This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear.

Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

I have sent him all the more eagerly, therefore, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and that I may be less anxious.

though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

More than that, I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