and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing that is ours in Christ.

I would have been glad to keep him with me, so that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;

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

Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever,

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it backnot to mention that you owe me even your own self.

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.