Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
1
1 Paul
and Timothy,
servants of Jesus
Christ,
to all the saints
in Christ Jesus
who are at
Philippi, with the
overseers
and servants:
2 Grace
to you and
peace from God
our Father and
the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3 I
thank my
God whenever I remember
you,
4 always
in every request
of mine on
behalf of you
all, making my
requests with joy,
5 for
your partnership
in furtherance of
the Good News
from the first
day until now;
6 being
confident of this
very thing, that
he who began
a good work
in you will
complete it until
the day of
Jesus Christ.
7 It
is even right
for me to
think this way
on behalf of
all of you,
because I have
you in my
heart, because
both in my
bonds and in
the defense and confirmation
of the Good
News, you all
are partakers with
me of grace.
8 For
God is my
witness, how I
long after all
of you in
the tender mercies
of Christ Jesus.
9 This
I pray, that
your love may
abound yet more
and more in
knowledge and
all discernment,
10 so
that you may
approve the things
that are excellent,
that you may
be sincere and
without offense to
the day of
Christ,
11 being
filled with the
fruits of
righteousness which
are through Jesus
Christ, to the
glory and praise
of God.
12 Now
I desire to
have you know,
brothers,
that the things
which happened to
me have turned
out rather to
the progress of
the Good News,
13 so
that it became
evident to the
whole palace
guard, and to
all the rest,
that my bonds
are in Christ,
14 and
that most of
the brothers in
the Lord, being
confident through
my bonds, are
more abundantly
bold to speak
the word of
God without fear.
15 Some
indeed preach
Christ even out
of envy and
strife, and some
also out of
good will.
16 The
former insincerely preach Christ
from selfish ambition, thinking
that they add affliction
to my chains;
17 but
the latter out
of love, knowing that
I am appointed for
the defense of the
Good News.
18 What
does it matter?
Only that in
every way, whether
in pretense or
in truth, Christ
is proclaimed. I
rejoice in this,
yes, and will
rejoice.
19 For
I know that
this will turn out
to my salvation
through your
prayers and the
supply of the
Spirit of Jesus
Christ,
20 according
to my earnest expectation
and hope, that
I will in
no way
be disappointed, but
with all boldness,
as always, now
also Christ will
be magnified in
my body, whether
by life or
by death.
21 For
to me to
live is Christ,
and to die is
gain.
22 But
if I live
on in the
flesh, this will
bring fruit from
my work; yet
I don’t know
what I will choose.
23 But
I am hard
pressed between
the two, having
the desire
to depart and be
with Christ, which
is far better.
24 Yet
to remain in
the flesh is
more needful for
your sake.
25 Having
this confidence, I
know that I
will remain, yes,
and remain with
you all for
your progress and
joy in the
faith,
26 that
your boasting
may abound in
Christ Jesus in
me through my
presence with you
again.
27 Only
let your way
of life be worthy
of the Good
News of Christ,
that whether I
come and see
you or am absent,
I may hear of
your state, that
you stand firm
in one spirit,
with one soul
striving for the
faith of the
Good News;
28 and
in nothing frightened
by the adversaries,
which is for
them a proof
of destruction, but
to you of
salvation, and
that from God.
29 Because
it has been
granted to you
on behalf of
Christ, not only
to believe in
him, but also
to suffer on
his behalf,
30 having
the same conflict
which you saw
in me and
now hear is in
me.