22. So know this evidence of him: that like a son with a father, so has he served with me in the Gospel.
23. Therefore, I hope to send him to you immediately, as soon as I see what will happen concerning me.
24. But I trust in the Lord that I myself will also return to you soon.
25. Now I have considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and co-worker, and fellow soldier, and an attendant to my needs, but your Apostle.
26. For certainly, he has desired all of you, and he was saddened because you had heard that he was sick.
27. For he was sick, even unto death, but God took pity on him, and not only on him, but truly on myself also, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.
28. Therefore, I sent him more readily, in order that, by seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.
29. And so, receive him with every joy in the Lord, and treat all those like him with honor.
30. For he was brought close even to death, for the sake of the work of Christ, handing over his own life, so that he might fulfill what was lacking from you concerning my service.