⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God ^(A)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

¹⁶ By this we know love, that ^(A)he laid down his life for us, and ^(B)we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

^15 (A)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If ^(B)I love you more, am I to be loved less?

¹⁷ Even if I am to be ^(A)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(B)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

¹¹ For ^(A)I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹² that is, that we may be mutually encouraged ^(B)by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

¹⁷ Obey ^(A)your leaders and submit to them, ^(B)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^(C)give an account. ^(D)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Greeting

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

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker

^12 (A)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(B)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(C)mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that ^(A)we may present everyone ^(B)mature in Christ.

⁷ just as you learned it from ^(A)Epaphras our beloved ^(B)fellow servant.^[a] He is ^(C)a faithful minister of Christ on your^[b] behalf