Philippians 1:5–18

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.