The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

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- Chapter 1 -

(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ; to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)

I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you,

Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy;

For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now.

Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.

As it is meet for me to think this for you all, for that I have you in my heart; and that in my bands, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.

For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:

That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ,

Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

(James 1:2–12)

Now, brethren, I desire you should know, that the things which have happened to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:

So that my bands are made manifest in Christ, in all the court, and in all other places;

And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Some indeed, even out of envy and contention; but some also for good will preach Christ.

Some out of charity, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

And some out of contention preach Christ not sincerely: supposing that they raise affliction to my bands.

But what then? So that by all means, whether by occasion, or by truth, Christ be preached: in this also I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

For I know that this shall fall out to me unto salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be confounded, but with all confidence, as always, so now also shall Christ be magnified in my body, wither it be by life, or by death.

To Live Is Christ

For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain.

And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know not.

But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.

But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith:

That your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, by my coming to you again.

Worthy of the Gospel

Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel.

And in nothing be ye terrified by the adversaries: which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of salvation, and this from God:

For unto you it is given for Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.

Having the same conflict as that which you have seen in me, and now have heard of me.

(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ,(a) to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers

(b)

and servants:(c)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)

I thank my God whenever I remember you,

always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy,

for your partnership(d) in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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.

For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,

being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

(James 1:2–12)

Now I desire to have you know, brothers,(e) that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,

so that it became evident to the whole palace

(f)

guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ,

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.

Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

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.

For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

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.

To Live Is Christ

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.

But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

that your boasting

(g)

may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Worthy of the Gospel

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;

and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)1:1 or, superintendents, or bishops

(d)1:5 The word translated “partnership” (κοινωνίᾳ) also means “fellowship” and “sharing”.

(e)1:12 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(f)1:13 or, praetorian

(g)1:26 or, rejoicing