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Thanksgiving

(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: (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, because of your [b](M)fellowship 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 in you will perfect it until (P)the day of Christ Jesus. [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. For (V)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the [d]affection of (W)Christ Jesus. 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

  1. Philippians 1:1 Or holy ones
  2. Philippians 1:5 Or partnership in the preaching of the gospel
  3. Philippians 1:7 Lit Just as it is right
  4. Philippians 1:8 Lit inward parts
  5. Philippians 1:10 Or discover, distinguish between the things which differ
  6. Philippians 1:10 Or for
  7. Philippians 1:13 Or governor’s palace
  8. Philippians 1:14 Or brothers in the Lord, trusting because of my chains
  9. Philippians 1:15 Lit because of
  10. Philippians 1:15 Lit because of
  11. Philippians 1:17 Lit not sincerely
  12. Philippians 1:19 Lit supplication
  13. Philippians 1:22 Or But if to live in the flesh, this will be fruitful labor for me, then I
  14. Philippians 1:23 Lit from
  15. Philippians 1:25 Lit of
  16. Philippians 1:27 To lead one’s life as a citizen, cf. 3:20
  17. Philippians 1:27 Lit soul

Greeting

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

To all those in Philippi who are God’s people in Christ Jesus, along with your supervisors[a] and servants.[b]

May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Thanksgiving and prayer

I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace, both during my time in prison and in the defense and support of the gospel. God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.

This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. 10 I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. 11 I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God.

Priority of the gospel

12 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the things that have happened to me have actually advanced the gospel. 13 The whole Praetorian Guard and everyone else knows that I’m in prison for Christ. 14 Most of the brothers and sisters have had more confidence through the Lord to speak the word boldly and bravely because of my jail time. 15 Some certainly preach Christ with jealous and competitive motives, but others preach with good motives. 16 They are motivated by love, because they know that I’m put here to give a defense of the gospel; 17 the others preach Christ because of their selfish ambition. They are insincere, hoping to cause me more pain while I’m in prison.

18 What do I think about this? Just this: since Christ is proclaimed in every possible way, whether from dishonest or true motives, I’m glad and I’ll continue to be glad. 19 I’m glad because I know that this will result in my release through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 It is my expectation and hope that I won’t be put to shame in anything. Rather, I hope with daring courage that Christ’s greatness will be seen in my body, now as always, whether I live or die. 21 Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. 22 If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work. 23 But I don’t know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for your sake. 25 I’m sure of this: I will stay alive and remain with all of you to help your progress and the joy of your faith, 26 and to increase your pride in Christ Jesus through my presence when I visit you again.

Live worthy of the gospel

27 Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel. Do this, whether I come and see you or I’m absent and hear about you. Do this so that you stand firm, united in one spirit and mind as you struggle together to remain faithful to the gospel. 28 That way, you won’t be afraid of anything your enemies do. Your faithfulness and courage are a sign of their coming destruction and your salvation, which is from God. 29 God has generously granted you the privilege, not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Christ’s sake. 30 You are having the same struggle that you saw me face and now hear that I’m still facing.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 Or overseers, bishops
  2. Philippians 1:1 Or deacons