circumcised when I was a week old; a descendant of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, a son of Hebrews. Measured by the law, I was a Pharisee;

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at last you have renewed your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned about me before, but you had no opportunity to show it.

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

What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice [later as well],

But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you.

But I have faith in the Lord that I myself will come before long.

I long to know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, by sharing the likeness of his death;

for he long'd to see you all, and was greatly concern'd, that you should hear he was sick. and indeed he was sick almost unto death:

Wherefore, my dearly beloved brethren, my joy and my crown, whom I long to see, continue firm in your christian profession, my beloved.