14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

14 And because of my chains,(A) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.(B)

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.(C) 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,(D) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.(E) 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers(F) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ(G) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[a](H) 20 I eagerly expect(I) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage(J) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,(K) whether by life or by death.(L) 21 For to me, to live is Christ(M) and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart(N) and be with Christ,(O) which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy(P) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm(Q) in the one Spirit,[b] striving together(R) as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you(S) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(T) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(U) you saw(V) I had, and now hear(W) that I still have.

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(X) if any tenderness and compassion,(Y) then make my joy complete(Z) by being like-minded,(AA) having the same love, being one(AB) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(AC) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(AD) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(AE)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(AF)

Who, being in very nature[c] God,(AG)
    did not consider equality with God(AH) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(AI)
    by taking the very nature[d] of a servant,(AJ)
    being made in human likeness.(AK)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(AL)
        even death on a cross!(AM)

Therefore God exalted him(AN) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(AO)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(AP)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(AQ)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(AR)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(AS) 13 for it is God who works in you(AT) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(AU)

14 Do everything without grumbling(AV) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(AW) and pure, “children of God(AX) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[e](AY) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
  2. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit
  3. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  4. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  5. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5