I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, (Hearing of thy faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus,

Hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints, -

so that the fellowship that thou hast in the faith is fruitful through knowledge of all good things, which are in you by Jesus Christ.

Once you found him useless, but now he has become useful to you and to me,

but I did not want to do anything without first getting your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

for perhaps for this reason he has been separated from thee for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever;

If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,

And if he has done you any wrong and owes you anything, charge it to my account,