We are sending this letter to you, all of God’s people in Philippi. You belong to Christ Jesus. We are also sending this letter to your leaders and deacons.

²May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul Prays and Gives Thanks

³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. ⁵I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now.

⁶I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.

⁷It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me. ⁸God can give witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives.

⁹I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns. ¹¹You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God.

Paul Honors Christ in Prison

¹²Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has really helped to spread the good news. ¹³One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because of my stand for Christ. All of the palace guards and everyone else know it.

¹⁴Because I am being held by chains, most of the believers in the Lord have become bolder. They now speak God’s word more boldly and without fear.

¹⁵It’s true that some preach about Christ because they are jealous. But others preach about Christ to help me in my work. ¹⁶The last group acts out of love. They know I have been put here to stand up for the good news. ¹⁷But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They are not honest and true. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains.

¹⁸But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for reasons that are right or wrong, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad.

And I will continue to be glad. ¹⁹I know that you are praying for me. I also know that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will help me. So no matter what happens, I’m sure I will still be saved.

²⁰I completely expect and hope that I won’t be ashamed in any way. I’m sure I will be brave enough. Now as always Christ will be lifted high through my body. He will be lifted up whether I live or die.

²¹For me, life finds all of its meaning in Christ. Death also has its benefits.

²²Suppose I go on living in my body. Then I will be able to carry on my work. It will bear a lot of fruit. But what should I choose? I don’t know. ²³I can’t decide between the two. I long to leave this world and be with Christ. That is better by far.

²⁴But it is more important for you that I stay alive. ²⁵I’m sure of that. So I know I will remain with you. And I will continue with all of you to help you grow and be joyful in what you have been taught. ²⁶I’m sure I will be with you again. Then your joy in Christ Jesus will be greater than ever because of me.

²⁷No matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then I will know that you stand firm with one purpose. I may come and see you or only hear about you. But I will know that you work together as one person. And I will know that you work to spread the teachings of the good news.

²⁸So don’t be afraid in any way of those who oppose you. That will show them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. That’s what God will do.

²⁹Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him.

³⁰You are going through the same struggle you saw me go through. As you have heard, I am still struggling.

Thinking Like Christ

2Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you? ²Then make my joy complete by agreeing with each other. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and purpose.

³Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves.

⁴None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others.

⁵You should think in the same way Christ Jesus does.

⁶In his very nature he was God.

But he did not think that being equal with God was something he should hold on to.

⁷Instead, he made himself nothing.

He took on the very nature of a servant.

He was made in human form.

⁸He appeared as a man.

He came down to the lowest level.

He obeyed God completely, even though it led to his death.

In fact, he died on a cross.

⁹So God lifted him up to the highest place.

He gave him the name that is above every name.

¹⁰When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone’s knee will bow to worship him.

Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship him.

¹¹Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.

And God the Father will receive the glory.

Living Like Christ

¹²My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. ¹³God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose.

¹⁴Do everything without finding fault or arguing. ¹⁵Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. ¹⁶You shine as you hold out to them the word of life. So I can brag about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing.

¹⁷But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you. ¹⁸So you too should be glad and joyful with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be cheered up when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like Timothy. He truly cares about how you are doing.

²¹All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news.

²³So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴And I’m sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.

²⁵But I think it’s necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs. ²⁶He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was sick.

²⁷He was very sick. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness. ²⁸So I want even more to send him to you. Then when you see him again, you will be glad. And I won’t worry so much.

²⁹Welcome him as a brother in the Lord with great joy. Honor people like him. ³⁰He almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger to make up for the help you couldn’t give me.

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