always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy

even as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, all of you being sharers of the grace bestowed on me.

For God is my witness how much I long for you all in the tender affection of Christ Jesus.

and that the great part of the brethren, made confident in the Lord by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

They who are of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;

For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

but I am held in a strait by the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; for it is far better;

but to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

And being persuaded of this, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your advancement and joy in your faith,

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or remain absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel,

for to you it was given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but in his behalf to suffer also;

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

for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

For the same reason, do ye also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

For I have no one likeminded, who will have a true concern for your state;

for all of them are seeking their own things, not those of Christ Jesus.

But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son serves a father, he served with me for the gospel.

for he was longing after you all, and was much troubled, because ye heard that he was sick.

For indeed he was sick near to death; but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord; to write the same things to you, to me is not burdensome, and for you it is safe.

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;

though I myself have reason for confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath reason for confidence in the flesh, I more;

But whatever things were gain to me, those for the sake of Christ I have counted but loss.

Nay more, I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, that I may gain Christ,

Not that I have already obtained, or have been already perfected; but I press on, if I may also lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Brethren, be ye followers together of me, and mark those who walk as ye have us for an example.

For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ;

For the country of which we are citizens is heaven, whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Therefore, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived again in your care for my welfare; for which indeed ye cared before, but lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak on account of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.

for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity.

Not that I seek for such a gift, but I do seek for fruit that may abound to your account.

Now to God, our Father, be glory for ever. Amen.