Chapter I.—As a prisoner, I hope to...

Chapter I.—As a prisoner, I hope to see you.

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, p. 74 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.

Footnotes

73:822

Some read, “since I have,” leaving out the following “for,” and finding the apodosis in “I hope to salute you.”

73:823

Literally, “worthy of God.”

73:824

Some read, “which I much desired to do.”

74:825

Literally, “to receive.”

74:826

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

74:827

Literally, “worthy of God.”

74:828

Literally, “to receive.”

74:829

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

74:830

Some read γε instead of μή, and translate as in shorter recension.