3 I thank my God for you every time I think of you;
4 and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy
5 because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of the gospel from the very first day until now.
6 And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.
7 You are always in my heart! And so it is only right for me to feel as I do about you. For you have all shared with me in this privilege that God has given me, both now that I am in prison and also while I was free to defend the gospel and establish it firmly.
8 God is my witness that I am telling the truth when I say that my deep feeling for you all comes from the heart of Christ Jesus himself.
9 I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgement,