Now I wish you, brethren, to know, that the things which have befallen me have rather conduced to the progress of the gospel;

experiencing the same conflict which ye have seen in me, and now hear to be in me.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always been obedient, not only during my presence with you, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling work out your own salvation.

holding up the word of life, that I may glory in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.

For I have no one like minded with him, who will genuinely care for your affairs.

But ye have known the trial of him, that, as a son with a father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

But I have confidence in the Lord that I myself shall come shortly.

But I have thought it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-labourer, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and the minister who supplied my want.

For sick indeed he was, 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.

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

Though I too might have confidence in the flesh; if any other man thinks that he may have confidence in the flesh, I may claim more:

But what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the transcendently excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as offals of ordure, that I may gain Christ,

Not that I have already attained, or am now perfect: but I pursue, that I may overtake that for which also by his apprehension of me I am destined by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have overtaken it; but this one object I pursue, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching out to those which are before,

Nevertheless, so far as we have advanced, be it our care to walk by the same rule, to mind the same thing.

Be ye imitators, brethren, of me, and eye attentively those who walk so as ye have us for an example.

For many walk, whom I have often mentioned to you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whatsoever things also ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these practise, and the God of peace shall be with you.

Not that I mention this with a view to my indigence: for I have learned in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.

Nevertheless ye have done nobly in your communications to me during my affliction.

But I have now all things, and abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus your bounty, an odour of sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.