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Paul’s Prayer

I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you. I thank God for ·the help you gave me [L your partnership/participation] in ·spreading the Good News [L the Good News/Gospel] from the first day you believed until now. God began doing a good work in you, and I am ·sure [confident; persuaded] he will continue it until it is ·finished [completed; perfected] ·when Jesus Christ comes again [L on the day of Christ Jesus; C the final day of judgment and reward].

And I know that I am right to think like this about all of you, because ·I have you in my [or you have me in your] heart. All of you ·share [are partners/co-sharers] in God’s grace with me while I am in ·prison [chains; C Paul is probably writing from house arrest in Rome, about ad 60; see Acts 28:30–31] and while I am defending and ·proving the truth of [confirming] the ·Good News [Gospel]. [L For] God ·knows [L is my witness] that I ·want [long] to see you very much, because I love all of you with the ·love [affection] of Christ Jesus.

This is my prayer for you: that your love will ·grow [increase; abound] more and more; that you will have knowledge and ·understanding [insight; discernment] with your love; 10 that you will ·see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good [L discern/test and prove what is best]; that you will be pure and ·without wrong [blameless] ·for the coming [in the day; v. 6] of Christ; 11 that you will be filled with the ·good things produced in your life by Christ [L fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ] to bring glory and praise to God.

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Thanksgiving and Prayer

I thank my God every time I remember you.(A) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray(B) with joy because of your partnership(C) in the gospel from the first day(D) until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion(E) until the day of Christ Jesus.(F)

It is right(G) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart(H) and, whether I am in chains(I) or defending(J) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify(K) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love(L) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(M) 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,(N) 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness(O) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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