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Alwaysineveryprayer of mineforyouallmakingrequestwithjoy,
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Foryourfellowshipin the gospelfrom the firstdayuntilnow;
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Being confident of this very thing,that he which hath begun a goodworkinyou will perform[b] it until the day of JesusChrist:
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Even as it ismeet for me to thinkthisofyouall,because I have[c]youinmyheart; inasmuch as bothinmybonds,and in the defenceandconfirmation of the gospel,yeallarepartakers of mygrace.
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ForGodismyrecord,how greatly I long afteryouallin the bowels of JesusChrist.
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Andthis I pray, thatyourlove may aboundyetmoreandmoreinknowledgeand in alljudgment;[d]
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Thatye may approve[e] things that are excellent; that ye may besincereand without offencetill the day of Christ;
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Being filled with the fruits of righteousness,which are byJesusChrist,unto the gloryandpraise of God.
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But I wouldye should understand, brethren,that the things which happened untome have fallen outratherunto the furtherance of the gospel;
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So thatmybondsinChrist[f]aremanifestinall the palace,and in allother places;
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Andmany of the brethrenin the Lord, waxing confident by mybonds, are much morebold to speak the word without fear.
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SomeindeedpreachChristevenofenvyandstrife;andsomealsoof good will:
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The onepreachChristofcontention,notsincerely,supposing to addaffliction to mybonds:
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But the other oflove,knowingthat I am setfor the defence of the gospel.
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Whatthen?notwithstanding,everyway,whether in pretence,or in truth,Christ is preached; andIthereindorejoice, yea,and will rejoice.
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For I knowthatthis shall turntomysalvationthroughyourprayer,and the supply of the Spirit of JesusChrist,
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According to my earnest expectationand my hope,thatinnothing I shall be ashamed, but that withallboldness,asalways, so nowalsoChrist shall be magnifiedinmybody,whether it be bylife,orbydeath.
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For to me to live is Christ,and to die is gain.
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Butif I livein the flesh,this is the fruit of my labour*: yetwhat I shall choose I wotnot.
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For I am in a straitbetwixttwo,having a desiretodepart, and to bewithChrist; which is far*better:
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Nevertheless to abidein the flesh is more needfulforyou.
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And having thisconfidence, I knowthat I shall abideandcontinue with youallforyourfurtheranceandjoy of faith;
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Thatyourrejoicing may be more abundantinJesusChristformebymycomingtoyouagain.
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Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:thatwhether I comeandseeyou,or else be absent, I may hear of youraffairs,that ye stand fastinonespirit, with onemind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
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Andinnothing*terrifiedby your adversaries: whichis to theman evident token of perdition,but to you of salvation,andthatofGod.
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For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,notonly to believeonhim,butalso to sufferfor his sake*;
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Having the sameconflictwhich ye sawinme,andnowhear to be inme.