Practical Counsel

4 So then, my * brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for—my joy and crown. o In this manner stand firm p in the Lord, dear friends. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, q to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. r 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses s every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. t

8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, u whatever is honorable, v whatever is just, w whatever is pure, x whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence y and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received z and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Appreciation of Support

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once again a you renewed your care for me. b You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. c In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him d who strengthens me. e 14 Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.

15 And you Philippians f know that in the early days of the gospel, g when I left Macedonia, h no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica i you sent gifts for my need j several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit k l that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, m and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus n what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing o to God. 19 And my God p will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father q be glory forever and ever. r * Amen. s

Final Greetings

21 Greet every * saint in Christ Jesus. Those brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those from Caesar’s t household. u 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. v w

Greeting

1 Paul a and Timothy, b slaves of Christ Jesus:

To all the * saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, c including the * overseers d and deacons. e

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, f 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day g until now. h 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work i in you j will carry it on to completion k until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right l for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, m and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment n and in the defense o and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, p how deeply I miss all of you q with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love r will keep on growing s in knowledge and every kind of discernment, t 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior u and can be pure v and blameless w in x the day of Christ, y 11 filled with the fruit z of righteousness a that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory b and praise of God.

Advance of the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, * brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel, c 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, d and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message e f fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, g but others out of good will. h 16 These do so out of love, i knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, j not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment. k 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives l or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my deliverance m n through your prayers and help from the Spirit o of Jesus Christ. p 20 My eager expectation and hope q is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life r or by death. s

Living Is Christ

21 For me, living is Christ t and dying is gain. u 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful v work w for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ x—which is far better y— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, z 26 so that, because of me, your confidence may grow a in Christ Jesus b when I come to you again.

27 Just one thing: Live your life c in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm d in one e spirit, with one mind, f working side by side for the faith g that comes from the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. h This is a sign of destruction for them, i but of your deliverance j—and this is from God. 29 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe k in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Christian Humility

2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, l if any fellowship with the Spirit, m if any affection and mercy, n 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, o having the same love, p sharing the same feelings, focusing on one q goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry r or conceit, s but in humility t consider others as more important u than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, v but also for the interests of others. w

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God x

as something to be used for His own advantage. y

7 Instead He emptied Himself z

by assuming the form of a * slave, a

taking on the likeness of men. b

And when He had come as a man

in His external form,

8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross. c

9 For this reason God highly exalted Him d

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow e—

of those who are in heaven f and on earth

and under the earth g—

11 and every tongue h should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord, i

to the glory j of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 So then, my dear friends, k just as you have always obeyed, l not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with…