Philippians

¹ To all Christ’s people at Philippi, with the supervisors and assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

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

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

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

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.

⁷ And, indeed, I am justified in feeling like this 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 God will bear me witness how I yearn for you all with the tenderness 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,

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,

¹¹ bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

¹² Friends, I want you to realize that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the good news.

¹³ It has even become evident, not only to all the imperial guard, but to everyone else, that it is for Christ’s sake that I am in chains.

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

¹⁵ It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of jealousy and opposition, but there are others who proclaim him from goodwill.

¹⁶ The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the good news.

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.

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.

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.

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

²¹ for to me life is Christ, and death is gain.

²² But what if the life here in the body – if this brings me fruit from my labors? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way!

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

²⁴ But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.

²⁵ Yes, I am confident that this is so, and therefore I am sure that I will stay, and stay near you all, to promote 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.

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,

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.

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.

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.