4always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy,
5for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now;
6being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.
8For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.