Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

I Sent Back Epaphroditus, Your Precious Servant To My Need. Rejoice In Him

²⁵ But I regarded it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus— my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your delegate^[a] and minister of my need— ²⁶ because he was yearning-for you all, and was being distressed because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick nearly to death. But God had-mercy-on him— and not him only, but also me, in order that I should not have grief upon grief. ²⁸ Therefore I sent him more-eagerly, in order that having seen him again you may rejoice, and I may be less-grieved. ²⁹ So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and be holding such ones precious, ³⁰ because he drew-near to the point of death for the sake of the work of Christ— having risked his life in order that he might fill-up your lack^[b] of service to me.