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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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It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
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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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For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
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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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rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
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And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
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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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for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
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as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
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I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
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But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
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I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
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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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Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
