so that you may approve what is superior, in order that you may be sincere and blameless in the day of Christ,

according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will be put to shame in nothing, but with all boldness, even now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death.

But I am hard pressed {between the two options}, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, {for this is very much better}.

so that [what] you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus because of me through my return again to you.

Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear {your circumstances}, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,

but emptied himself [by] taking the form of a slave, [by] becoming in the likeness of people. And being found in appearance like a man,

he humbled himself [by] becoming obedient to the point of death, that is, death on a cross.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [those] in heaven and of [those] on earth and of [those] under the earth,

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged [when I] know {your circumstances}.

For I have no one like-minded who [will] sincerely be concerned about {your circumstances}.

Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that [when] you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not [put] confidence in the flesh,

{More than that}, even consider all [things] to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all [things], and consider [them] dung, in order that I may gain Christ

and may be found in him, not having my righteousness [which is] from the law, but [which is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,

Not that I have already received [this], or [have] already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of [that] for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.

who will transform our humble body [to be] conformed to his glorious body, in accordance with the power that enables him even to subject all [things] to himself.

I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Syntyche {to be in agreement} in the Lord.

Let your gentleness be made known to all people. The Lord [is] near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And [the things] which you have learned and received and heard about and seen in me, practice these [things], and the God of peace will be with you.

Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever [circumstances] I am.

I know [how] both {to make do with little} and I know [how] {to have an abundance}. In everything and in all [things] I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both {to have an abundance} and to go without.

I am able [to do] all [things] by the one who strengthens me.

Nevertheless you have done well by sharing with me in my affliction.

Now to our God and Father [be] the glory {forever and ever}. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.