¹⁴ But I didn’t want to make this decision without asking for your permission. This way, any goodwill on your part wouldn’t be seen as forced, but as your true and free desire.

¹⁵ Maybe this is the reason why he was supposed to be away from you for this time: so that now you will have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave—as a dear brother. Yes, he is dear to me, but I suspect he will come to mean even more to you, both in the flesh as a servant and in the Lord as a brother.