Philippians 1

1 To all Christ’s people at Philippi, with the supervisors and assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

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

2 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and give you peace.

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

3 Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thanksgiving to God,

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always, in every prayer that I offer for you all – my prayers are full of joy –

always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy

5 because of the share that you have had in spreading the good news, from the first day that you received it until now.

on account of your fellowship in the cause of the gospel from the first day until now;

6 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.

being confident of this very thing, that he who began in you a good work, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus;

7 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.

even as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, all of you being sharers of the grace bestowed on me.

8 God will bear me witness how I yearn for you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.

For God is my witness how much I long for you all in the tender affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And what I pray for is this – that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment;

10 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,

so that ye may approve the things that are most excellent, in order that ye may be pure and without offence against the day of Christ,

11 bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

being filled with the fruit of righteousness which is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 Friends, I want you to realise that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the good news.

But I wish you to know, brethren, that things with me have resulted in the furtherance of the gospel;

13 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.

so that my bonds have become known in connection with Christ in the whole camp of the imperial guards, and to all the rest;

14 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.

and that the great part of the brethren, made confident in the Lord by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of jealousy and opposition, but there are others who proclaim him from goodwill.

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will.

16 The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the good news.

but they who are of a factious spirit preach Christ with no pure intent, thinking to stir up affliction to my bonds.

17 The former spread the news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, thinking to add to the pain of my chains.

They who are of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;

18 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.

What then? Notwithstanding, in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and therein do I rejoice, yea, and shall rejoice.

19 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.

For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 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,

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so also now, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

21 for to me life is Christ, and death is gain.

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

22 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!

But if to live in the flesh, if this is to me the fruit of my labor, then what I should choose, I cannot say;

23 My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.

but I am held in a strait by the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; for it is far better;

24 But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.

but to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

25 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;

And being persuaded of this, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your advancement and joy in your faith,

26 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.

that your glorying in me, in the cause of Christ Jesus, may be more abundant by my coming to you again.

27 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,

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or remain absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel,

28 without ever shrinking from your opponents. To them this will be a sign of their destruction and of your salvation – a sign from God.

and in nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation; and that from God;

29 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.

for to you it was given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but in his behalf to suffer also;

30 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.

as ye have the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear of in me.