15. so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world
16. because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing.
17. But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you.
18. You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!
19. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to see you soon so that I may be encouraged by hearing about you.
20. I have no one like him. He is a person who genuinely cares about your well-being.
21. All the others put their own business ahead of Jesus Christ’s business.
22. You know his character, how he labors with me for the gospel like a son works with his father.
23. So he is the one that I hope to send as soon as I find out how things turn out here for me.
24. I trust in the Lord that I also will visit you soon.
25. I think it is also necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. He is my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier; and he is your representative who serves my needs.
26. He misses you all, and he was upset because you heard he was sick.
27. In fact, he was so sick that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him—and not just on him but also on me, because his death would have caused me great sorrow.
28. Therefore, I am sending him immediately so that when you see him again you can be glad and I won’t worry.
29. So welcome him in the Lord with great joy and show great respect for people like him.