It is but just that I should be thus mindful of you all, because I have you in my heart, and because in these fetters of mine and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel you are all my fellow partners in the privilege.

that ye might accept things most excellent, that ye might be pure and such as should hurt no man's conscience, until the day of Christ;

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

So, what [should I think about the situation]? Just this: I am happy and will continue to be happy that, in every way, Christ is being preached, [regardless of] whether it is in pretense or with sincerity.

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.

but for your sakes it is more necessary that I should still live on in the body.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that -- whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent -- I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

For unto you it is given, that not only ye should believe on Christ: but also suffer for his sake,

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,

that in the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bend,

and that all tongues should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord unto the praise of God the father.

that you may be without reproach, the inoffensive spotless children of God in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation (among whom you should shine as stars in the world,

Yea, and should I become the victim, in the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

For he longed after you, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard say that he should be sick,

And indeed he was sick nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also so that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow.

I sent him therefore the diligentlier, that when ye should see him, ye might rejoice again, and I might be the less sorrowful.

So, you should welcome him in [the fellowship of] the Lord with great joy, and regard such people with honor,

Therefore, those of us who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think.

However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.

Brothers, you people should join together in imitating me, and take note of those who are following my example.

You should let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. [Note: This "nearness" could refer to Christ's second coming or to His nearness to His people in a spiritual sense].

Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and [special] petition, along with thanksgivings, you should make your requests known to God.

You people should do those things which you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and [then] the God [who gives] peace will be with you.