腓立比书 1
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
問安
1 基督耶穌的僕人保羅和提摩太，寫信給所有住在腓立比，在基督耶穌裡的聖徒、監督和執事。 2 願恩惠平安從我們的父 神和主耶穌基督臨到你們。
為信徒祈禱
3 我每逢想到你們，就感謝我的 神； 4 每次為你們大家祈求的時候，總是歡歡喜喜地祈求。 5 為了你們從頭一天直到現在都在福音的事工上有分，我就感謝我的 神。 6 我深信那在你們中間開始了美好工作的，到了基督耶穌的日子，必成全這工作。 7 為你們眾人我有這樣的思想是很恰當的，因為你們常常在我的心裡，無論我是在捆鎖之中，或是在辯護和證實福音的時候，你們都和我一同分享 神的恩典。 8 我是怎樣以基督耶穌的心腸，切切地想念你們眾人，這是 神可以為我作證的。 9 我所禱告的，是要你們的愛心，在充足的知識和各樣的見識上，多而又多， 10 使你們可以辨別是非，成為真誠無可指摘的人，直到基督的日子， 11 靠著耶穌基督結滿了公義的果子，使 神得著榮耀和讚美。
活著就是基督
12 弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的反而使福音更加興旺了， 13 以致整個宮裡的衛隊和其餘一切的人，都知道我是為了基督才受捆鎖的； 14 而且大多數主內的弟兄，因我所受的捆鎖，就篤信不疑，毫無畏懼，更勇敢地傳講 神的道。
15 有些人傳揚基督是出於嫉妒和紛爭，但也有些人是出於好意。 16 這些人是出於愛心，知道我是派來為福音辯護的。 17 那些人傳講基督卻是出於自私，動機並不純正，只想加重我在捆鎖中的煩惱。 18 那有甚麼關係呢？真心也好，假意也好，無論怎麼樣，基督總被傳開了，為此我就歡喜；並且我還要歡喜， 19 因為我知道，藉著你們的祈求和耶穌基督的靈的幫助，我一定會得到釋放。 20 我所熱切期待和盼望的，就是在凡事上我都不會羞愧，只要滿有膽量，不論生死，總要讓基督在我身上照常被尊為大。 21 因為我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。 22 但如果我仍在世上活著，能夠使我的工作有成果，我就不知道應該怎樣選擇了！ 23 我處於兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為那是好得無比的。 24 可是為了你們，我更需要活在世上。 25 我既然這樣深信，就知道還要活下去，並且要繼續和你們大家在一起，使你們在信心上有長進，有喜樂， 26 以致你們因為我要再到你們那裡去，就在基督耶穌裡更加以我為榮。
27 不過，你們行事為人（“行事為人”原文也可譯作“作公民”）應當和基督的福音相配。這樣，無論我來見你們或是不在你們中間，都可以聽到你們的情況，就是你們有同一的心志，站立得穩，為了福音的信仰齊心努力， 28 甚麼事都不怕有反對你們的人，這就證明他們要滅亡，你們要得救，這都是出於 神。 29 因為 神為了基督的緣故賜恩給你們，使你們不單是信基督，也是要為他受苦； 30 你們面對的爭戰，和你們在我身上所見過，現在又聽到的是一樣的。
Philippians 1
New Catholic Bible
Introduction
Chapter 1
Address.[a] 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with their bishops and deacons: 2 grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Joyful Prayer for the Philippians.[b] 3 I give thanks to my God every time I think of you. 4 I always pray for you, interceding for you with joy 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.[c]
7 It is only right for me to feel this way toward you, because I hold you in my heart, for you have all shared with me in God’s grace, both during my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 Indeed, God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And for this I pray: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and full insight 10 to enable you to discover what is really important, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 filled with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
News and Instructions
12 To Live Is Christ.[d] Brethren, I want you to know that what has happened to me has actually helped spread the gospel, 13 for my imprisonment has become known not only throughout the praetorium[e] but to everyone else as well. 14 And the majority of the brethren having taken encouragement in the Lord from my imprisonment, dare more than ever to proclaim the word without fear.
15 It is true that some are proclaiming Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others are doing so with goodwill. 16 These latter ones do so out of love, aware that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not in sincerity, but in an effort to increase my suffering while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter, as long as in every way, with false motives or true, that Christ is proclaimed? And in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and with the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in deliverance for me. 20 It is my firm expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but will act with complete fearlessness, now as always, so that Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by my life or by my death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.[f] 22 But if I continue living in the body, that will mean fruitful work for me. Hence, I do not know which I should choose. 23 I am pulled in opposite directions. My desire is to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far better, 24 but, it is a more urgent need for you that I remain in the body.
25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with all of you to ensure your progress and joy in the faith. 26 Thus, you will rebound with joy in Christ Jesus when I return to be with you once again.
27 Striving and Suffering for Christ.[g] Only live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or simply hear news of you from a distance, I will know that you are standing firm and united in spirit, striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and being in no way intimidated by those who oppose you.
