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

Greetings from Paul and Timothy

From:[a] Paul and Timothy, servants of the Messiah[b] Jesus.

To: All the holy ones[c] in Philippi, along with their overseers[d] and ministers,[e] who are in union with the Messiah[f] Jesus.

May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[g] be yours!

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippians

I thank my God every time I remember you,[h] always praying joyfully in every one of my prayers for all of you because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good action among[i] you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah[j] Jesus. For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because you’re constantly on my mind.[k] Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege.[l] For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the compassion that the Messiah[m] Jesus provides.

And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and more with full knowledge and insight, 10 so that you may be able to choose what is best and be pure and blameless until the day when the Messiah[n] returns, 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus the Messiah[o] so that God will be glorified and praised.

The Priority of the Gospel in Everything

12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually caused the gospel to advance. 13 As a result, it has become clear to the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that I am in prison for preaching about[p] the Messiah.[q] 14 Moreover, because of my imprisonment the Lord has caused most of the brothers to become confident to speak God’s word more boldly and courageously than ever before. 15 Some are preaching the Messiah[r] because of jealousy and dissension, while others do so[s] because of their good will. 16 The latter are motivated[t] by love, because they know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel. 17 The former proclaim the Messiah[u] because they are selfishly ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.

18 But so what? Just this—that in every way, whether by false or true motives, the Messiah[v] is being proclaimed. Because of this, I rejoice and will continue to rejoice. 19 I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus the Messiah.[w] 20 I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of, because through my[x] boldness the Messiah[y] will be exalted through me,[z] now as always, whether I live or die.[aa]

21 For to me, to go on living is the Messiah,[ab] and to die is gain. 22 Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know which I would prefer. 23 Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah,[ac] for that is far better. 24 But for your sake it is better that I remain alive.[ad]

25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you, so you will mature in the faith and know joy in it. 26 Then your rejoicing in the Messiah[ae] Jesus will increase along with mine[af] when I visit with you again.

Standing Firm in One Spirit

27 The only thing that matters is that you continue to live as good citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Messiah.[ag] Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I may hear all about you—that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and that you are not intimidated by your opponents in any way. This is evidence that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved—and all because of[ah] God. 29 For you have been given the privilege[ai] for the Messiah’s[aj] sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. 30 You have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear that I am still having.[ak]

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 The Gk. lacks From
  2. Philippians 1:1 Or Christ
  3. Philippians 1:1 Or saints
  4. Philippians 1:1 Or bishops
  5. Philippians 1:1 Or deacons
  6. Philippians 1:1 Or Christ
  7. Philippians 1:2 Or Christ
  8. Philippians 1:3 Or every time you remember me
  9. Philippians 1:6 Or in
  10. Philippians 1:6 Or Christ
  11. Philippians 1:7 Lit. because I have you in my heart; or you have me in your heart
  12. Philippians 1:7 Or grace
  13. Philippians 1:8 Or Christ
  14. Philippians 1:10 Or Christ
  15. Philippians 1:11 Or Christ
  16. Philippians 1:13 The Gk. lacks preaching about
  17. Philippians 1:13 Or Christ
  18. Philippians 1:15 Or Christ
  19. Philippians 1:15 The Gk. lacks do so
  20. Philippians 1:16 The Gk. lacks are motivated
  21. Philippians 1:17 Or Christ
  22. Philippians 1:18 Or Christ
  23. Philippians 1:19 Or Christ
  24. Philippians 1:20 Lit. with all
  25. Philippians 1:20 Or Christ
  26. Philippians 1:20 Lit. exalted in my body
  27. Philippians 1:20 Lit. by life or by death
  28. Philippians 1:21 Or Christ
  29. Philippians 1:23 Or Christ
  30. Philippians 1:24 Lit. remain in this body
  31. Philippians 1:26 Or Christ
  32. Philippians 1:26 Lit. in me
  33. Philippians 1:27 Or Christ
  34. Philippians 1:28 Lit. and that from
  35. Philippians 1:29 Lit. it has been given you
  36. Philippians 1:29 Or Christ’s
  37. Philippians 1:30 Lit. hear in me