For I am certain of this very thing, that He who began the good work in you will go on until the day of Jesus Christ to complete it.

For God is my witness how I never stop yearning for all of you with the affection Christ Jesus inspires.

Though He was existing in the nature of God, He did not think His being on an equality with God a thing to be selfishly grasped,

but He laid it aside as He took on the nature of a slave and became like other men.

Because He was recognized as a man, in reality as well as in outward form, He finally humiliated Himself in obedience so as to die, even to die on a cross.

But you know his tested character, how like a son in fellowship with his father he has toiled with me like a slave in preaching the good news.

So I hope to send him to you just as soon as I can see how my case is going to turn out.

for he has been longing to see you and has been homesick because you have heard that he was sick.

For he was so sick that he was on the point of dying, but God took pity on him, and not only on him but on me too, to keep me from having one sorrow after another.

because he came near dying for the sake of the Lord's work and risked his life to make up for your lack of opportunity to minister to me.

though I too might rely on these. If anyone thinks that he can rely on outward privileges, far more might I do so:

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.

Now, brothers, practice thinking on what is true, what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is lovable, what is high-toned, yes, on everything that is excellent or praiseworthy.

I know how to live in lowly circumstances and I know how to live in plenty. I have learned the secret, in all circumstances, of either getting a full meal or of going hungry, of living in plenty or being in want.