3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus and toward all saints;
6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual for the knowledge of all the good that is in you by Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy charity because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is expedient,
9 yet for the sake of charity I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.