Philippians 1
Holman Christian Standard Bible
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 deeply I 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 approve the things that are superior(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 advance of the gospel,(Y) 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,[e] and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message[f](Z) fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife,(AA) but others out of good will.[g] 16 These do so out of love,(AB) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry,(AC) not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.[h] 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives(AD) 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[i](AE) through your prayers and help from the Spirit(AF) of Jesus Christ.(AG) 20 My eager expectation and hope(AH) 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(AI) or by death.(AJ)
Living Is Christ
21 For me, living is Christ(AK) and dying is gain.(AL) 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful(AM) work(AN) 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(AO)—which is far better(AP)— 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 progress and joy in the faith,(AQ) 26 so that, because of me, your confidence may grow(AR) in Christ Jesus(AS) when I come to you again.
27 Just one thing: Live your life(AT) 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(AU) in one(AV) spirit, with one mind,[j] working side by side for the faith(AW) that comes from the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.(AX) This is a sign of destruction for them,(AY) but of your deliverance(AZ)—and this is from God. 29 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe(BA) in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:3 Or for your every remembrance of me
- Philippians 1:6 Or work among you
- Philippians 1:7 Or because you have me in your heart
- Philippians 1:10 Or until
- Philippians 1:13 Lit praetorium, a Lat word that can also refer to a military headquarters, to the governor’s palace, or to Herod’s palace.
- Philippians 1:14 Other mss add of God
- Philippians 1:15 The good will of men, or God’s good will or favor
- Philippians 1:17 Lit sincerely, intending to raise tribulation to my bonds
- Philippians 1:19 Or vindication
- Philippians 1:27 Lit soul
Philippians 1
King James Version
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
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.
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