5. for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now;
6. being confident of this very thing, that he which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7. even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.
8. For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
9. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
10. so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;
11. being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
12. Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;