For thisreasonI, Paul,the prisonerof ChristJesusfor the sakeof you Gentiles--
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
Thereforedo not be ashamedof the testimonyof our Lordorof me His prisoner,but join with [me] in sufferingfor the gospelaccordingto the powerof God,
for whichI am an ambassadorin chains;that in [proclaiming] it I may speak boldly,as I oughtto speak.
yet for love'ssakeI ratherappeal[to you]-- since I amsuch a personas Paul,the aged,and nowalsoa prisonerof ChristJesus--
For it is onlyrightfor me to feelthis wayaboutyou all,becauseI haveyou in my heart,since bothin my imprisonmentand in the defenseand confirmationof the gospel,you allare partakersof gracewith me.
Paul,a prisonerof ChristJesus,and Timothyour brother,To Philemonour beloved[brother] and fellow worker,
Sohe tookhim and ledhim to the commanderand said,"Paulthe prisonercalledme to him and askedme to leadthisyoung manto you since he hassomethingto tellyou."
"But beforeallthese things,they will laytheir handson you and will persecuteyou, deliveringyou to the synagoguesand prisons,bringingyou beforekingsand governorsfor My name'ssake.
Epaphras,my fellow prisonerin ChristJesus,greetsyou,
And Paul[said], "I would wishto God,that whetherin a shortorlong time,not onlyyou, but alsoallwho hearme this day,might becomesuchas I am,exceptfor thesechains."
The Lordgrantmercyto the houseof Onesiphorus,for he oftenrefreshedme and was not ashamedof my chains;
I, Paul,write thisgreetingwith my ownhand.Remembermy imprisonment.Gracebe with you.
prayingat the same timefor us as well,that Godwill openup to us a doorfor the word,so that we may speak forththe mysteryof Christ,for whichI have alsobeen imprisoned;
Are they servantsof Christ?--I speakas if insane--I more so;in far morelabors,in far moreimprisonments,beatentimes without number,oftenin danger of death.
NowI, Paul,myselfurgeyou by the meeknessand gentlenessof Christ--I whoam meekwhen face to facewith you, but boldtowardyou when absent!
Thenthe commandercameup and took holdof him, and orderedhim to be boundwith twochains;and he [began] askingwhohe was and whathe had done.
Do not fearwhatyou are aboutto suffer.Behold,the devilis aboutto castsome of you into prison,sothat you will be tested,and you will havetribulationfor tendays.Be faithfuluntildeath,and I will giveyou the crownof life.
ThereforeI askyou not to lose heartat my tribulationson your behalf,for they are your glory.
But I, brethren,ifI stillpreachcircumcision,whyam I stillpersecuted?Thenthe stumbling blockof the crosshas been abolished.
BeholdI, Paul,sayto you that ifyou receive circumcision,Christwill be of nobenefitto you.
But the Lordsaidto him, "Go,for he is a choseninstrumentof Mine,to bearMy namebeforethe Gentilesand kingsand the sonsof Israel;
But ifwe are afflicted,it is for your comfortand salvation;or ifwe are comforted,it is for your comfort,which is effectivein the patient enduringof the samesufferingswhichwe alsosuffer;
Nowthosewho belong to ChristJesushave crucifiedthe fleshwith its passionsand desires.
To me, the very leastof allsaints,thisgracewas given,to preachto the Gentilesthe unfathomablerichesof Christ,
[This was] in accordancewith the eternalpurposewhichHe carriedout in ChristJesusour Lord,
