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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Salutation
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops[a] and deacons:[b]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(A)
Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians
3 I thank my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy 5 for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.(B) 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete[c] it until the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart,[d] for all of you are my partners in God’s grace,[e] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.(C) 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the tender affection of Christ Jesus.(D) 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight(E) 10 to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest[f] of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Present Circumstances
12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the progress of the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard[g] and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ, 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word[h] with greater boldness and without fear.
15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my salvation.(F) 20 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way but that by my speaking with all boldness Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.(G) 21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,(H) 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 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 faith, 26 so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ Jesus because of me.(I)
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel 28 and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.(J) 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well,(K) 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.(L)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.