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.
11 Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God.
12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.
13 As a result, it has become clear to all the soldiers who guard the emperor and to everyone else that I am in prison because of Christ.