This will be a clear sign to them of their forthcoming destruction as well as of your salvation. All of this is in accord with God’s design. 29 For it has been granted you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. 30 You are taking part in the same struggle that you have seen in me and that you now hear I am experiencing.[h]
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:1 While writing to all of the baptized—“the saints”—the author thinks in particular of the responsibility of the “bishops” (literally, “overseers”), that is, of those who, under the higher authority of the apostles and with the help of deacons (literally, “assistants”), lead and encourage the community (see 1 Tim 3:1; 5:17; Tit 1:5-9).
- Philippians 1:3 This prayer, filled with confidence and thanksgiving, gives us a glimpse of the deep attachment held by Paul, the prisoner, for the living community of Philippi that shares his concerns and his initiatives. He regards the action and life of Christians as a project that must be ceaselessly developed until the encounter with Christ at his Second Coming. Hence, he prays that believers might have the spiritual sense that will enable them to take hold of the essential, i.e., the very will of the Lord, in any situation: faith and love will help discern what is the best thing for them to do.
- Philippians 1:6 The day of Christ Jesus: the Second Coming of the Lord in all his glory, when the faithful will be with him and will share in eternal glory (see 1 Cor 1:8; Phil 1:10; 2:16; 3:20f; 1 Thes 4:17; 5:10; 2 Thes 1:10).
- Philippians 1:12 Little concerned for his own fate, the prisoner is interested only in the progress of the Good News of Christ. Certain missionaries, jealous of his success among the Gentiles, profit from his captivity to gain influence at his expense (see 1 Cor 1). Far from taking offense, Paul is able to rejoice in this: for it means that Christ is better known and loved.
Never before has he let his readers discern the profound bond that unites him to Jesus, a bond inaugurated by Baptism and sealed by the Eucharist but a bond that is lived in the whole initiative of his existence. He has already attained his spiritual maturity, and all his desire is fixed on Christ. As in the Second Letter to the Corinthians (5:6-8), he lets us glimpse his eager longing for an immediate meeting with the Savior. There is a part of him that can no longer wait for the day of the resurrection. This striking text constitutes one of the highest points of Christian mysticism. - Philippians 1:13 Praetorium: this may refer to the praetorian guard in the city of Paul’s imprisonment or to the governor’s residence in a Roman province (see Mk 15:16; Acts 23:35).
- Philippians 1:21 Paul has reached the highest level of spiritual growth.
- Philippians 1:27 At Philippi itself, Paul quickly encountered persecution (see Acts 16:19-40; 1 Thes 2:2). His mission was plagued by unceasing threats and perils (see 2 Cor 11:24—12:10). The life and activity of Christians partake of the Lord’s Passion (see Mt 5:12; Acts 5:41).
- Philippians 1:30 This verse refers to the Apostle’s earlier imprisonment in Philippi (Acts 16:29-34; 1 Thes 2:2) and to his present situation in chains.
Philippians 1
English Standard Version Anglicised
Greeting
1 Paul and Timothy, servants[a] of Christ Jesus,
To all the (A)saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the (B)overseers[b] and (C)deacons:[c]
2 (D)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 (E)I thank my God (F)in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 (G)because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began (H)a good work in you (I)will bring it to completion at (J)the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you (K)in my heart, for you are all (L)partakers with me of grace,[d] both (M)in my imprisonment and in (N)the defence and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For (O)God is my witness, (P)how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that (Q)your love may abound more and more, (R)with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, (S)and so be pure and blameless (T)for the day of Christ, 11 filled (U)with the fruit of righteousness that comes (V)through Jesus Christ, (W)to the glory and praise of God.
The Advance of the Gospel
12 I want you to know, brothers,[e] that what has happened to me has really (X)served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard[f] and (Y)to all the rest that (Z)my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold (AA)to speak the word[g] without fear.
15 (AB)Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, (AC)knowing that I am put here for (AD)the defence of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ (AE)out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
To Live Is Christ
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that (AF)through your prayers and (AG)the help of (AH)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope (AI)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full (AJ)courage now as always Christ (AK)will be honoured in my body, (AL)whether by life or by death. 21 For to me (AM)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 (AN)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is (AO)to depart and (AP)be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 (AQ)Convinced of this, (AR)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your (AS)progress and (AT)joy in the faith, 26 so that in me (AU)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
27 Only (AV)let your manner of life be (AW)worthy[h] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you (AX)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with (AY)one mind (AZ)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is (BA)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but (BB)of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For (BC)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also (BD)suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same (BE)conflict that (BF)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:1 Or slaves; Greek bondservants
- Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi
- Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi
- Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace
- Philippians 1:12 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God's family, the church; also verse 14
- Philippians 1:13 Greek in the whole praetorium
- Philippians 1:14 Some manuscripts add of God
- Philippians 1:27 Greek Only behave as citizens worthy
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.