Letters to the Churches

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

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

But if to live in the flesh,—if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not.

But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:

yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;

that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;

because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:

having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;

not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;

and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;

that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,

and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and questionings: