1 P aul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), to all the saints (God’s consecrated people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):

2 g race be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace (favor and blessing) to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.

4 a lways in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight).

5 f or your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

for your fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day until now.

6 b eing confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

7 e ven as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

It is right and appropriate for me to have this confidence and feel this way about you all, because you have me in your heart and I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing). both when I am shut up in prison and when I am out in the defense and confirmation of the good news (the Gospel).

8 F or God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

For God is my witness how I long for and pursue you all with love, in the tender mercy of Christ Jesus!

9 A nd this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight '> display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],

10 t hat ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value, and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless the day of Christ.

11 b eing filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God '> that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].

12 B ut I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what to me has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the good news (the Gospel).

13 s o that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ.

14 a nd many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

And most of the brethren have derived fresh confidence in the Lord because of my chains and are much more bold to speak and publish fearlessly the Word of God.

15 S ome indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

Some, it is true, preach Christ (the Messiah) out of envy and rivalry (party spirit), but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit and goodwill.

16 t he one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

The latter out of love, because they recognize and know that I am put here for the defense of the good news (the Gospel).

17 b ut the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

But the former preach Christ out of a party spirit, insincerely, supposing they are making my bondage more bitter and my chains more galling.

18 W hat then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

But what does it matter, so long as either way, whether in pretense or in all honesty, Christ is being proclaimed? And in that I rejoice, yes, and I shall rejoice also.

19 F or I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

For I am well assured and indeed know that through your prayers and a bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) this will turn out for my preservation (for the spiritual health and welfare of my own soul) and avail toward the saving work of the Gospel.

20 a ccording to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

This is in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always heretofore, Christ (the Messiah) will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through (by) life or through (by) death.

21 F or to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 B ut if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference,

23 F or I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;

24 n evertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake.

25 A nd having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress and joy in believing,

26 t hat your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

So that in me you may have abundant cause for exultation and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.

27 O nly let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves your manner of life worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).

28 a nd in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

And do not be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of destruction, but of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

29 F or unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

For you have been granted for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf.

30 h aving the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

So you are engaged in the same conflict which you saw me and which you now hear to be mine.