< Philippians 1 >
1 Paul and Timotheus, bondmen of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with [the] overseers and ministers;
To all Christ’s people at Philippi, with the supervisors and assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.
2 grace to you, and peace from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and give you peace.
3 I thank my God for my whole remembrance of you,
Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thanksgiving to God,
4 constantly in my every supplication, making the supplication for you all with joy,
always, in every prayer that I offer for you all – my prayers are full of joy –
5 because of your fellowship with the gospel, from the first day 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 having confidence of this very thing, that he who has begun in you a good work will complete it unto Jesus Christ's day:
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 as it is righteous for me to think this as to you all, because ye have me in your hearts, and that both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the glad tidings ye are all participators in my grace.
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 I long after you all in [the] bowels of Christ Jesus.
God will bear me witness how I yearn for you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and all intelligence,
And what I pray for is this – that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,
10 that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent, in order that ye may be pure and without offence for Christ's day,
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 being complete as regards the fruit of righteousness, which [is] by Jesus Christ, to God's glory and praise.
bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings,
Friends, I want you to realise that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the good news.
13 so that my bonds have become manifest [as being] in Christ in all the praetorium and to all others;
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 that the most of the brethren, trusting in [the] Lord through my bonds, dare more abundantly to speak the word of God fearlessly.
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 Some indeed also for envy and strife, but some also for good will, preach the 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 These indeed out of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the glad tidings;
The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the good news.
17 but those out of contention, announce the Christ, not purely, supposing to arouse tribulation for my bonds.
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 What is it then? at any rate, in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is announced; and in this I rejoice, yea, also I will 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 shall turn out for me to salvation, through your supplication and [the] supply 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 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but in all boldness, as always, now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or by death.
And this will fulfil my earnest expectation and hope that I will have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as before, Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by my life or by my death,
21 For for me to live [is] Christ, and to die gain;
for to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
22 but if to live in flesh [is my lot], this is for me worth the while: and what I shall choose I cannot tell.
But what if the life here in the body – if this brings me fruit from my labours? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way!
23 But I am pressed by both, having the desire for departure and being with Christ, [for] [it is] very much better,
My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.
24 but remaining in the flesh [is] more necessary for your sakes;
But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.
25 and having confidence of this, I know that I shall remain and abide along with you all, for your progress and joy in 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 that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus through me by my presence again with you.
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 conduct yourselves worthily of the glad tidings of the Christ, in order that whether coming and seeing you, or absent, I may hear of what concerns you, that ye stand firm in one spirit, with one soul, labouring together in the same conflict with the faith of the glad tidings;
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 not frightened in anything by the opposers, which is to them a demonstration of destruction, but of your salvation, and that 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 because to you has been given, as regards Christ, not only the believing on him but the suffering for him also,
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 having the same conflict which ye have seen in me, and now hear of in 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.