I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good action among you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah Jesus.

For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because you're constantly on my mind. Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege.

And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and more with full knowledge and insight,

But so what? Just this that in every way, whether by false or true motives, the Messiah is being proclaimed. Because of this, I rejoice and will continue to rejoice.

I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus the Messiah.

Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better.

Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you, so you will mature in the faith and know joy in it.

and that you are not intimidated by your opponents in any way. This is evidence that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved and all because of God.

Now lifted up by God to heaven, a name above all others given, this matchless name possessing.

It's not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus.

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

Therefore, those of us who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think.

Therefore, my dear brothers whom I long for, my joy and my victor's crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in.