For I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

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

who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to deatheven death on a cross.

But you know that he has proved his worth, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;

for he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was ill.

Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

though I myself have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

I know how to be in need, and I also know how to have plenty; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and want.