1:1 | From Paul* and Timothy, slaves* of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,* with the overseers* and deacons. |
1:2 | Grace and peace to you* from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! |
1:3 | I thank my God every time I remember you.* |
1:4 | I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you |
1:5 | because of your participation* in the gospel from the first day until now.* |
1:6 | For I am sure of this very thing,* that the one* who began a good work in* you will perfect it* until the day of Christ Jesus. |
1:7 | For* it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart,* since both in my imprisonment* and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace* together with me. |
1:8 | For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. |
1:9 | And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight |
1:10 | so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, |
1:11 | filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. |
1:12 | I want you to know, brothers and sisters,* that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:* |
1:13 | The* whole imperial guard* and everyone else knows* that I am in prison* for the sake of Christ, |
1:14 | and most of the brothers and sisters,* having confidence in the Lord* because of my imprisonment, now more than ever* dare to speak the word* fearlessly. |
1:15 | Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. |
1:16 | The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel. |
1:17 | The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.* |
1:18 | What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes,* and I will continue to rejoice, |
1:19 | for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance* through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. |
1:20 | My confident hope* is that I will in no way be ashamed* but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.* |
1:21 | For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. |
1:22 | Now if I am to go on living in the body,* this will mean productive work* for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer:* |
1:23 | I feel torn between the two,* because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, |
1:24 | but it is more vital for your sake that I remain* in the body.* |
1:25 | And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress* and joy in the faith,* |
1:26 | so that what you can be proud of may increase* because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.* |
1:27 | Only conduct yourselves* in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that* you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,* |
1:28 | and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is* a sign of their* destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which* is from God. |
1:29 | For it has been granted to you* not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, |
1:30 | since you are encountering* the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.* |