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Philippians 1
New International Version
Philippians 1
New International Version
1 Paul and Timothy,(A) servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people(B) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,(C) together with the overseers(D) and deacons[a]:(E)
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you.(G) 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray(H) with joy 5 because of your partnership(I) in the gospel from the first day(J) until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion(K) until the day of Christ Jesus.(L)
7 It is right(M) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart(N) and, whether I am in chains(O) or defending(P) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify(Q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love(R) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(S) 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,(T) 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness(U) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains(V) for Christ. 14 And because of my chains,(W) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.(X)
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.(Y) 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,(Z) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.(AA) 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(AB) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ(AC) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d](AD) 20 I eagerly expect(AE) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage(AF) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,(AG) whether by life or by death.(AH) 21 For to me, to live is Christ(AI) 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(AJ) and be with Christ,(AK) 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(AL) 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(AM) in the one Spirit,[e] striving together(AN) 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(AO) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(AP) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(AQ) you saw(AR) I had, and now hear(AS) that I still have.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.
- Philippians 1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.
- Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace
- Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
- Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit
Philippians 1
Legacy Standard Bible
Philippians 1
Legacy Standard Bible
Thanksgiving
1 (A)Paul and (B)Timothy, (C)slaves of (D)Christ Jesus,
To (E)all the [a](F)saints in Christ Jesus who are in (G)Philippi, with the (H)overseers and (I)deacons: 2 (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 (K)I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in (L)my every prayer for you all, 5 because of your [b](M)fellowship in the (N)gospel (O)from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until (P)the day of Christ Jesus. 7 [c]For (Q)it is only right for me to think this way about you all, because I (R)have you in my heart, since both in my (S)chains and in the (T)defense and confirmation of the (U)gospel, you all are fellow partakers with me in this grace. 8 For (V)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the [d]affection of (W)Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that (X)your love may abound still more and more in (Y)full knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may [e](Z)approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault [f]until (AA)the day of Christ, 11 having been filled with the (AB)fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
The Progress of the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances (AC)have turned out for the greater progress of the (AD)gospel, 13 so that my (AE)chains in Christ have become well known throughout the whole [g]praetorian guard and to (AF)everyone else, 14 and that most of the [h]brothers, having become confident in the Lord because of my (AG)chains, have (AH)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 15 (AI)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even [i]from envy and strife, but some also [j]from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the (AJ)gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ (AK)out of selfish ambition [k]rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me affliction in my (AL)chains. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that (AM)this will turn out for my salvation (AN)through your [l]prayers and the provision of (AO)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my (AP)earnest expectation and (AQ)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with (AR)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be (AS)magnified in my body, (AT)whether by life or by death.
To Live Is Christ
21 For to me, (AU)to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 [m]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean (AV)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know what I will choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed [n]between the two, having the (AW)desire to depart and (AX)be with Christ, for that is very much better, 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 (AY)And convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy [o]in the faith, 26 so that your reason for (AZ)boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me, through my coming to you again.
27 Only [p]live your lives in a manner (BA)worthy of the (BB)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about your circumstances, that you are (BC)standing firm in (BD)one spirit, with one [q]mind (BE)contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a (BF)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you (BG)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to (BH)suffer for His sake, 30 having the same (BI)struggle which (BJ)you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:1 Or holy ones
- Philippians 1:5 Or partnership in the preaching of the gospel
- Philippians 1:7 Lit Just as it is right
- Philippians 1:8 Lit inward parts
- Philippians 1:10 Or discover, distinguish between the things which differ
- Philippians 1:10 Or for
- Philippians 1:13 Or governor’s palace
- Philippians 1:14 Or brothers in the Lord, trusting because of my chains
- Philippians 1:15 Lit because of
- Philippians 1:15 Lit because of
- Philippians 1:17 Lit not sincerely
- Philippians 1:19 Lit supplication
- Philippians 1:22 Or But if to live in the flesh, this will be fruitful labor for me, then I
- Philippians 1:23 Lit from
- Philippians 1:25 Lit of
- Philippians 1:27 To lead one’s life as a citizen, cf. 3:20
- Philippians 1:27 Lit soul
Philippians 1
English Standard Version
Philippians 1
English Standard Version
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 defense 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 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.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
- 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. 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
- 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
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.