as it is righteous for me to think this as to you all, because ye have me in your hearts, and that both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the glad tidings ye are all participators in my grace.

But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings,

so that my bonds have become manifest as being in Christ in all the praetorium and to all others;

having the same conflict which ye have seen in me, and now hear of in me.

So that, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

holding forth the word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ's day, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain.

For I have no one like-minded who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on.

but I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need,

for he was also sick close to death, but God had mercy on him, and not indeed on him alone, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him ye might again rejoice, and that I might be the less sorrowful.

Though I have my trust even in flesh; if any other think to trust in flesh, I rather:

But surely I count also all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them to be filth, that I may gain Christ;

Not that I have already obtained the prize, or am already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may get possession of it, seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not count to have got possession myself; but one thing forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before,

But whereto we have attained, let us walk in the same steps.

Be imitators all together of me, brethren, and fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model;

(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:

yea, I ask thee also, true yokefellow, assist them, who have contended along with me in the glad tidings, with Clement also, and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

What ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these things do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now however at length ye have revived your thinking of me, though surely ye did also think of me, but lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak as regards privation, for as to me I have learnt in those circumstances in which I am, to be satisfied in myself.

I have strength for all things in him that gives me power.

But ye have done well in taking part in my affliction.

But I have all things in full supply and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you, an odour of sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, agreeable to God.