Being confident of this same thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

For God is my witness, how I long for you all in bowels of Jesus Christ.

But he emptied himself, having taken a form of a bondman, having become in a likeness of men.

And having been found in a form like a man, he lowered himself, having become obedient until death, even of death from a cross.

But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child to a father, he served with me for the good-news.

since he was longing for you all, and distressed because ye heard that he was sick.

For also he was sick, near death, but God was merciful to him, and not only him, but also me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Because for sake of the work of the Christ he came near the point of death, handing over his life so that he might fill up the deficiency of your service toward me.

I press forward toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I know both how to be abased and how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to be lacking.