in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ Jesus.

And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt,

And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.

whom I should like to retain for myself, that he might serve me for you in the bonds of the gospel,

but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps because of this he was separated from you for an hour, that you should receive him eternally,

not as a slave, but in another quality, as a dear brother whom I particularly value, but much more should you, both as he is your servant, and as he is a christian.