< Philippenses 1 >

1 Paulus et Timotheus, servi Jesu Christi, omnibus sanctis in Christo Jesu, qui sunt Philippis, cum episcopis et diaconibus.
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.
2 Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Gratias ago Deo meo in omni memoria vestri,
When I think of you I'm so thankful to my God,
4 semper in cunctis orationibus meis pro omnibus vobis, cum gaudio deprecationem faciens,
and I'm always glad to remember all of you in my prayers,
5 super communicatione vestra in Evangelio Christi a prima die usque nunc.
because you've been partners with me in spreading the good news right from the beginning up till now.
6 Confidens hoc ipsum, quia qui cœpit in vobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in diem Christi Jesu:
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.
7 sicut est mihi justum hoc sentire pro omnibus vobis: eo quod habeam vos in corde, et in vinculis meis, et in defensione, et confirmatione Evangelii, socios gaudii mei omnes vos esse.
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.
8 Testis enim mihi est Deus, quomodo cupiam omnes vos in visceribus Jesu Christi.
God is my witness as to my great affection for every one of you in the caring love of Christ Jesus.
9 Et hoc oro, ut caritas vestra magis ac magis abundet in scientia, et in omni sensu:
My prayer is that your love may grow more and more in knowledge and understanding,
10 ut probetis potiora, ut sitis sinceri, et sine offensa in diem Christi,
so that you can work out what's really important. That way you can be genuine and blameless when Christ returns,
11 repleti fructu justitiæ per Jesum Christum, in gloriam et laudem Dei.
filled with the fruits of living right that come through Jesus Christ and give glory and praise to God.
12 Scire autem vos volo fratres, quia quæ circa me sunt, magis ad profectum venerunt Evangelii:
I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, that all I've experienced has worked out to move the good news forward!
13 ita ut vincula mea manifesta fierent in Christo in omni prætorio, et in ceteris omnibus,
For everyone—including the whole praetorian guard—now knows that I'm in chains for Christ;
14 et plures e fratribus in Domino confidentes vinculis meis, abundantius auderent sine timore verbum Dei loqui.
and because of my chains most of the Christians here have been encouraged to speak God's word boldly and fearlessly!
15 Quidam quidem et propter invidiam et contentionem: quidam autem et propter bonam voluntatem Christum prædicant:
Yes, some speak out of jealousy and rivalry. However, there are those who speak from good motives.
16 quidam ex caritate, scientes quoniam in defensionem Evangelii positus sum.
They act out of love, because they know that I'm meant to be here to defend the good news.
17 Quidam autem ex contentione Christum annuntiant non sincere, existimantes pressuram se suscitare vinculis meis.
Those others present Christ deceptively because of their selfish ambitions, trying to cause me problems in my imprisonment.
18 Quid enim? Dum omni modo sive per occasionem, sive per veritatem, Christus annuntietur: et in hoc gaudeo, sed et gaudebo.
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!
19 Scio enim quia hoc mihi proveniet ad salutem, per vestram orationem, et subministrationem Spiritus Jesu Christi,
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.
20 secundum exspectationem et spem meam, quia in nullo confundar: sed in omni fiducia sicut semper, et nunc magnificabitur Christus in corpore meo, sive per vitam, sive per mortem.
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.
21 Mihi enim vivere Christus est, et mori lucrum.
As far as I'm concerned, living is for Christ, and dying brings gain.
22 Quod si vivere in carne, hic mihi fructus operis est, et quid eligam ignoro.
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!
23 Coarctor autem e duobus: desiderium habens dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, multo magis melius:
For I'm in a dilemma—I really want to leave and be with Christ, which would be far better,
24 permanere autem in carne, necessarium propter vos.
and yet to remain physically here is more important as far you're concerned.
25 Et hoc confidens scio quia manebo, et permanebo omnibus vobis ad profectum vestrum, et gaudium fidei:
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,
26 ut gratulatio vestra abundet in Christo Jesu in me, per meum adventum iterum ad vos.
so that when I see you again your praise to Christ Jesus may be even greater because of me.
27 Tantum digne Evangelio Christi conversamini: ut sive cum venero, et videro vos, sive absens audiam de vobis, quia statis in uno spiritu unanimes, collaborantes fidei Evangelii:
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.
28 et in nullo terreamini ab adversariis: quæ illis est causa perditionis, vobis autem salutis, et hoc a Deo:
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.
29 quia vobis donatum est pro Christo, non solum ut in eum credatis, sed ut etiam pro illo patiamini:
For you have been given the privilege not only of trusting in Jesus, but suffering for him as well.
30 idem certamen habentes, quale et vidistis in me, et nunc audistis de me.
You're experiencing the same struggle you saw me having—a struggle I still have, as you now know.

< Philippenses 1 >