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Philippians 1-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Salutation

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops[a] and deacons:[b]

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

Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

3 I thank my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy 5 for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.(B) 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete[c] it until the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart,[d] for all of you are my partners in God’s grace,[e] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.(C) 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the tender affection of Christ Jesus.(D) 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight(E) 10 to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest[f] of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Present Circumstances

12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the progress of the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard[g] and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ, 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word[h] with greater boldness and without fear.

15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my salvation.(F) 20 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way but that by my speaking with all boldness Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.(G) 21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,(H) 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ Jesus because of me.(I)

27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel 28 and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.(J) 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well,(K) 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.(L)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy,(M) 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.(N) 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.(O) 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.(P) 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[i] in Christ Jesus,(Q)

6 who, though he existed in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be grasped,(R)
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,(S)
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.(T)

9 Therefore God exalted him even more highly
    and gave him the name
    that is above every other name,(U)
10 so that at the name given to Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(V)
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.(W)

Shining as Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling,(X) 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing,(Y) 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world,(Z) 16 holding forth the word of life so that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.(AA)

17 But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice, and I rejoice together with all of you;(AB) 18 in the same way also you should rejoice and rejoice together with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I, too, may be consoled by news of you. 20 I have no one so like myself who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.(AC) 22 But Timothy’s[j] worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.(AD) 23 I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.

25 Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and coworker and fellow soldier, your messenger[k] and minister to my need,(AE) 26 for he has been longing for[l] all of you and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again and that I may be less anxious. 29 Welcome him, then, in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people,(AF) 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ,[m] risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.

Breaking with the Past

To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a source of steadfastness.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh![n](AG) 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God[o] and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh(AH)— 4 even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh.

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;(AI) 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.(AJ) 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ(AK) 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in Christ,[p] the righteousness from God based on faith.(AL) 10 I want to know Christ[q] and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.(AM)

Pressing toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal,[r] but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ[s] has laid hold of me.(AN) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold[t] of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,(AO) 14 I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly[u] call of God in Christ Jesus.(AP) 15 Let those of us, then, who are mature[v] think this way, and if you think differently about anything, this, too, God will reveal to you.(AQ) 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.(AR)

17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.(AS) 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.(AT) 19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.(AU) 20 But our citizenship[w] is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation[x] that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,[y] by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.(AV) 4 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Exhortations

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion,[z] help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.(AW)

4 Rejoice[aa] in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.[ab](AX) 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.(AY) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.(AZ) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(BA)

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about[ac] these things. 9 As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.(BB)

Acknowledgment of the Philippians’ Gift

10 I rejoice[ad] in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me but had no opportunity to show it.[ae](BC) 11 Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.(BD) 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.(BE) 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.(BF) 14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

15 You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.(BG) 16 For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit[af] that accumulates to your account.(BH) 18 I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.(BI) 19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.(BJ) 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.(BK)

Final Greetings and Benediction

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[ag]

Footnotes

  1. 1.1 Or overseers
  2. 1.1 Or helpers
  3. 1.6 Or perfect
  4. 1.7 Or because you hold me in your heart
  5. 1.7 Gk in grace
  6. 1.11 Gk fruit
  7. 1.13 Gk whole praetorium
  8. 1.14 Other ancient authorities read word of God
  9. 2.5 Or that you have
  10. 2.22 Gk his
  11. 2.25 Gk apostle
  12. 2.26 Other ancient authorities read longing to see
  13. 2.30 Other ancient authorities read of the Lord
  14. 3.2 Gk the mutilation
  15. 3.3 Other ancient authorities read worship God in spirit
  16. 3.9 Or through the faith of Christ
  17. 3.10 Gk him
  18. 3.12 Or have already been made perfect
  19. 3.12 Other ancient authorities read Christ Jesus
  20. 3.13 Other ancient authorities read yet laid hold
  21. 3.14 Gk upward
  22. 3.15 Or perfect
  23. 3.20 Or commonwealth
  24. 3.21 Or our humble bodies
  25. 3.21 Or his glorious body
  26. 4.3 Or loyal Syzygus
  27. 4.4 Or Farewell
  28. 4.4 Or Farewell
  29. 4.8 Gk take account of
  30. 4.10 Gk I rejoiced
  31. 4.10 Gk lacks to show it
  32. 4.17 Gk fruit
  33. 4.23 Other ancient authorities add Amen
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Ephesians 6
Colossians 1
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.