Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting,

Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful both to you and to me.

whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this very reason, that you might have him back for ever,

No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it in full (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).