1:4 always in all my prayers for you, and pray with gladness,
1:5 because of the fellowship that you have had in the gospel from the first day until now.
1:6 And I am confident of this: that he who began a good work in you will go forth with it until the day of Jesus Christ –
1:7 as it is fitting for me so to judge of you all, because I have you in my heart, and have you also every one companions of grace with me, even in my bonds, as I defend and establish the gospel.
1:8 For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all from the very heart root in Jesus Christ.
1:9 And this I pray: that your love may increase more and more in knowledge and in all experience,
1:10 that you may accept the things of most value, that you may be pure, and such as would hurt no man’s conscience until the day of Christ –
1:11 filled with the fruits of righteousness, which fruits come by Jesus Christ for the glory and laud of God.
1:12 I would you understood, brethren, that my trouble has served for the great furthering of the gospel.
1:13 For my bonds in Christ are manifest throughout all the judgment hall and in all other places,
1:14 and many of the brethren in the Lord are emboldened through my bonds, and dare to more freely speak the word without fear.
1:15 Some there are who preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, and some of goodwill.
1:16 The one part preach Christ out of rivalry, and not purely, supposing to add more adversity to my bonds,
1:17 but the other part out of love, because they see that I am set to defend the gospel.
1:18 What then? If only Christ be preached – whatever the way, whether through opportunism or of a true intent – I rejoice.
1:19 Yea, and I will rejoice, because I know that these circumstances will bear toward my salvation (through your prayer and ministering of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
1:20 as I heartily look for), and hope that in nothing I will be ashamed, but that with all confidence, as always in times past, so now Christ may be magnified in my body, whether it be through life or death.
1:21 For Christ is to me life, and death is to me gain.
1:22 If it happens that I live in the flesh, it means fruitful work for me, and what to choose I do not know.
1:23 I am constrained by two things: I desire to be released and to be with Christ, which thing is best of all.
1:24 Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
1:25 And this I am sure of: that I will abide, and continue with you all for the furtherance and joy of your faith,
1:26 so that you may more abundantly rejoice in Jesus Christ through me, by my coming to you again.
1:27 Only be sure that you live worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may yet hear of you that you continue in one spirit and in one soul, labouring as we do to maintain the faith of the gospel –
1:28 and in nothing fearing your adversaries, which is to them a sign of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
1:29 For to you it is given not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for his sake,
1:30 and to have even the same fight which you saw me have and now hear of me.
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