And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding;

but the others of love, knowing that I am exposed for the defence of the gospel.

according to my firm expectation and hope, that I shall be confounded by no event, but that with all boldness, as always hitherto, Christ shall now also be magnified in my body, whether by my life or death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if it be his will, that I should live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my travail: and what to chuse I know not.

IF there be then any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any communion of spirit, if any bowels and compassions,

fulfil ye my joy, that ye may be united in sentiment, having the same love, of one soul, of one mind.

holding up the word of life, that I may glory in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.

for in the work of Christ he was nigh unto death indifferent about life, that he might afford me that service which it was not in your power to render me.

And I beseech thee also, my genuine associate, assist those women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.