“Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.”
Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, because for the sake of the work of Christ he came close to death, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me — the final exhortation recaps: welcome, rejoice, honor. 'In the Lord' frames all reception as Christ-reality. 'For the work of Christ' (hyper tou ergou Christou) shows his sacrifice is ultimately for Christ, not merely Paul. His near-death completes what was 'lacking' (hysterēma) in their service: his body substitutes for their presence. This is Pauline mysticism: bodies offered in service to Christ.
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