< 腓立比書 1 >
1 基督耶穌的僕人保祿和弟茂德,致書給斐理伯的眾位在基督內的聖徒、監督及執事;
Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;
Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God upon all the remembrance of you,
always, in every supplication of mine for you all, with joy making the supplication,
5 因為你們從最初的一天直到現在,就協助了宣傳福音的工作;
for your contribution to the good news from the first day till now,
6 我深信,在你們內開始這美好工作的那位,必予以完成,直到耶穌基督的日子。
having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform [it] till a day of Jesus Christ,
7 我這樣想念你們眾人,是理當的,因為我在心內常懷念你們,不論我帶鎖鏈,或辯護或確證福音時,你們常參與了我受的恩寵。
according as it is righteous for me to think this in behalf of you all, because of my having you in the heart, both in my bonds, and [in] the defence and confirmation of the good news, all of you being fellow-partakers with me of grace.
8 天主為我作證:我是怎樣以基督耶穌的情懷愛你們眾人。
For God is my witness, how I long for you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ,
9 我所祈求的是:願你們的愛德日漸增長,渥真知識和各種識見,
and this I pray, that your love yet more and more may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment,
10 使你們能辨別卓絕之事,為叫你們直到基督的日子,常潔淨無瑕的,
for your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and offenceless — to a day of Christ,
being filled with the fruit of righteousness, that [is] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 弟兄們! 我願意告訴你們, 我的環境對於福音的進展反而有了益處,
And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come,
13 以致御營全軍和其餘眾人都明明知道,我帶鎖鏈是為基督的緣故;
so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in the whole praetorium, and to the other places — all,
14 並且大多數的弟兄,因我帶鎖槤,就更依靠主,更敢講論天主的道理,一點也不害怕。
and the greater part of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence by my bonds, are more abundantly bold — fearlessly to speak the word.
15 有些人宣講基督,固然是出於嫉忌和競爭,有些人人卻是出於善意;
Certain, indeed, even through envy and contention, and certain also through good-will, do preach the Christ;
the one, indeed, of rivalry the Christ do proclaim, not purely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds,
17 那些出於私見宣傳基督的人,目的不純正,想要給我的鎖鏈更增添煩惱。
and the other out of love, having known that for defence of the good news I am set:
18 那有什麼妨礙呢﹖無論如何,或是假意,或是誠心,終究是宣傳了基督。為此,如今我喜歡,將來我仍然要喜歡,
what then? in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed — and in this I rejoice, yea, and shall rejoice.
19 因為我知道,賴你們的祈禱和耶穌基督的聖神的輔助, 這事必有利於我的得救。
For I have known that this shall fall out to me for salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus,
20 按照我所熱切期待希望的,我在任何事上必不會蒙羞所以現在和將來一樣,我反而放心大膽,我或生或死,總要叫基督在我身上受頌揚。
according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, and in all freedom, as always, also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death,
for to me to live [is] Christ, and to die gain.
22 如果生活在肉身內,我還能獲得工作的效果:我現在揀選那一樣,我自己也不知道。
And if to live in the flesh [is] to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not;
23 我正夾在兩之間:我渴望求解脫而與基督在一起:這實在是再好沒有了;
for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,
and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account,
25 我確信不疑:知道我必要存留,且必要為你們眾人存留於世, 為使你們在信德上,得到進展和喜樂,
and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith,
26 並使你們因我再來到你們中,同我在基督耶穌內更加歡躍。
that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again to you.
27 你們生活度日只應合乎基督的福音,好叫我或來看望你們,或不在時,聽到關於你們的事,知道你們仍保時同一的精神, 一心一意為福音的信仰共同奮鬥,
Only worthily of the good news of the Christ conduct ye yourselves, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news,
28 一點也不為敵人所嚇住:這樣證明了他們必將喪亡,你們必將得救,因為這是出於天主,
and not terrified in anything by those opposing, which to them indeed is a token of destruction, and to you of salvation, and that from God;
29 因為,為了基督的緣故, 賜給你們的恩賜,不但是為相信祂, 而且也是為祂受苦:
because to you it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also on behalf of him to suffer;
30 就是要遭受你們曾在我身上所見的,及如今由我所聽到的同樣的決鬥。
the same conflict having, such as ye saw in me, and now hear of in me.