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being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
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And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
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so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
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As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
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And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
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It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
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The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
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But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
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For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
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I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
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but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
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without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
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since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
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Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
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Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
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and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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Do Everything Without Grumbling
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
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for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
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Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
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so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
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I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
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But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
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For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
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No Confidence in the Flesh
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
