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Thanksgiving

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed),

To all the saints (God’s people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God in every remembrance of you, always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].(A) It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me]. And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, 10 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].

The Gospel Is Preached

12 Now I want you to know, [a]believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation]. 13 My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole [b]praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else. 14 Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the [c]brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances]. 15 Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. 16 The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel; 17 but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice [later as well], 19 for I know [with confidence] that this will turn out for my deliverance and spiritual well-being, through your prayers and the [superabundant] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [which upholds me]. 20 It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

21 For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity]. 22 If, however, it is to be life here and I am to go on living, this will mean useful and productive service for me; so I do not know which to choose [if I am given that choice]. 23 But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; 24 yet to remain in my body is more necessary and essential for your sake. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your rejoicing for me may overflow in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

27 Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one [d]mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel. 28 And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. 29 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which [e]you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:12 Lit brethren.
  2. Philippians 1:13 This word is derived from the Latin praetor (leader, commander). Paul’s use of the word here indicates that he is referring to the troops who served as the emperor’s bodyguard, and evidently were also entrusted with the custody of prisoners who had come to Rome on appeal.
  3. Philippians 1:14 Lit brethren.
  4. Philippians 1:27 Lit soul.
  5. Philippians 1:30 Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned in Philippi during their first trip to the region. See Acts 16:19-40.

From Paul Paulos and kai Timothy Timotheos, servants of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, to all pas the ho saints hagios in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous who ho are eimi in en Philippi Philippoi, along with syn the overseers episkopos and kai deacons diakonos: Grace charis to you hymeis and kai peace eirēnē from apo God theos our hēmeis Father patēr and kai the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos.

I thank eucharisteō · ho my egō God theos every time epi · ho I remember mneia you hymeis. Always pantote in en every pas prayer deēsis of mine egō for hyper all pas of you hymeis I pray ho with meta joy chara, because epi of · ho your hymeis partnership koinōnia in eis the ho gospel euangelion from apo the ho first prōtos day hēmera until achri · ho now nyn. For I am confident peithō of this very autos thing houtos, that hoti he ho who began enarchomai a good agathos work ergon in en you hymeis will bring it to completion epiteleō at achri the day hēmera of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. It is eimi right dikaios for me egō to feel phroneō this houtos way about hyper all pas of you hymeis, because dia I egō have echō you hymeis in en my ho heart kardia, since both te in en · ho my egō imprisonment desmos and kai in en the ho defense apologia and kai confirmation bebaiōsis of the ho gospel euangelion, you hymeis all pas share with synkoinōnos me egō in the ho grace charis of God. For gar God theos is my egō witness martys · ho that hōs I long epipotheō for all pas of you hymeis with en the affection splanchnon of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. And kai this houtos I pray proseuchomai, that hina · ho your hymeis love agapē may abound perisseuō more mallon and kai more mallon, with en knowledge epignōsis and kai all pas discernment aisthēsis, 10 so that eis you hymeis may determine dokimazō what ho is essential diapherō, and so hina be eimi pure eilikrinēs and kai without blame aproskopos on eis the day hēmera of Christ Christos, 11 filled with plēroō the fruit karpos of righteousness dikaiosynē that ho comes through dia Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, to eis the glory doxa and kai praise epainos of God theos.

12 Now de I want boulomai you hymeis to know ginōskō, brothers adelphos, that hoti what ho has happened to kata me egō has turned out erchomai to eis advance prokopē the ho gospel euangelion even more mallon, 13 so that hōste it has become ginomai known phaneros throughout en the ho entire holos palace guard praitōrion, and kai by ho everyone pas else loipos, that · ho my egō imprisonment desmos is for en Christ Christos, 14 and kai that · ho most polys of the ho brothers adelphos, having gained confidence peithō in en the Lord kyrios by ho my egō imprisonment desmos, dare tolmaō more than ever perissoterōs to speak laleō the ho word logos of God without fear aphobōs.

15 To be sure men, some tis · kai are proclaiming kēryssō Christ Christos out of dia envy phthonos and kai strife eris, but de others tis · kai out dia of goodwill eudokia. · ho 16 The ho latter men do it out of ek love agapē, knowing oida that hoti I am here keimai for eis the defense apologia of the ho gospel euangelion. 17 The ho former de proclaim katangellō Christ Christos out of ek a sense of hostility eritheia, · ho not ou sincerely hagnōs, intending oiomai to increase egeirō my distress thlipsis while I egō am in ho prison desmos.

18 What tis then gar? Only plēn that hoti in every pas way tropos, whether eite in pretense prophasis or eite in truth alētheia, Christ Christos is proclaimed katangellō; and kai in en that houtos I rejoice chairō. Yes alla, and kai I will continue to rejoice chairō. 19 For gar I know oida that hoti this houtos will turn out apobainō for eis my egō deliverance sōtēria through dia · ho your hymeis prayers deēsis and kai the help epichorēgia of the ho Spirit pneuma of Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos. 20 It is kata · ho my egō earnest expectation apokaradokia and kai hope elpis that hoti I will in en no way oudeis be put to shame, but alla that with en complete pas boldness parrēsia, now nyn as hōs always pantote, · kai Christ Christos will be exalted megalynō in en · ho my egō body sōma, whether eite by dia life zōē or eite by dia death thanatos. 21 For gar to me egō, to live zaō is Christ Christos and kai to die apothnēskō is gain kerdos. 22 If ei · de I am to go on living zaō in en the flesh sarx, that houtos means fruitful karpos labor ergon for me egō; yet kai I do gnōrizō not ou know gnōrizō which tis I would prefer haireō. 23 I am hard pressed synechō · de between ek the ho two dyo, in that I have echō the ho desire epithumia to eis depart analyō and kai be eimi with syn Christ Christos, for gar that is much mallon better kreittōn by far polys, 24 yet de for dia your hymeis sake dia it is better anankaios that I remain epimenō in en the ho flesh sarx. 25 So kai, convinced of peithō this houtos, I know oida that hoti I will remain menō, and kai I will continue paramenō with all pas of you hymeis for eis · ho your hymeis progress prokopē and kai joy chara in the ho faith pistis, 26 so that hina when dia I emos come parousia again palin to pros you hymeis, · ho your hymeis boasting kauchēma in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous might abound perisseuō because en of me egō. · ho

27 Only monon conduct yourselves politeuomai in a manner worthy axiōs of the ho gospel euangelion of ho Christ Christos, so that hina, whether eite I come erchomai and kai see you hymeis or eite remain apeimi away , I may hear akouō that hoti you are standing stēkō firm in en one heis spirit pneuma, striving side by side with synathleō one heis mind psychē for the ho faith pistis of the ho gospel euangelion, 28 and kai are in en no way mēdeis frightened ptyrō by hypo your ho opponents antikeimai. This hostis is eimi a sign endeixis of destruction apōleia for them autos, but de of salvation sōtēria for you hymeis and kai that houtos from apo God theos. 29 For hoti it has been granted charizomai to you hymeis on behalf of hyper Christ Christos, not ou only monon to believe pisteuō in eis him autos but alla also kai to suffer paschō for hyper him autos, 30 since you are experiencing echō the ho same autos conflict agōn which hoios you saw me egō in en, and kai now nyn hear akouō that I egō still face en.