Philippians 1-4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Philippians 1

Greeting

 ¹ Paul ^(A) and Timothy, ^(B) slaves of Christ Jesus:

    To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, ^(C) including the overseers ^(D) and deacons. ^(E)

    ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

   

Thanksgiving and Prayer

 ³ I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, ^{[a] 4} always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day ^(F) until now. ^{(G) 6} I am sure of this, that He who started a good work ^(H) in you ^[b] will carry it on to completion ^(I) until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ It is right ^(J) for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, ^[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment ^(K) and in the defense ^(L) and establishment of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, ^(M) how I deeply miss all of you ^(N) with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And I pray this: that your love ^(O) will keep on growing ^(P) in knowledge and every kind of discernment, ^{(Q) 10} so that you can determine what really matters ^(R) and can be pure ^(S) and blameless ^(T) in ^[d] the day of Christ, ^{(U) 11} filled with the fruit ^(V) of righteousness ^(W) that [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory ^(X) and praise of God.

   

Advance of the Gospel

 ¹² Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, ^{(Y) 13} so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, ^[e] and to everyone else, that my imprisonment ^(Z) is for Christ. ^{[f] 14} Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message ^{(AA) [g]} fearlessly. ¹⁵ Some, to be sure, preach Christ out of envy and strife, ^(AB) but others out of good will. ^{[h] 16} These do so out of love, ^(AC) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷ the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, ^(AD) not sincerely, seeking to cause [me] trouble in my imprisonment. ^{[i] 18} What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives ^(AE) or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice ¹⁹ because I know this will lead to my deliverance ^{(AF) [j]} through your prayers and help from the Spirit ^(AG) of Jesus Christ. ^{(AH) 20} My eager expectation and hope ^(AI) is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life ^(AJ) or by death. ^(AK)

   

Living Is Christ

 ²¹ For me, living is Christ ^(AL) and dying is gain. ^{(AM) 22} Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful ^(AN) work ^(AO) for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. ²³ I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ ^(AP) —which is far better ^(AQ) — ²⁴ but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. ²⁵ Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith, ^{(AR) 26} so that, because of me, your confidence may grow ^(AS) in Christ Jesus ^(AT) when I come to you again.

    ²⁷ Just one thing: live your life ^(AU) in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm ^(AV) in one ^(AW) spirit, with one mind, ^[k] working side by side for the faith ^(AX) of the gospel, ²⁸ not being frightened in any way by your opponents. ^(AY) This is evidence of their destruction, ^(AZ) but of your deliverance ^(BA) —and this is from God. ²⁹ For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe ^(BB) in Him, but also to suffer for Him, ³⁰ having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear about me.

Philippians 2

Christian Humility

 ¹ If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, ^(BC) if any fellowship with the Spirit, ^(BD) if any affection and mercy, ^{(BE) 2} fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, ^(BF) having the same love, ^(BG) sharing the same feelings, focusing on one ^(BH) goal. ³ Do nothing out of rivalry ^(BI) or conceit, ^(BJ) but in humility ^(BK) consider others as more important ^(BL) than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look out not [only] for his own interests, ^(BM) but also for the interests of others. ^(BN)

   

Christ's Humility and Exaltation

 ⁵ Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

    ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God ^(BO)

    as something to be used for His own advantage. ^[l]

    ⁷ Instead He emptied Himself ^(BP) by assuming the form of a slave, ^(BQ)

    taking on the likeness of men. ^(BR)

    And when He had come as a man in His external form,

    ⁸ He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

    to the point of death—even to death on a cross. ^(BS)

    ⁹ For this reason God also highly exalted Him ^(BT)

    and gave Him the name that is above every name,

    ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—

    of those who are in heaven ^(BU) and on earth and under the earth ^(BV) —

    ¹¹ and every tongue ^(BW) should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory ^(BX) of God the Father.

