Philippians 1
1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus: To all God's people in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the ministers of the Church and their assistants.
To all Christ’s People at Philippi, with the Presiding Officers and Assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.
2 May grace and peace be granted to you 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 at my every remembrance of you--
Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thankfulness to God,
4 always when offering any prayer on behalf of you all, finding a joy in offering it.
always, in every prayer that I offer for you all — my prayers are full of joy —
5 I thank my God, I say, for your cooperation in spreading the Good News, from the time it first came to you even 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 For of this I am confident, that He who has begun a good work within you will go on to perfect it in preparation for the day of Jesus Christ.
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 And I am justified in having this confidence about you all, because, both during my imprisonment and when I stand up in defence of the Good News or to confirm its truth, I have you in my heart, sharers as you all are in the same grace as myself.
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.
8 For God is my witness how I yearn over all of you with tender Christian affection.
God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.
9 And it is my prayer that your love may be more and more accompanied by clear knowledge and keen perception, for testing things that differ,
And what I pray for is this — that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may be men of transparent character, and may be blameless, in preparation for the day of Christ,
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 filled with these fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God.
bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Now I would have you know, brethren, that what I have gone through has turned out to the furtherance of the Good News rather than otherwise.
Brothers, I want you to realise that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the Good News.
13 And thus it has become notorious among all the Imperial Guards, and everywhere, that it is for the sake of Christ that I am a prisoner;
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.
14 and the greater part of the brethren, made confident in the Lord through my imprisonment, now speak of God's Message without fear, more boldly than ever.
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.
15 Some indeed actually preach Christ out of envy and contentiousness but there are also others who do it from good will.
It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of Jealousy and opposition; but there are others who proclaim him from good-will.
16 These latter preach Him from love to me, knowing that I am here for the defence of the Good News;
The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News.
17 while the others proclaim Him from motives of rivalry, and insincerely, supposing that by this they are embittering my imprisonment.
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 does it matter, however? In any case Christ is preached--either perversely or in honest truth; and in that I rejoice, yes, and 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 it will result in my salvation through your prayers and a bountiful 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 in fulfilment of my eager expectation and hope that I shall never have reason to feel ashamed, but that by my perfect freedom of speech Christ will be glorified in me, now as always, either by my life or by my death.
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,
21 For, with me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
for to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
22 But since to live means a longer stay on earth, that implies more labour for me--and not unsuccessful labour; and which I am to 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 I am in a dilemma, my earnest desire being to depart and be with Christ, for that is far, far better.
My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.
24 But for your sakes it is more important that I should still remain in the body.
But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.
25 I am convinced of this, and I know that I shall remain, and shall go on working side by side with you all, to promote your progress and joy in the faith;
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;
26 so that, as Christians, you may have additional reason for glorying about me as the result of my being with you again.
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 let the lives you live be worthy of the Good News of the Christ, in order that, whether I come and see you or, being absent, only hear of you, I may know that you are standing fast in one spirit and with one mind, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the faith of the Good News.
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 Never for a moment quail before your antagonists. Your fearlessness will be to them a sure token of impending destruction, but to you it will be a sure token of your salvation--a token coming 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 For you have had the privilege granted you on behalf of Christ--not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf;
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 maintaining, as you do, the same kind of conflict that you once saw in me and which you still hear that I am engaged in.
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.
