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always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
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for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
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being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
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just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
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For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
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And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
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that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
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being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
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But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
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so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
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and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
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Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:
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The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
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but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
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What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
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For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
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according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
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For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
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For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
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Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
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And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
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that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
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Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
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and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
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For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
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having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.