Letters to the Churches

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, and in all freedom, as always, also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death,

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

And if to live in the flesh is to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not;

for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,

and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account,

and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith,

that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again to you.

Only worthily of the good news of the Christ conduct ye yourselves, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news,

and not terrified in anything by those opposing, which to them indeed is a token of destruction, and to you of salvation, and that from God;

because to you it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also on behalf of him to suffer;

the same conflict having, such as ye saw in me, and now hear of in me.

If, then, any exhortation is in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

fulfil ye my joy, that ye may mind the same thing--having the same love--of one soul--minding the one thing,

nothing in rivalry or vain-glory, but in humility of mind one another counting more excellent than yourselves--

each not to your own look ye, but each also to the things of others.

For, let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus,

who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God,

but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,

and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death--death even of a cross,

wherefore, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that is above every name,

that in the name of Jesus every knee may bow--of heavenlies, and earthlies, and what are under the earth--

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

So that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out,

for God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

All things do without murmurings and reasonings,