and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me 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.