²⁵ [^LBut; or Meanwhile,] I thought ·I should [it necessary to] send back to you Epaphroditus [4:18], my ·brother in Christ [^Lbrother] and coworker, ·who serves with me in Christ’s army [^Land fellow soldier]. He was your messenger, sent as a ·servant [minister] to meet my needs. ²⁶ I am sending him because he ·wants very much to see [greatly misses; ^Llongs for] all of you. He is ·worried [distressed] because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ Yes, he was sick, and nearly died, but God had mercy on him and me too so that I would not have ·more sadness [^Lsorrow upon sorrow]. ²⁸ I ·want very much [am very eager] to send him to you so that when you see him you can ·be happy [rejoice], and I can stop worrying about you. ²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord with much joy. Give honor to people like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you could not give in your service to me.