Philippians 1–2

1Paul and Timothy,^a servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people^b in Christ Jesus at Philippi,^c together with the overseers^d and deacons^a:^e

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

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

⁷It is right^m for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heartⁿ and, whether I am in chains^o or defending^p and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸God can testify^q how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love^r 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 righteousness^u that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^b that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^c and to everyone else that I am in chains^v for Christ. ¹⁴And 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

¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The 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, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers^b and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ^c what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^{dd 20}I eagerly expect^e and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^f 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. ²²If 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! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^j and be with Christ,^k which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^l 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 firm^m in the one Spirit,^e striving togetherⁿ as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸without 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. ²⁹For it has been granted to you^o on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer^p for him, ³⁰since you are going through the same struggle^q you saw^r I had, and now hear^s that I still have.

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,^t if any tenderness and compassion,^{u 2}then make my joy complete^v by being like-minded,^w having the same love, being one^x in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^y Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^{z 4}not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^a

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^b

⁶Who, being in very nature^a God,^c

did not consider equality with God^d something to be used to his own advantage;

⁷rather, he made himself nothing^e

by taking the very nature^b of a servant,^f

being made in human likeness.^g

⁸And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death^h—

even death on a cross!ⁱ

⁹Therefore God exalted him^j to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,^k

¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,^l

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,^m

¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,ⁿ

to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,^{o 13}for it is God who works in you^p to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^q

¹⁴Do everything without grumbling^r or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless^s and pure, “children of God^t without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^cu Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^v that I did not run^w or labor in vain.^{x 17}But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering^y on the sacrifice^z and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.^{a 18}So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy^b to you soon,^c that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like him,^d who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for their own interests,^e not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father^f he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.^{g 24}And I am confident^h in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-workerⁱ and fellow soldier,^j who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.^{k 26}For he longs for all of you^l and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,^m so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,^{n 30}because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.^o