the hindrance of the gospel.

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.

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.

For it has been granted you in Christ's behalf, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake,

This is why God has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name that is above every other name,

to hold up the message of life. That will give me ground for boasting on the day of Christ, because neither my career nor my labor has been a failure.

Even if my life-blood has to be poured as a libation on the sacred sacrifice of faith you are offering to God, I rejoice, I congratulate you all ??18 and you in turn must rejoice and congratulate me.

And you know Timothy's worth, how he has shared my servitude in furtherance of the gospel, like a son helping his father.

But it seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by you for help in my need;

for he has been homesick for you all, and distressed at your having heard of his illness.

For it is true that he has been ill, and was apparently at the point of death; but God had pity on him, and not only on him, but also on me, to save me from having sorrow upon sorrow.

Even though I myself might have faith in the flesh: if any other man has reason to have faith in the flesh, I have more:

I do not say that I have already won, or am already perfect, but I am passing on to lay hold on the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.

I press towards the mark for the prize to which God has called me from above by Jesus Christ.

for our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour,

He will so change the outward appearance of our lowly bodies that they will be like His glorious body, by the exertion of the power He has to subject everything to Himself.

Finally, my brethren, whatever has the character of truth, of dignity, of justice, of chastity, whatever can procure you esteem and reputation, in a word, if there be any thing virtuous or praise-worthy, let that be the object of your enquiry.

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.