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:

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

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

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

3 I thank my God whenever I remember you,

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

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

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

5 for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

because of the share that you have had in spreading the good news, from the first day that you received it 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.

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 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 defence and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

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

God will bear me witness how I yearn for you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.

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

And what I pray for is this – that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,

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

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

bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes 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,

Friends, I want you to realise that what has happened to me has actually served to forward 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,

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

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

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 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.

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

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

for to me life is Christ, and death 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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;

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

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

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

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.