For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and minister to my need;

since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick.

For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor,

because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.