4 Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy.
5 I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day ⌊you believed⌋ until now.
6 I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.
7 You have a special place in my heart. So it’s right for me to think this way about all of you. All of you are my partners. Together we share God’s favor, whether I’m in prison or defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
8 God is my witness that, with all the compassion of Christ Jesus, I long ⌊to see⌋ every one of you.
9 I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight.
10 That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.