Philippians 1

1 To all Christ’s People at Philippi, with the Presiding Officers and Assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

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

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

grace be unto you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I give thanks unto my God upon every mention of you,

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

(always making supplication for you all 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.

in every prayer of mine) for your attachment to the gospel, from the first day even till 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, that He who hath begun a good work in you will continue to perfect it till the day of Jesus Christ.

7 And, indeed, I am justified in feeling thus 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.

As it is just for me to think this of you all, because ye have me in your heart, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, being all of you partakers of the same grace with me.

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

For God is my witness, how much I long for you all, as with the bowels of Jesus Christ.

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,

that ye may try things that differ, that ye may be sincere and without offence until 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 full of the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.

12 Brothers, I want you to realise that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the Good News.

But I would have you know, my brethren, that the things, which have befallen me, have proved rather to the advancement of the gospel:

13 It has even become evident, not only to all the Imperial Guard, but to every one else, that it is for Christ’s sake that I am in chains.

so that my bonds are manifest in all the palace, and all other places, to be for the sake of Christ;

14 And besides this, most of our Brothers have gained confidence in the Lord through my chains, and now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God’s Message fearlessly.

and many of the brethren in the Lord, encouraged by my bonds, are much more bold to publish 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 good-will.

Some indeed through envy and strife, and some also through 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.

the former preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, thinking to add 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.

the others out 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? yet every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached: and in this I rejoice, yea and I will 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 shall turn to my safety through your prayer, and the aid of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

20 And this will fulfil my earnest expectation and hope that I shall have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as hitherto, Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by my life or by my death,

According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall be put to shame in nothing; but that with all freedom of speech, as always, so now also Christ shall 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: and if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:

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!

so that I know not what to chuse;

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

for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is much preferable:

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 necessary for you.

25 Yes, I am confident that this is so, and therefore I am sure that I shall stay, and stay near you all, to promote your progress and joy in the Faith;

And as I am confident of this, I know that I shall abide and shall continue with you all, for your improvement and the joy of 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 rejoicing in Christ Jesus may abound through me, 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 behave worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of you, that ye stand firm in one Spirit, striving together as with one soul for the saith 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 are in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is a demonstration of ruin to them, but to you of salvation, and this 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 is granted as a favor from Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake:

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.

having the same conflict as ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.