⁸ So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased ^(A)to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also ^(B)our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

The Outworking of Love

^16 (A)By this we know love, ^(B)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^(A)for your souls; though ^(B)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

¹⁷ Yes, and if ^(A)I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice ^(B)and service of your faith, ^(C)I am glad and rejoice with you all.

¹¹ For I long to see you, that ^(A)I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— ¹² that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by ^(B)the mutual faith both of you and me.

^17 (A)Obey those who ^[a]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(B)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

^19 (A)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

Marks of the Ministry

6 We then, as ^(A)workers together with Him also ^(B)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Greeting

¹ Paul, a ^(A)prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,

^12 (A)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always ^(B)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand ^(C)perfect and ^[a]complete in all the will of God.