being confident of this very thing, that he who hath wrought in you the good work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

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

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding;

What then? if Christ is preached in whatever manner it be, whether in pretext or reality, even in this do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

For I know that this shall issue in my salvation through your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

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.

For I am in a strait between the two, having an earnest longing to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, for this is far, far better:

For this favour on the part of Christ is granted you, not only that ye should believe on him, but also that ye should suffer for his sake;

Brethren, I count not myself to have overtaken it; but this one object I pursue, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching out to those which are before,

Let as many of us therefore as are perfect, be thus minded: and if ye entertain any other sentiment, God also will unveil this unto you.

Not that I mention this with a view to my indigence: for I have learned in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.