^aPaul and ^bTimothy, ^cbond-servants of ^dChrist Jesus,

To ^eall the ^1fsaints in Christ Jesus who are in ^gPhilippi, ²including the ^hoverseers and ⁱdeacons: 2 ^aGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 ^aI thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in ^amy every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your ^1aparticipation in the ^bgospel ^cfrom the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until ^athe day of Christ Jesus. 7 ¹For ^ait is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I ^bhave you in my heart, since both in my ^2cimprisonment and in the ^ddefense and confirmation of the ^egospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For ^aGod is my witness, how I long for you all with the ¹affection of ^bChrist Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that ^ayour love may abound still more and more in ^breal knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may ^1aapprove the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless ²until ^bthe day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the ^afruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances ^ahave turned out for the greater progress of the ^bgospel, 13 so that my ^1aimprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole ²praetorian guard and to ^beveryone else, 14 and that most of the ¹brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my ^2aimprisonment, have ^bfar more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 15 ^aSome, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ¹from envy and strife, but some also ²from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the ^agospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ ^aout of selfish ambition ¹rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my ^2bimprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my ¹deliverance ^athrough your ²prayers and the provision of ^bthe Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my ^aearnest expectation and ^bhope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^call boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^dexalted in my body, ^ewhether by life or by death.

21 For to me, ^ato live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 ¹But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^afruitful labor for me; and I do not know ²which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^adesire to depart and ^bbe with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 ^aConvinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ¹in the faith, 26 so that your ^aproud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner ^aworthy of the ^bgospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are ^cstanding firm in ^done spirit, with one ¹mind ^estriving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a ^asign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you ^ait has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to ^bsuffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same ^aconflict which ^byou saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

^aPaul and ^bTimothy, ^cbond-servants of ^dChrist Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) ,

To ^eall the ^fsaints (God’s people) in Christ Jesus who are at ^gPhilippi, including the ^hoverseers and ⁱdeacons: 2 ^aGrace to you and peace inner calm and spiritual well-being from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 ^aI thank my God in every remembrance of you, 4 always offering ^aevery prayer of mine with joy and with specific requests for all of you, 5 thanking God for your ^aparticipation and partnership both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions in advancing the ^bgood news regarding salvation ^cfrom the first day you heard it until now. 6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will continue to perfect and complete it until ^athe day of Christ Jesus the time of His return. Rom 14:10 7 ^aIt is right for me to feel this way about you, because you have me in your heart as I ^bhave you in my heart, since both in my ^cimprisonment and in the ^ddefense and confirmation of the ^egood news regarding salvation, all of you share in His matchless grace with me. 8 For ^aGod is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of ^bChrist Jesus whose great love fills me. 9 And this I pray, that ^ayour love may abound more and more displaying itself in greater depth in ^breal knowledge and in practical insight, 10 so that you may ^alearn to recognize and treasure what is excellent identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences, and that you may be pure and blameless until ^bthe day of Christ actually living lives that lead others away from sin; 11 filled with the ^afruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized.

12 Now I want you to know, ¹believers, that what has happened to me this imprisonment that was meant to stop me ^ahas actually served to advance the spread of the ^bgood news regarding salvation. 13 My ^aimprisonment in the cause of Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole ¹praetorian (imperial) guard and to ^beveryone else. 14 Because of my ^achains seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things, most of the ¹brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have ^bfar more courage to speak the word of God concerning salvation without fear of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances. 15 ^aSome, it is true, are actually preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition, but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit toward me. 16 The latter preach Christ out of love, because they know that I have been put here by God on purpose for the defense of the ^agospel; 17 but the former preach Christ insincerely ^aout of selfish ambition just self-promotion, thinking that they are causing me distress in my ^bimprisonment. 18 What then does it matter? So long as in every way, whether in pretense for self-promotion or in all honesty to spread the truth, Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice later as well, 19 for I know with confidence that this will turn out for my deliverance and spiritual well-being, ^athrough your prayers and the superabundant supply of ^bthe Spirit of Jesus Christ which upholds me. 20 It is my own ^aeager expectation and ^bhope, that looking toward the future I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with ^ccourage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be ^dmagnified and exalted in my body, ^ewhether by life or by death.

21 For to me, ^ato live is Christ He is my source of joy, my reason to live and to die is gain for I will be with Him in eternity. 22 If, however, it is to be life here and I am to go on living, this will mean ^auseful and productive service for me; so I do not know which to choose if I am given that choice. 23 But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the ^adesire to leave this world and ^bbe with Christ, for that is far, far better; 24 yet to remain in my body is more necessary and essential for your sake. 25 Since I am ^aconvinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your ^arejoicing for me may overflow in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

27 Only be sure to lead your lives in a manner that will be ^aworthy of the ^bgospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are ^cstanding firm in ^done spirit and one purpose, with one ¹mind ^estriving side by side as if in combat for the faith of the gospel. 28 And in no way be alarmed or intimidated in anything by your opponents, for such constancy and fearlessness on your part is a clear ^asign a proof and a seal for them of their impending destruction, but a clear sign for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. 29 For you ^ahave been granted the privilege for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to ^bsuffer for His sake, 30 and so you are experiencing the same kind of ^aconflict which ^1byou saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.