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C. Working Out Our Salvation
to Hold Forth Christ

12. So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13. For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure.
14. Do all things without murmurings and reasonings
15. That you may be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as luminaries in the world,
16. Holding forth the word of life, so that I may have a boast in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

D. A Drink Offering upon
the Sacrifice of Faith

17. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and I rejoice together with you all.
18. And in like manner you also rejoice, and you rejoice together with me.

E. The Apostle’s Concern for the Believers

19. But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged by knowing the things concerning you.
20. For I have no one like-souled who will genuinely care for what concerns you;
21. For all seek their own things, not the things of Christ Jesus.
22. But you know his approvedness, that as a child with a father he has served with me unto the gospel.
23. Him therefore I hope to send immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me.
24. But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
25. But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your apostle and minister to my need,
26. Since he longed after you all and was greatly distressed because you heard that he had become sick;
27. For indeed he had become sick, near to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
28. I have sent him therefore the more eagerly, so that when you see him again, you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful.
29. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor,
30. Because for the work of Christ he drew near unto death, risking his life, that he might fill up your lack of service toward me.