For you have had the privilege granted you on behalf of Christ--not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf;

Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped.

For it is true that he has been ill, and was apparently at the point of death; but God had pity on him, and not only on him, but also on me, to save me from having sorrow upon sorrow.

And you men and women of Philippi also know that at the first preaching of the Good News, when I had left Macedonia, no other Church except yourselves held communication with me about giving and receiving;