1 Paul and Timothy,a servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy peopleb in Christ Jesus at Philippi,c together with the overseersd and deaconsa:e

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.g 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always prayh with joy 5 because of your partnershipi in the gospel from the first dayj until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completionk until the day of Christ Jesus.l

7 It is rightm for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heartn and, whether I am in chainso or defendingp and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testifyq how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your lover may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,s 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,t 11 filled with the fruit of righteousnessu that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,b that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guardc and to everyone else that I am in chainsv for Christ. 14 And because of my chains,w most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.x

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.y 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,z not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.a 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayersb and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christc what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.d d 20 I eagerly expecte and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient couragef so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,g whether by life or by death.h 21 For to me, to live is Christi and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to departj and be with Christ,k which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthyl of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firmm in the one Spirit,e striving togethern as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to youo on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to sufferp for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggleq you sawr I had, and now hears that I still have.