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 Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and give you peace.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thankfulness to God,
I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 always, in every prayer that I offer for you all — my prayers are full of joy —
In every prayer for all of you, I always pray 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.
because of your partnership in 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, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
8 God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.
God is my witness how I long for all of you with the 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 is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
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 you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to 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.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance 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.
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for 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 most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly 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 good-will.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News.
The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
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 former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
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 is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to 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.’
because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
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,
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted 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 I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.
23 My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
24 But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.
But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
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;
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the 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.
so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
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,
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side 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.
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is 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 it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
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.
since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
