Through prayer [822] to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, [823] and have even [824] been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to [825] my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, [826] lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye spare me.

Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, [827] even as I earnestly begged might be granted me; for as a prisoner in Christ Jesus I hope to salute you, if indeed it be the will [of God] that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to [828] my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, [829] lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye do not spare me, [830] under the pretence of carnal affection.

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Footnotes:

[822] Some read, "since I have," leaving out the following "for," and finding the apodosis in "I hope to salute you."

[823] Literally, "worthy of God."

[824] Some read, "which I much desired to do."

[825] Literally, "to receive."

[826] He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.

[827] Literally, "worthy of God."

[828] Literally, "to receive."

[829] He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.

[830] Some read ge instead of me, and translate as in shorter recension.