Study Desk

For God is my witness how I yearn over all of you with tender Christian affection.

And it is my prayer that your love may be more and more accompanied by clear knowledge and keen perception, for testing things that differ,

so that you may be men of transparent character, and may be blameless, in preparation for the day of Christ,

And thus it has become notorious among all the Imperial Guards, and everywhere, that it is for the sake of Christ that I am a prisoner;

These latter preach Him from love to me, knowing that I am here for the defence of the Good News;

For I know that it will result in my salvation through your prayers and a bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

For, with me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

But since to live means a longer stay on earth, that implies more labour for me--and not unsuccessful labour; and which I am to choose I cannot tell.

I am in a dilemma, my earnest desire being to depart and be with Christ, for that is far, far better.

But for your sakes it is more important that I should still remain in the body.

so that, as Christians, you may have additional reason for glorying about me as the result of my being with you again.

Only let the lives you live be worthy of the Good News of the Christ, in order that, whether I come and see you or, being absent, only hear of you, I may know that you are standing fast in one spirit and with one mind, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the faith of the Good News.

Never for a moment quail before your antagonists. Your fearlessness will be to them a sure token of impending destruction, but to you it will be a sure token of your salvation--a token coming from God.

For you have had the privilege granted you on behalf of Christ--not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf;

For it is God Himself whose power creates within you the desire to do His gracious will and also brings about the accomplishment of the desire.

For I have no one likeminded with him, who will cherish a genuine care for you.

For it is true that he has been ill, and was apparently at the point of death; but God had pity on him, and not only on him, but also on me, to save me from having sorrow upon sorrow.

because it was for the sake of Christ's work that he came so near death, hazarding, as he did, his very life in endeavouring to make good any deficiency that there might be in your gifts to me.

In conclusion, my brethren, be joyful in the Lord. For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while so far as you are concerned it is a safe precaution.

For we are the true circumcision--we who render to God a spiritual worship and make our boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in outward ceremonies: