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:

This letter comes from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's people in Christ Jesus living in Philippi, and to the church leaders and assistants.

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

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

3 I thank my God whenever I remember you,

When I think of you I'm so thankful to my God,

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

and I'm always glad to remember all of you in my prayers,

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

because you've been partners with me in spreading the good news right from the beginning up till 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.

I'm absolutely sure that God who began this good work in you will continue working and bring it to a successful conclusion when Jesus Christ returns.

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.

It's appropriate for me to be thinking this way about all of you because you mean so much to me. Whether I'm in prison or out there making the good news clear, all of you share God's grace together with me.

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

God is my witness as to my great affection for every one of you in the caring love of Christ Jesus.

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

My prayer is that your love may grow more and more in knowledge and understanding,

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

so that you can work out what's really important. That way you can be genuine and blameless when Christ returns,

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

filled with the fruits of living right that come through Jesus Christ and give glory and praise to 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,

I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, that all I've experienced has worked out to move the good news forward!

13 so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ,

For everyone—including the whole praetorian guard—now knows that I'm in chains for 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.

and because of my chains most of the Christians here have been encouraged to speak God's word boldly and fearlessly!

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

Yes, some speak out of jealousy and rivalry. However, there are those who speak from good motives.

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

They act out of love, because they know that I'm meant to be here to defend the good news.

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

Those others present Christ deceptively because of their selfish ambitions, trying to cause me problems in my imprisonment.

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.

But so what? All I care about is that Christ is presented every which way, whether just pretending or whether from true convictions. That's what makes me happy—and I will go on being happy!

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

Why? Because I'm convinced that through your prayers for me, and through the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out to be 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.

For it's my strongest hope and expectation not to do anything of which I would be ashamed. Instead it's my bold hope, as always, that even now Christ will be greatly honored through me, whether I live or die.

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

As far as I'm concerned, living is for Christ, and dying brings 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 if I'm to go on living here and this would be productive work, then I really don't know what's best to choose!

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

For I'm in a dilemma—I really want to leave and be with Christ, which would be far better,

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

and yet to remain physically here is more important as far you're concerned.

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

Since I'm absolutely sure of this, I know that I'll stay here, remaining with you all to help you as your trust and delight in God grows,

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

so that when I see you again your praise to Christ Jesus may be even greater because of me.

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;

Just be sure that the way you live your lives corresponds to the good news of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or not I can get to hear how you're doing—that you stand firm in full agreement with one another, spiritually united as you work together for the trusting 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.

Don't let your enemies scare you. By being brave you will demonstrate to them that they will be lost, but that God himself will save you.

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 you have been given the privilege not only of trusting in Jesus, but suffering for him as well.

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

You're experiencing the same struggle you saw me having—a struggle I still have, as you now know.