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

Greeting

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

I give thanks to my God upon my every remembrance of you,[a] always in my every prayer for all of you, making the prayer with joy, because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now, convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it[b] until the day of Christ Jesus, just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since[c] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you are sharers of grace with me. For God is my witness, that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Prayer for Spiritual Maturity

And this I pray: that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is superior, in order that you may be sincere and blameless in[d] the day of Christ, 11 having been filled with the 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[e] have happened instead for the progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in Christ has become known in the whole praetorium[f] and to all the rest, 14 and most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, dare even more to speak the word without fear. 15 Some even because of envy and strife preach Christ, but some also because of good will. 16 The latter do so from love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment. 18 What is the result?[g] Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But also I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out to me for deliverance through your prayer and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will be put to shame in nothing, but with all boldness, even now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death. 21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if it is to live in the flesh, this is fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer I do not know. 23 But I am hard pressed between the two options[h], having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for this is very much better[i]. 24 But to stay on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 And because I am[j] 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 what you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus because of me through my return again to you.

Stand Firm for the Gospel

27 Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear your circumstances[k], that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God, 29 because to you has been graciously granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of him, 30 having the same struggle which you saw in me and now hear about in me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:3 Or “upon your every remembrance of me
  2. Philippians 1:6 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Philippians 1:7 Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as causal
  4. Philippians 1:10 Or “for,” or “until”
  5. Philippians 1:12 Literally “the things with me”
  6. Philippians 1:13 Or “praetorian guard,” or “imperial guard”
  7. Philippians 1:18 Literally “for what”
  8. Philippians 1:23 Literally “by the two”
  9. Philippians 1:23 Literally “for this is more better by much”
  10. Philippians 1:25 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“convinced”) which is understood as causal
  11. Philippians 1:27 Literally “the things concerning you”