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

and many of the brothers having been made confident by my bonds in the Lord have more abundant courage to speak the word without fear.

but to continue in the flesh is more necessary for you.

And so, my beloved, as you always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him again you may rejoice and I be less sorrowful.

although I have ground of confidence in the flesh. If any other one thinks he may trust in the flesh, I [may] more;