   

Lights in the World

 ¹² So then, my dear friends, ^(BY) just as you have always obeyed, ^(BZ) not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you, [enabling you] both to will and to act for His good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling ^(CA) and arguing, ^{(CB) 15} so that you may be blameless ^(CC) and pure, ^(CD) children of God who are faultless ^(CE) in a crooked ^(CF) and perverted ^(CG) generation, ^(CH) among whom you shine like stars in the world. ¹⁶ Hold firmly ^[m] the message ^(CI) of life. Then I can boast ^(CJ) in the day of Christ ^(CK) that I didn't run in vain or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out ^(CL) as a drink offering ^(CM) on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

   

Timothy and Epaphroditus

 ¹⁹ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus ^(CN) to send Timothy ^(CO) to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you. ²⁰ For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; ²¹ all seek their own interests, ^(CP) not those of Jesus Christ. ^{(CQ) 22} But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. ²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly. ^(CR)

    ²⁵ But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus ^(CS) —my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need ^(CT) — ²⁶ since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another. ²⁸ For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious. ²⁹ Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work ^(CU) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

Philippians 3

Knowing Christ

 ¹ Finally, my brothers, rejoice ^(CV) in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.

    ² Watch out for "dogs," ^[n] watch out for evil ^(CW) workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, ^(CX) the ones who serve by the Spirit ^(CY) of God, boast in Christ Jesus, ^(CZ) and do not put confidence in the flesh— ⁴ although I once had confidence in the flesh too. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day; ^(DA) of the nation of Israel, ^(DB) of the tribe of Benjamin, ^(DC) a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, ^(DD) a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(DE) persecuting ^(DF) the church; as to the righteousness that is in the law, ^(DG) blameless. ^(DH)

    ⁷ But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value ^(DI) of knowing Christ ^(DJ) Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ ^{(DK) 9} and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, ^(DL) but one that is through faith in Christ ^[o] —the righteousness from God based on faith. ^{(DM) 10} [My goal] is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, ^(DN) being conformed to His death, ^{(DO) 11} assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

   

Reaching Forward to God's Goal

 ¹² Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold ^(DP) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers, I do not ^[p] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind ^(DQ) and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴ I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly ^[q] call in Christ Jesus. ^{(DR) 15} Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal ^(DS) this to you also. ¹⁶ In any case, we should live up to whatever [truth] we have attained. ¹⁷ Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross ^(DT) of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory ^(DU) is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, ²⁰ but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious ^(DV) body, ^(DW) by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

Philippians 4

Practical Counsel

 ¹ So then, in this way, my dearly loved brothers, my joy and crown, ^(DX) stand firm ^(DY) in the Lord, dear friends. ² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I also ask you, true partner, ^[r] to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers whose names are in the book of life. ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ^{(DZ) 6} Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses ^(EA) every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ^(EB)

    ⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true, ^(EC) whatever is honorable, ^(ED) whatever is just, ^(EE) whatever is pure, ^(EF) whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence ^(EG) and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. ⁹ Do what you have learned and received ^(EH) and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

   

Appreciation of Support

 ¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now ^(EI) at last you have renewed your care for me. ^(EJ) You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity [to show it]. ¹¹ I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. ^(EK) In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content]—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. ¹³ I am able to do all things through Him ^[s] who strengthens me. ^{(EL) 14} Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.

    ¹⁵ And you, Philippians, ^(EM) know that in the early days of the gospel, ^(EN) when I left Macedonia, ^(EO) no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ^(EP) you sent [gifts] for my need ^(EQ) several times. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit ^(ER) that is increasing to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full, ^(ES) and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus ^(ET) what you provided—a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing ^(EU) to God. ¹⁹ And my God ^(EV) will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father ^(EW) be glory forever and ever. ^(EX) Amen. ^(EY)

   

Final Greetings

 ²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Those brothers who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, but especially those from Caesar's ^(EZ) household. ^{(FA) 23} The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ^{(FB) [t]}