9 And this I pray, that ayour love may abound still more and more in breal knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may 1aapprove the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless 2until bthe day of Christ;

11 having been filled with the afruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Is Preached

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances ahave turned out for the greater progress of the bgospel,

13 so that my 1aimprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole 2praetorian guard and to beveryone else,

14 and that most of the 1brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my 2aimprisonment, have bfar more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

15 aSome, to be sure, are preaching Christ even 1from envy and strife, but some also 1from good will;

16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the agospel;

17 the former proclaim Christ aout of selfish ambition 1rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my 2bimprisonment.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice,