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

This letter is from Paul and Timothy. We are servants owned by Jesus Christ. This letter is to all who belong to Christ Jesus who are living in the city of Philippi and to the church leaders and their helpers also.

2 G race to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May you have loving-favor and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul Gives Thanks For the True Christians

3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you,

I thank God for you whenever I think of you.

4 a lways in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy,

I always have joy as I pray for all of you.

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

It is because you have told others the Good News from the first day you heard it until now.

6 b eing confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.

7 e ven as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf 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 with me of grace.

It is right for me to feel like this about all of you. It is because you are very dear to me. While I was in prison and when I was proving that the Good News is true, you all shared God’s loving-favor with me.

8 F or God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

God knows what I am saying. He knows how much I love you all with a love that comes from Jesus Christ.

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

And this is my prayer: I pray that your love will grow more and more. I pray that you will have better understanding and be wise in all things.

10 s o that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;

I pray that you will know what is the very best. I pray that you will be true and without blame until the day Christ comes again.

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

And I pray that you will be filled with the fruits of right living. These come from Jesus Christ, with honor and thanks to God. Paul’s Being in Prison Has Turned Out to Be a Good Thing

12 N ow I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

Christian brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped spread the Good News.

13 s o that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest;

Everyone around here knows why I am in prison. It is because I preached about Jesus Christ. All the soldiers who work for the leader of the country know why I am here.

14 a nd that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Because of this, most of my Christian brothers have had their faith in the Lord made stronger. They have more power to preach the Word of God without fear.

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

Some are preaching because they are jealous and want to make trouble. Others are doing it for the right reason.

16 t he one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;

These do it because of love. They know that I am put here to prove the Good News is true.

17 b ut the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds.

The others preach about Christ for what they get out of it. Their hearts are not right. They want to make me suffer while I am in prison.

18 W hat then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

What difference does it make if they pretend or if they are true? I am happy, yes, and I will keep on being happy that Christ is preached.

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

Because of your prayers and the help the Holy Spirit gives me, all of this will turn out for good.

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

I hope very much that I will have no reason to be ashamed. I hope to honor Christ with my body if it be by my life or by my death. I want to honor Him without fear, now and always.

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

To me, living means having Christ. To die means that I would have more of Him.

22 B ut if to live in the flesh, --if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not.

If I keep on living here in this body, it means that I can lead more people to Christ. I do not know which is better.

23 B ut I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:

There is a strong pull from both sides. I have a desire to leave this world to be with Christ, which is much better.

24 y et to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

But it is more important for you that I stay.

25 A nd having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;

I am sure I will live to help you grow and be happy in your faith.

26 t hat your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

This will give you reason to give more thanks to Christ Jesus when I come to visit you again. Fight for the Faith

27 O nly let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

Live your lives as the Good News of Christ says you should. If I come to you or not, I want to hear that you are standing true as one. I want to hear that you are working together as one, preaching the Good News.

28 a nd in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;

Do not be afraid of those who hate you. Their hate for you proves they will be destroyed. It proves you have life from God that lasts forever.

29 b ecause to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:

You are not only to put your trust in Him, but you are to suffer for Him also.

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

You know what the fight is like. Now it is time for you to have a part in it as I have.