Philippians 1:1–26

Paul 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.