Philippians 1

1 This letter comes from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's people in Christ Jesus living in Philippi, and to the church leaders and assistants.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 When I think of you I'm so thankful to my God,

I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you,

4 and I'm always glad to remember all of you in my prayers,

always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy,

5 because you've been partners with me in spreading the good news right from the beginning up till now.

because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now.

6 I'm absolutely sure that God who began this good work in you will continue working and bring it to a successful conclusion when Jesus Christ returns.

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.

7 It's appropriate for me to be thinking this way about all of you because you mean so much to me. Whether I'm in prison or out there making the good news clear, all of you share God's grace together with me.

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.

8 God is my witness as to my great affection for every one of you in the caring love of Christ Jesus.

For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you.

9 My prayer is that your love may grow more and more in knowledge and understanding,

And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding,

10 so that you can work out what's really important. That way you can be genuine and blameless when Christ returns,

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:

11 filled with the fruits of living right that come through Jesus Christ and give glory and praise to God.

filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God.

12 I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, that all I've experienced has worked out to move the good news forward!

Now, brothers, I want you to know that the things concerning me happened for the advancement of the Gospel,

13 For everyone—including the whole praetorian guard—now knows that I'm in chains for Christ;

in such a way that my chains have become manifest in Christ in every place of judgment and in all other such places.

14 and because of my chains most of the Christians here have been encouraged to speak God's word boldly and fearlessly!

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.

15 Yes, some speak out of jealousy and rivalry. However, there are those who speak from good motives.

Certainly, some do so even because of envy and contention; and others, too, do so because of a good will to preach Christ.

16 They act out of love, because they know that I'm meant to be here to defend the good news.

Some act out of charity, knowing that I have been appointed for the defense of the Gospel.

17 Those others present Christ deceptively because of their selfish ambitions, trying to cause me problems in my imprisonment.

But others, out of contention, announce Christ insincerely, claiming that their difficulties lift them up to my chains.

18 But so what? All I care about is that Christ is presented every which way, whether just pretending or whether from true convictions. That's what makes me happy—and I will go on being happy!

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.

19 Why? Because I'm convinced that through your prayers for me, and through the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out to be my salvation.

For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 For it's my strongest hope and expectation not to do anything of which I would be ashamed. Instead it's my bold hope, as always, that even now Christ will be greatly honored through me, whether I live or die.

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.

21 As far as I'm concerned, living is for Christ, and dying brings gain.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I'm to go on living here and this would be productive work, then I really don't know what's best to choose!

And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose.

23 For I'm in a dilemma—I really want to leave and be with Christ, which would be far better,

For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,

24 and yet to remain physically here is more important as far you're concerned.

but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake.

25 Since I'm absolutely sure of this, I know that I'll stay here, remaining with you all to help you as your trust and delight in God grows,

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,

26 so that when I see you again your praise to Christ Jesus may be even greater because of me.

so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again.

27 Just be sure that the way you live your lives corresponds to the good news of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or not I can get to hear how you're doing—that you stand firm in full agreement with one another, spiritually united as you work together for the trusting faith of the good news.

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.

28 Don't let your enemies scare you. By being brave you will demonstrate to them that they will be lost, but that God himself will save you.

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.

29 For you have been given the privilege not only of trusting in Jesus, but suffering for him as well.

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,

30 You're experiencing the same struggle you saw me having—a struggle I still have, as you now know.

engaging in the same struggle, of a kind which you also have seen in me, and which you now have heard from me.