1:9.

and stronger in accurate knowledge and every form of moral perception, so that you may appreciate true excellence. And my further prayer for you is, that you may be pure and blameless to the day of Christ's coming, and be filled with the fruit of goodness which comes through Christ Jesus, and so bring honor and praise to God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually tended to help on the Good News. For, both by the Prætorian Guards, and by everybody else, my imprisonment has been plainly seen to be because I am a follower of Christ. And the further advantage has been in the fact that most of our brothers have gained confidence in the Lord through my imprisonment, and are now venturing with far greater freedom to talk fearlessly about God's message.

Some are proclaiming the Christ from a spirit of jealousy and factiousness, but some from good will. The latter do it because they love me. For they know that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News. But the others spread the news of the Christ from a spirit of faction, not with unmixed motives, and they are doing it with the idea of making trouble for me in my imprisonment. What, then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is being made known, and of this I am glad. Yes, and I will continue

PHIL. 1: 18.

HIS OWN CONDITION.

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to be glad. For I know that, through your prayers and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ, this will tend to my salvation; just as I am hoping and keenly expecting that I shall have no cause for shame, but, on the contrary, that with all boldness, as always, so now, Christ shall be honored, whether by my life or by my death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to continue to live here,--if this is an advantage to my work,-I do not know which to choose. I am very much troubled either way. I have a desire to go away

and be with Christ.

For this would be much bet

ter. But to continue to live here is more needful for you. Yes, I am confident of this, and so I know that I will stay, and stay near you all, for your progress and joy in the faith; so that, through. having me with you again, you may, in me, have abundant cause for boasting in Christ Jesus.

Only let your lives be worthy of the Good News about the Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or only hear about you from a distance, I may be assured that you are standing firm in one spirit, and joining with one soul in a common struggle for the Faith which you have been taught in the Good News, and that you are in no way frightened by your opponents. This is to them an evidence of coming destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For you have not only had the

1: 29.

honor, for Christ's sake, of believing in him, but also of suffering for him. It is the same hard struggle such as you saw in me, and now know to be in me.

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any sharing in the Spirit, if there is any tenderness and pity, complete my happiness by living together in harmony, in mutual love, one in mind and soul; doing nothing in a contentious spirit, nor from vanity, but in a spirit of humility, considering each other better than yourself, each of you, not looking to your own interests only, but also to the interests of others. Set your mind on this which Christ Jesus also set his mind on, he, who even though he was existing in the form of God, did not think his being on an equality with God a thing to be eagerly snatched at, but, on the contrary, emptied himself and took the form of a slave, and became like men. So when he appeared among us as a man he humbled himself by submitting even to death, and that, too, death on a cross. So, for that reason, God raised him to the highest rank and power, and gave him the name which is above every other name, so that, in the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should gladly and willingly declare, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the honor of God the Father.

PHIL.

2: 12.

PERSEVERANCE AND PEACE.

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So, then, my dear brothers, as you have always been obedient in the past, so now work out your own salvation in a spirit of self-distrust, and that not only when I am with you, but all the more now that I am not. For it is God who is working in

you both to will kindly purpose.

and to act in the interest of his Do everything without discontent and dispute: so that you may become pure and blameless, children of God and faultless, in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you are seen as heavenly lights in the world, offering to men the message of life, and giving me cause to boast in the day of Christ's coming, that I did not live nor labor in vain. Yes, and if my life blood is being poured out over the sacrifice and priestly service of your faith, I am glad, and share my gladness with you all. So you also be glad in the same way, and share your gladness with me.

Yet I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you in a short time, so that I also may be cheered by hearing about you. For I have no one so thoroughly in sympathy with myself who would take a genuine interest in your welfare. For they are all looking after their own interests, not those of Christ. But you know what he has proved himself to be, and that as a son for a father he has been a slave with me in furthering the cause

2:22.

of the Good News. Him, then, I am hoping to send, as soon as I have seen how it is going to be with me. And I am confident as a follower of the Lord that I also shall come in a short time. Yet I consider it necessary to send Epaphras, our brother, and fel- . low-laborer, and fellow-soldier, and your messenger by whom you have sent to me what is of service to me in my need. For he has been longing to see you all, and has been distressed, because you have heard he was sick.

For he was, indeed, sick, even

to the point of death. But God had pity on him, and not on him alone, but on me also, so that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. So I am all the more ready to send him, so that you may be glad at the sight of him and I also may be less sorrowful. Give him a most hearty Christian welcome, then, and hold such as he is in honor. For, be ́cause of his devotion to the Lord's work, he was at the point of death, and he risked his life in supplying what you lacked in your service to me.

In conclusion, my brothers, be glad as followers of the Lord. To write what you have already heard is not wearisome to me, and for you it is safe.

Beware of the dogs.

Beware of the evil workers.

Beware of those who mutilate themselves.