Philippians 1

Greeting

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4always praying with joy in every prayer for all of you, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this: the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Christ Jesus.

7It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart. All of you share grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8God is my witness how deeply I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10so that you may discern what truly matters and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Advances Through Imprisonment

12I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually helped advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ, 14and most of the brothers and sisters have become more confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment and are much more daring in speaking the word without fear.

15Some proclaim Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking they can add trouble to my imprisonment. 18What does it matter? Only this: in every way, whether from false motives or in truth, Christ is proclaimed—and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

19because I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with complete boldness, now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death.

To Live Is Christ

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I continue living in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me. Yet I do not know which I would choose. 23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may overflow because of me when I come to you again.

Live as Citizens Worthy of the Gospel

27Only live as citizens in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28without being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign to them of destruction, but to you of salvation—and this is from God.

29For you have been graciously given, on behalf of Christ, not only to trust in him but also to suffer for him, 30since you are engaged in the same struggle you saw me have and now hear that I still have.