And it is my prayer that your love may overflow still more and more, directed by fuller knowledge and keener insight,

so that you may always approve the better things, and be men of transparent character and blameless life,

the latter, indeed, are doing so from love to me, for they know that I am providentially put here to defend the good news;

So, if there is any appeal in our union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if we have any common share in the Spirit, if you have any tenderheartedness and sympathy,

fill up my cup of joy by living in harmony, by fostering the same disposition of love, your hearts beating in unison, your minds set on one purpose.

to hold up the message of life. That will give me ground for boasting on the day of Christ, because neither my career nor my labor has been a failure.

Yes, even if I am pouring out my life as a libation on the sacrifice and service your faith is rendering, I am glad to do so and congratulate you upon it;

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.

However, we must continue to live up to that degree of success that we have already reached.

I beg Euodia and I beg Syntyche to live in harmony by the help of the Lord.

And I solemnly beg you, my true comrade, keep on cooperating with those two women, because they shared with me the struggle in spreading the good news, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

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.