Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thankfulness to God,

Because of the share that you have had in spreading the Good News, from the first day that you received it until now.

And, indeed, I am justified in feeling thus about you all; because you have a warm place in my heart--you who all, both in my imprisonment and in the work of defending and establishing the Good News, shared my privilege with me.

And besides this, most of our Brothers have gained confidence in the Lord through my chains, and now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God's Message fearlessly.

The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News.

And this will fulfil my earnest expectation and hope that I shall have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as hitherto, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by my life or by my death,

So that, when you once more have me among you, you, in your union with Christ Jesus, may find in me fresh cause for exultation.

For, on behalf of Christ, you have had the privilege granted you, not only of trusting in him, but also of suffering on his behalf.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always been obedient in the past, so now work out your own Salvation with anxious care, not only when I am with you, but all the more now that I am absent.

For I have no one but him to send--no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare.

And I can assure you that his illness very nearly proved fatal. But God had pity on him, and not on him only but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

In conclusion, my Brothers, all joy be yours in your union with the Lord. To repeat what I have already written does not weary me, and is the safe course for you.

Though I, if any man, have cause to rely even upon them. If any one thinks he can rely upon external privileges, far more can I!

But all the things which I once held to be gains I have now, for the Christ's sake, come to count as loss.

More than that, I count everything as loss, for the sake of the exceeding value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. And for his sake I have lost everything, and count it as refuse, if I may but gain Christ and be found in union with him;

Any righteousness that I have being, not the righteousness that results from Law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ--the righteousness which is derived from God and is founded on faith.

Not that I have already laid hold of it, or that I am already made perfect. But I press on, in the hope of actually laying hold of that for which indeed I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Only we are bound to order our lives by what we have already attained.

Brothers, unite in following my example, and fix your eyes on those who are living by the pattern which we have set you.

For there are many--of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears--who are living in enmity to the cross of the Christ.

Who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.

In conclusion, Brothers, wherever you find anything true or honorable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if 'virtue' and 'honour' have any meaning, there let your thoughts dwell.

Do not think that I am saying this under the pressure of want. For I, however I am placed, have learned to be independent of circumstances.

I know how to face humble circumstances, and I know how to face prosperity. Into all and every human experience I have been initiated--into plenty and hunger, into prosperity and want.

Yet you have acted nobly in sharing my troubles.

It is not that I am anxious for your gifts, but I am anxious to see the abundant return that will be placed to your account. I have enough of everything, and to spare.

My wants are fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts which you sent me--the sweet fragrance of a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.