Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

²⁵ I thought I must send Epaphroditus, our Christian brother, back to you. He has worked with me and has also been a soldier of Christ with me. He was your messenger and he brought your gift for my needs.

²⁶ I am sending him back because he has been lonely without you all. And his heart has been troubled because you heard that he was sick.

²⁷ He was very sick! He almost died! But God was kind to him. He was not only kind to him, but also to me. God did not let me have one trouble after another.

²⁸ I want even more to send him to you so that you will be happy when you see him again. And I will not be so troubled any more.

²⁹ So receive him with much joy because he is a Christian brother. Give respect to men like him.

³⁰ He almost died doing the work of Christ. You wished to help me, but you could not come. He came instead. He was willing to put his life in danger in order to help me.

3 Now, my brothers, I say be glad for what the Lord has done for you. It is not hard for me to write the same things to you over and over. And it is good for you.