Greeting

Paul(A) and Timothy,(B) servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,(C) including the overseers(D) and deacons.(E)

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,[a] always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day(F) until now.(G) 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. Indeed, 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 confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness,(M) how deeply I miss all of you(N) with the affection of Christ Jesus. 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 may approve the things that are superior(R) and may be pure(S) and blameless(T) in 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 and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,(Y) 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word[d](Z) fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,(AA) but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love,(AB) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition,(AC) not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives(AD) or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation[e](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 courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life(AI) or by death.(AJ)

Living Is Christ

21 For me, to live is Christ(AK) and to die 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 torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ(AO)—which is far better(AP) 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 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 my coming to you again, your boasting(AR) in Christ Jesus(AS) may abound.

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life(AT) 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, in one accord,[f] contending together for the faith(AW) of 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 salvation(AZ)—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe(BA) in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Footnotes

  1. 1:3 Or for your every remembrance of me
  2. 1:6 Or work among you
  3. 1:7 Or because you have me in your heart
  4. 1:14 Other mss add of God
  5. 1:19 Or vindication
  6. 1:27 Lit soul

Thanksgiving

(A)Paul and (B)Timothy, (C)bond-servants of (D)Christ Jesus,

To (E)all the [a](F)saints in Christ Jesus who are in (G)Philippi, [b]including the (H)overseers and (I)deacons: (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(K)I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in (L)my every prayer for you all, in view of your [c](M)participation in the (N)gospel (O)from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work [d]among you will complete it [e]by (P)the day of Christ Jesus. [f]For (Q)it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I (R)have you in my heart, since both in my [g](S)imprisonment and in the (T)defense and confirmation of the (U)gospel, you all are [h]partakers of grace with me. For (V)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the [i]affection of (W)Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that (X)your love may overflow still more and more in (Y)real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may [j](Z)discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for (AA)the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the (AB)fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Is Preached

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances (AC)have turned out for the greater progress of the (AD)gospel, 13 so that my [k](AE)imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the [l]praetorian guard and to (AF)everyone else, 14 and that most of the brothers and sisters, [m]trusting in the Lord because of my [n](AG)imprisonment, have (AH)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 15 (AI)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even [o]from envy and strife, but some also [p]from goodwill; 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 [q]rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my [r](AL)imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.

But not only that, I also will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my [s]deliverance (AM)through your [t]prayers and the provision of (AN)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my (AO)eager expectation and (AP)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with (AQ)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be (AR)exalted in my body, (AS)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

21 For to me, (AT)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 [u]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean (AU)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know [v]which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the (AV)desire to depart and (AW)be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. 25 (AX)Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy [w]in the faith, 26 so that your (AY)pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner (AZ)worthy of the (BA)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are (BB)standing firm in (BC)one spirit, with one [x]mind (BD)striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 and in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a (BE)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and this too, from God. 29 For to you (BF)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to (BG)suffer on His behalf, 30 experiencing the same (BH)conflict which (BI)you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  2. Philippians 1:1 Lit with
  3. Philippians 1:5 Or sharing in the preaching of the gospel
  4. Philippians 1:6 Or in
  5. Philippians 1:6 Lit until
  6. Philippians 1:7 Lit Just as it is right
  7. Philippians 1:7 Lit bonds
  8. Philippians 1:7 Or partners in
  9. Philippians 1:8 Lit inward parts
  10. Philippians 1:10 Or approve the things that matter
  11. Philippians 1:13 Lit bonds
  12. Philippians 1:13 Or governor’s palace
  13. Philippians 1:14 Or in the Lord, trusting because of
  14. Philippians 1:14 Lit bonds
  15. Philippians 1:15 Lit because of
  16. Philippians 1:15 Lit because of
  17. Philippians 1:17 Lit not sincerely
  18. Philippians 1:17 Lit bonds
  19. Philippians 1:19 Or salvation
  20. Philippians 1:19 Lit supplication
  21. Philippians 1:22 Or But if to live in the flesh, this will be fruitful labor for me, then I
  22. Philippians 1:22 Lit what I shall choose
  23. Philippians 1:25 Lit of
  24. Philippians 1:27 Lit soul