HKB
as should hurt no man's conscience, until the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness, which fruits come by Iesus Christ unto the glory and laud of God.
I would ye understood brethren that my business is happened unto the greater furthering of the gospell. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest thorow out all the judgement hall: and in all other places, In so much that many of the brethren in the lord are boldened thorow my bonds, and dare more largely speak the word without fear. Some there are which preach Christ of envy and strife, and some of goodwill. The one part preacheth Christ of strife, and not purely, supposing to add more adversity to my bonds. The other part of love, because they see that I am set to defend to Gospell.
What thing is this? Notwithstanding by all manner ways, whether it be by occasion or of truth, yet Christ is preached: and therefore I joy. Yee and will joy. For I know that this shall be for my health, thorow your prayer, and ministering of the spirit of Iesu Christ, as I heartily look for and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed: but that with all confidence, as always in times past, even so now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be thorow life, or else death. For Christ is to me life, and death is to me advantage.
If it chance me to live in the flesh, that is to me fruitful for to work, and what to choose I wot not. I am constrained of two things: I desire to be lowsed, and to be with Christ, which thing is best of all: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And this am I sure of, that I shall abide, and with you all continue, for the furtherance and joy of your faith, that ye may more abundantly rejoice in Iesus Christ thorow me, by my coming to you again.
Only let your conversation be, as it becometh the gospell of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may yet hear of you, that ye continue in one spirit, and in one soul laboring as we do to maintain the faith of the gospell, and in nothing fearing your adversaries: which is to them a token of perdition, and to you a sign of health, and that of God. For unto you it is given, that not only ye should believe on Christ: but also suffer for his sake, and have even the same fight which ye saw me have and now hear of me.
The .ij. Chapter.
If there be among you any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfortable love, if there be any fellowship of the spirit, if there be any compassion of mercy: fulfil my joy, that ye draw one way, having one love, being of one accord, and of one mind, that nothing be done thorow strife or vain glory, but in meekness of mind. Let every person think every other man better than himself, so that ye consider every man, not what is in himself: But what is in other men.
Let the same mind be in you the which was in Christ Iesu: Which being in the shape of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Nevertheless he made himself of no reputation, and took on him the shape of a servant, and became like unto men, and was found in his apparel as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath exalted him, and given him a name above all names: that in the name of Iesus should every knee bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under earth, and that all tongues should confess that Iesus Christ is the lord unto the praise of God the father.