Greeting
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,1:1 Ac 16:12–40; 20:3–6; 1Th 2:2 including the overseers1:1 Ac 20:28; Ti 1:7 and deacons.1:1 1Co 3:5
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,1:3 Or for your every remembrance of me
4always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,
5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day1:5 Ac 16:12–40 until now.1:5 1Co 9:15–18; 2Co 11:7–9; Php 4:10,16,18
6I am sure of this, that he who started a good work1:6 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10 in you1:6 Or work among you will carry it on to completion1:6 2Co 7:1 until the day of Christ Jesus.
7Indeed, it is right1:7 Rm 1:17 for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,1:7 Or because you have me in your heart and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment1:7 Php 1:13–14,17–20,25,30; 2:17,24; 4:22 and in the defense1:7 Ac 22:1 and confirmation of the gospel.
8For God is my witness,1:8 Rm 1:9 how deeply I miss all of you1:8 1Th 3:6 with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And I pray this: that your love1:9 1Co 13:1 will keep on growing1:9 1Co 15:58 in knowledge and every kind of discernment,1:9 Eph 5:17
Advance of the Gospel
12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,1:12 Mk 13:9; Ac 21–26
13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.
14Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word1:14 Other mss add of God1:14 Lk 8:21; Jn 18:32; Ac 17:11; Heb 4:12 fearlessly.
15To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,1:15 Rm 1:29; Ti 3:9 but others out of good will.
17the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition,1:17 Rm 2:8 not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment.
18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives1:18 1Th 2:5 or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice
Living Is Christ
21For me, to live is Christ1:21 Rm 14:7–9; Gl 2:19–20; Php 1:11,15; Col 2:6–3:11 and to die is gain.1:21 Rm 8:38–39; Php 3:7
22Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful1:22 Mt 3:8; Rm 1:13; Gl 5:22 work1:22 Mk 14:6; Gl 3:10; Jms 2:14–26 for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.
23I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ1:23 Rm 6:8; 2Co 4:14; 13:4–5; 1Th 4:14; 5:9–10 — which is far better1:23 Jn 12:26 —
24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
27Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life1:27 Ac 23:1 worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm1:27 1Co 16:13; Gl 5:1; Eph 6:13–17; Php 4:1; 2Th 2:15 in one1:27 Jn 11:52 spirit, in one accord,1:27 Lit soul contending together for the faith1:27 1Tm 3:9; 4:1,6; 5:8; 6:10,21 of the gospel,
28not being frightened in any way by your opponents.1:28 1Co 16:9 This is a sign of destruction for them,1:28 Mt 7:13; Rm 9:22 but of your salvation1:28 Ac 4:12; 2Co 7:10; Heb 5:9 — and this is from God.
29For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe1:29 Mk 11:24; Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10 in him, but also to suffer for him,
30since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
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