Study Desk

So then, my dear friends,^(x) just as you have always obeyed,^(y) not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling^(z) and arguing,^(aa)

so that you may be blameless^(ab) and pure,^(ac) children of God who are faultless^(ad) in a crooked^(ae) and perverted^(af) generation,^(ag) among whom you shine like stars in the world.

Hold firmly to^[c] the message^(ah) of life. Then I can boast^(ai) in the day of Christ^(aj) that I didn't run or labor for nothing.

But even if I am poured out^(ak) as a drink offering^(al) on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus^(am) to send Timothy^(an) to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.

For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

all seek their own interests,^(ao) not those of Jesus Christ.^(ap)

But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.^(aq)

But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus^(ar)—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need^(as)—

since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another.

For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious.

Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor,

because he came close to death for the work^(at) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.