15 (A)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 (B)making the best use of the time, because (C)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what (D)the will of the Lord is. 18 And (E)do not get drunk with wine, for that is (F)debauchery, but (G)be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in (H)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 (I)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (J)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (K)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 (L)Wives, (M)submit to your own husbands, (N)as to the Lord. 23 For (O)the husband is the head of the wife even as (P)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is (Q)himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit (R)in everything to their husbands.

25 (S)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and (T)gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by (U)the washing of water (V)with the word, 27 so (W)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, (X)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way (Y)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because (Z)we are members of his body. 31 (AA)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and (AB)the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, (AC)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she (AD)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

(AE)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (AF)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (AG)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

(AH)Bondservants,[b] obey your earthly masters[c] with fear and trembling, (AI)with a sincere heart, (AJ)as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as (AK)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (AL)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (AM)whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, (AN)and stop your threatening, knowing that (AO)he who is both their Master[d] and yours is in heaven, and that (AP)there is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, (AQ)be strong in the Lord and in (AR)the strength of his might. 11 (AS)Put on (AT)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against (AU)the schemes of the devil. 12 For (AV)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (AW)the rulers, against the authorities, against (AX)the cosmic powers over (AY)this present darkness, against (AZ)the spiritual forces of evil (BA)in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore (BB)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in (BC)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, (BD)having fastened on the belt of truth, and (BE)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, (BF)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up (BG)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all (BH)the flaming darts of (BI)the evil one; 17 and take (BJ)the helmet of salvation, and (BK)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying (BL)at all times (BM)in the Spirit, (BN)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, (BO)keep alert with all perseverance, making (BP)supplication for all the saints, 19 and (BQ)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth (BR)boldly to proclaim (BS)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I (BT)am an ambassador (BU)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

21 (BV)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, (BW)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may (BX)encourage your hearts.

23 (BY)Peace be to the brothers,[e] and (BZ)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who (CA)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:27 Or holy and blameless
  2. Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
  3. Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh
  4. Ephesians 6:9 Greek Lord
  5. Ephesians 6:23 Or brothers and sisters

Greeting

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]

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(E)I thank my God (F)in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, (G)because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 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. 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 defense and confirmation of the gospel. For (O)God is my witness, (P)how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 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 defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ (AE)out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense 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 honored 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 labor 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.

Christ's Example of Humility

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from (BG)love, any (BH)participation in the Spirit, any (BI)affection and sympathy, (BJ)complete my joy by being (BK)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from (BL)selfish ambition or (BM)conceit, but in (BN)humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you (BO)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (BP)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[i] (BQ)who, though he was in (BR)the form of God, did not count equality with God (BS)a thing to be grasped,[j] but (BT)emptied himself, by taking the form of a (BU)servant,[k] (BV)being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by (BW)becoming obedient to the point of death, (BX)even death on a cross. (BY)Therefore (BZ)God has (CA)highly exalted him and bestowed on him (CB)the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus (CC)every knee should bow, (CD)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and (CE)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is (CF)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, (CG)as you have always (CH)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for (CI)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for (CJ)his good pleasure.

14 Do all things (CK)without grumbling or (CL)disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, (CM)children of God (CN)without blemish (CO)in the midst of (CP)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine (CQ)as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to (CR)the word of life, so that in (CS)the day of Christ (CT)I may be proud that (CU)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be (CV)poured out as a drink offering upon (CW)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus (CX)to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one (CY)like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all (CZ)seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's[l] (DA)proven worth, how (DB)as a son[m] with a father (DC)he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and (DD)I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you (DE)Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and (DF)fellow soldier, and your messenger and (DG)minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So (DH)receive him in the Lord with all joy, and (DI)honor such men, 30 for he nearly died[n] (DJ)for the work of Christ, risking his life (DK)to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  2. Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi
  3. Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi
  4. Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace
  5. Philippians 1:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 14
  6. Philippians 1:13 Greek in the whole praetorium
  7. Philippians 1:14 Some manuscripts add of God
  8. Philippians 1:27 Greek Only behave as citizens worthy
  9. Philippians 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
  10. Philippians 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage
  11. Philippians 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
  12. Philippians 2:22 Greek his
  13. Philippians 2:22 Greek child
  14. Philippians 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8

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