問安

基督耶穌的奴僕保羅提摩太

致住在腓立比,在基督耶穌裡的所有聖徒,包括各位監督和執事[a]

願恩典與平安從神我們的父和主耶穌基督臨到你們!

感恩與禱告

每當想到你們,我就感謝我的神; 每次為你們大家祈禱的時候,我總是懷著喜樂的心祈禱, 因你們從第一天到如今,一直在福音工作上相契合[b] 我正是深信這一點:就是在你們裡面開始了美善工作的那一位,將會完成這工作,直到基督耶穌的日子[c] 我理當這樣思念你們大家,因為你們常把我放在心上[d];無論我是在捆鎖當中,還是在為福音辯護或做見證的時候,你們都是在恩典上與我一同有份。 實際上,神可以為我見證:我是怎樣以基督耶穌的情感,切切地想念你們大家的。 我是這樣禱告的:願你們的愛心能在真正的知識和一切分辨力上,越來越豐足有餘, 10 使你們能分辨是非[e],好在基督的日子裡是純潔、無可指責的, 11 並且充滿了那藉著耶穌基督而來的義行果子,歸於神的榮耀和稱讚。

福音得以廣傳

12 弟兄們,我願你們知道,我的遭遇反而促進了福音的進展, 13 以致整個王宮衛隊[f]和所有其餘的人,都清楚我是為基督的緣故被捆鎖的; 14 並且大多數的弟兄因著我所受的捆鎖,就在主裡深信不疑、無所懼怕,更加大膽地傳講這話語[g] 15 有些人傳揚基督固然是出於嫉妒和紛爭,但也有些人是出於好意。 16 後者是出於愛,知道我是為辯護福音而受委派的;[h] 17 前者傳講基督是出於爭競[i],不是出於真誠,想要在我的捆鎖中,增加[j]我的患難。[k] 18 這到底有什麼關係呢?只是在各種方法中,無論是假意還是真心,基督都被傳開了;我為此就歡喜,並且還要歡喜, 19 因為我知道,藉著你們的祈禱和耶穌基督之靈的幫助,事情將為我轉變以致我獲救。 20 我的熱切盼望和期待是:我在任何事上都將不至於蒙羞;而現在也能像往常一樣,無論藉著生,還是藉著死,總要滿有膽量地讓基督在我身上被尊為大。

活著就是基督

21 因為對我來說,活著就是基督,死去就有益處。 22 但如果我繼續活在世上[l],這就使我有工作的成果[m],於是我不明白該怎樣選擇了。 23 我正處在兩難之間:我渴望離世與基督在一起,因為這是好得無比的; 24 可是為了你們的緣故,我更需要留在世上[n] 25 既然我深信這一點,就知道我會活下去[o],並且將繼續和你們大家在一起,好使你們在信仰上有長進、有喜樂。 26 以致因著我再次到你們那裡去,你們在基督耶穌裡,對我的誇耀能充實滿溢。

27 只是你們行事為人[p]要配得上基督的福音,好讓我無論是來見你們,還是不在你們那裡的時候,都可以聽到有關你們的事,就是你們懷有一個心志站立得穩,同心合意地為福音的信仰一起奮戰; 28 在任何事上都不被反對你們的人嚇倒——這對他們是滅亡[q]的證明,而對你們卻是得救的證明,並且這是出於神。 29 原來你們為基督所蒙的恩是:不僅要信基督,而且還要為他受苦, 30 去經歷你們在我身上所看到、現在又聽到的那同樣的爭戰。

Footnotes

  1. 腓立比書 1:1 執事——或譯作「僕人」。
  2. 腓立比書 1:5 相契合——或譯作「溝通」或「分享」。
  3. 腓立比書 1:6 日子——指「基督再來的日子」。
  4. 腓立比書 1:7 你們常把我放在心上——或譯作「我常把你們放在心上」。
  5. 腓立比書 1:10 是非——或譯作「那些更重要的事」。
  6. 腓立比書 1:13 王宮衛隊——原文直譯「總統府」。
  7. 腓立比書 1:14 這話語——有古抄本作「神的話語」。
  8. 腓立比書 1:16 有古抄本作第17節。
  9. 腓立比書 1:17 爭競——或譯作「結黨」。
  10. 腓立比書 1:17 增加——有古抄本作「喚起」。
  11. 腓立比書 1:17 有古抄本作第16節。
  12. 腓立比書 1:22 在世上——原文直譯「在肉身中」。
  13. 腓立比書 1:22 成果——原文直譯「果子」。
  14. 腓立比書 1:24 在世上——原文直譯「在肉身中」。
  15. 腓立比書 1:25 活下去——原文直譯「留下來」。
  16. 腓立比書 1:27 行事為人——原文直譯「像好公民那樣生活」。
  17. 腓立比書 1:28 滅亡——或譯作「沉淪」。

Greeting

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the [a]bishops and (A)deacons:

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

Thankfulness and Prayer

(B)I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in (C)every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, (D)for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun (E)a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness (F)which are by Jesus Christ, (G)to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident (H)to the whole [b]palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 [c]The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

19 For I know that (I)this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but (J)with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life (K)or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I [d]cannot tell. 23 [e]For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a (L)desire to depart and be with Christ, which is (M)far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that (N)your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ

27 Only (O)let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, (P)with one mind (Q)striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but [f]to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you (R)it has been granted on behalf of Christ, (S)not only to believe in Him, but also to (T)suffer for His sake, 30 (U)having the same conflict (V)which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 Lit. overseers
  2. Philippians 1:13 Or Praetorium
  3. Philippians 1:16 NU reverses vv. 16 and 17.
  4. Philippians 1:22 do not know
  5. Philippians 1:23 NU, M But
  6. Philippians 1:28 NU of your salvation

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)

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I thank my God every time I remember you.(G) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray(H) with joy because of your partnership(I) in the gospel from the first day(J) until now, 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)

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. God can testify(Q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace
  4. Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
  5. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit