Salutation

1Paul and Timothy, ⁰slaves ¹of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus ²who are at Philippi, together with the overseers ³and deacons:

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

How Paul prays for them

3I thank my God every time I remember you;

4in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy,

5because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now,

6being certain of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ; ⁴

7just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of the Grace. ⁵

8God is my witness how I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9This is what I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in real knowledge ⁶and full discernment, ⁷

10for you to identify the things that really matter; ⁸that you may be sincere and blameless until the Day of Christ, ⁹

11having been filled ¹⁰with the fruits of righteousness that are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ¹¹

By whatever means, Christ is preached

12Now I want you to know, brothers, that the events against me have actually turned out for the advancement of the Gospel:

13as a result, it has become evident to the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that I am in chains for Christ; ¹²

14also, most of the brothers in Sovereign have been influenced by my chains to be much bolder, to speak the Word fearlessly.

15To be sure, some are even preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will;

16the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add to my affliction while in chains, ¹³

17but the latter out of love, knowing that I am set here for the defense of the Gospel. ¹⁴

18No problem: in every way, be it in pretense or in truth, ¹⁵Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice—yes, and will rejoice.

To live is Christ, to die is gain

19You see, I know that this will turn out for my deliverance (through your supplication and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ) ¹⁶

20according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything but be truly bold, so that now as always Christ will be glorified in my person, whether by life or by death ¹⁷

21—to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ¹⁸

22Now if I am to live on in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me, so I do not know what to choose.

23I am torn between the two: I have the desire to depart and be with Christ (far better), ¹⁹

24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary, because of you. ²⁰

25So having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

26so that your rejoicing over me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again. ²¹

27Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or am absent, I may hear about you that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel with one soul,

28and not being intimidated in any way by your opponents: to them this is an indicator of ruin, ²²but to you of deliverance, ²³and that from God.

29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe into Him, ²⁴but also to suffer for His sake, ²⁵

30having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear to be in me. ²⁶