For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God's grace together with me.

so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,

The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.

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,

since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow -- in heaven and on earth and under the earth --

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world

by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.

So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation,

though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you soon.

In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him -- and not to him only, but also to me -- so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.

So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,

since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness -- a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.

and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!

Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!

And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

All the saints greet you, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.