Philippians 1

1 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.

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

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

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

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

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

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

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

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

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 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.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 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.

Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

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

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

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

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment;

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

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

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

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

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

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things [which happened] unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

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

So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other [places];

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

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

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

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

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

The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

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

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 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!

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 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.

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 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.

According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

21 As far as I'm concerned, living is for Christ, and dying brings gain.

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

22 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!

But if I live in the flesh, this [is] the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

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

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

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

Nevertheless to abide in the flesh [is] more needful for you.

25 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,

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

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

That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 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.

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 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.

And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

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

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

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

Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me.