< Philippians 1 >

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
To all Christ’s people at Philippi, with the supervisors and assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.
2 Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and give you peace.
3 I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you,
Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thanksgiving to God,
4 always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy,
always, in every prayer that I offer for you all – my prayers are full of joy –
5 because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now.
because of the share that you have had in spreading the good news, from the first day that you received it until now.
6 I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus.
For of this I am confident, that he who began a good work in you will complete it in readiness for the day of Jesus Christ.
7 So then, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, and because, in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.
And, indeed, I am justified in feeling like this about you all; because you have a warm place in my heart – you who all, both in my imprisonment and in the work of defending and establishing the good news, shared my privilege with me.
8 For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you.
God will bear me witness how I yearn for you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.
9 And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding,
And what I pray for is this – that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ:
until you are able to appreciate all moral distinctions. And I pray, too, that you may be kept pure and blameless against the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God.
bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Now, brothers, I want you to know that the things concerning me happened for the advancement of the Gospel,
Friends, I want you to realize that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the good news.
13 in such a way that my chains have become manifest in Christ in every place of judgment and in all other such places.
It has even become evident, not only to all the imperial guard, but to everyone else, that it is for Christ’s sake that I am in chains.
14 And many from among the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident through my chains, are now much bolder in speaking the Word of God without fear.
And besides this, most of our fellow followers have gained confidence in the Lord through my chains, and now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God’s message fearlessly.
15 Certainly, some do so even because of envy and contention; and others, too, do so because of a good will to preach Christ.
It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of jealousy and opposition, but there are others who proclaim him from goodwill.
16 Some act out of charity, knowing that I have been appointed for the defense of the Gospel.
The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the good news.
17 But others, out of contention, announce Christ insincerely, claiming that their difficulties lift them up to my chains.
The former spread the news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, thinking to add to the pain of my chains.
18 But what does it matter? As long as, by every means, whether under pretext or in truthfulness, Christ is announced. And about this, I rejoice, and moreover, I will continue to rejoice.
But what of that? Only that in some way or other, either with assumed or with real earnestness, Christ is being made known; and at that I rejoice.
19 For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that, through your prayers and through a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, all this will make for my salvation.
20 by means of my own expectation and hope. For in nothing shall I be confounded. Instead, with all confidence, now just as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
And this will fulfill my earnest expectation and hope that I will have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as before, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by my life or by my death,
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
for to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
22 And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose.
But what if the life here in the body – if this brings me fruit from my labors? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way!
23 For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,
My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.
24 but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake.
But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.
25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and that I shall continue to remain with all of you, for your advancement and for your joy in the faith,
Yes, I am confident that this is so, and therefore I am sure that I will stay, and stay near you all, to promote your progress and joy in the faith;
26 so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again.
so that, when you once more have me among you, you, in your union with Christ Jesus, may find in me fresh cause for exultation.
27 Only let your behavior be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I return and see you, or whether, being absent, I hear about you, still you may stand firm with one spirit, with one mind, laboring together for the faith of the Gospel.
Under all circumstances let your lives be worthy of the good news of the Christ: so that, whether I come and see you, or whether I hear of your affairs at a distance, I may know that you are standing firm, animated by one spirit, and joining with one heart in a common struggle for the faith taught by the good news,
28 And in nothing be terrified by the adversaries. For what is to them an occasion of perdition, is to you an occasion of salvation, and this is from God.
without ever shrinking from your opponents. To them this will be a sign of their destruction and of your salvation – a sign from God.
29 For this has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him,
For, on behalf of Christ, you have had the privilege granted you, not only of trusting in him, but also of suffering on his behalf.
30 engaging in the same struggle, of a kind which you also have seen in me, and which you now have heard from me.
You will be engaged in the same hard struggle as that which you once saw me waging, and which you hear that I am waging still.

< Philippians 1 >