16. You offer to them the teaching that gives life. So when Christ comes again, I can be happy because my work was not wasted. I ran in the race and won.
17. Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. Perhaps I will have to offer my own blood with your sacrifice. But if that happens, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you.
18. You also should be happy and full of joy with me.
19. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. I will be happy to learn how you are.
20. I have no other person like Timothy. He truly cares for you.
21. Other people are interested only in their own lives. They are not interested in the work of Christ Jesus.
22. You know the kind of person Timothy is. You know that he has served with me in telling the Good News, as a son serves his father.
23. I plan to send him to you quickly when I know what will happen to me.
24. I am sure that the Lord will help me to come to you soon.
25. Epaphroditus is my brother in Christ. He works and serves with me in the army of Christ. When I needed help, you sent him to me. I think now that I must send him back to you
26. because he wants very much to see all of you. He is worried because you heard that he was sick.