1 T his 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.

Paul and Timotheus, bondmen of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministers;

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

grace to you, and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank God for you whenever I think of you.

I thank my God for my whole remembrance of you,

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

constantly in my every supplication, making the supplication for you all with joy,

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

because of your fellowship with the gospel, from the first day until now;

6 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.

having confidence of this very thing, that he who has begun in you a good work will complete it unto Jesus Christ's day:

7 I t 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.

as it is righteous for me to think this as to you all, because ye have me in your hearts, and that both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the glad tidings ye are all participators in my grace.

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

For God is my witness how I long after you all in bowels of Christ Jesus.

9 A nd 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.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and all intelligence,

10 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.

that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent, in order that ye may be pure and without offence for Christ's day,

11 A nd 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

being complete as regards the fruit of righteousness, which by Jesus Christ, to God's glory and praise.

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

But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings,

13 E veryone 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.

so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in all the praetorium and to all others;

14 B ecause 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.

and that the most of the brethren, trusting in Lord through my bonds, dare more abundantly to speak the word of God fearlessly.

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

Some indeed also for envy and strife, but some also for good will, preach the Christ.

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

These indeed out of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the glad tidings;

17 T he 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.

but those out of contention, announce the Christ, not purely, supposing to arouse tribulation for my bonds.

18 W hat 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.

What is it then? at any rate, in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is announced; and in this I rejoice, yea, also I will rejoice;

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

for I know that this shall turn out for me to salvation, through your supplication and supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ;

20 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.

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

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

For for me to live Christ, and to die gain;

22 I f 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.

but if to live in flesh, this is for me worth the while: and what I shall choose I cannot tell.

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

But I am pressed by both, having the desire for departure and being with Christ, very much better,

24 B ut it is more important for you that I stay.

but remaining in the flesh more necessary for your sakes;

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

and having confidence of this, I know that I shall remain and abide along with you all, for your progress and joy in faith;

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

that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus through me by my presence again with you.

27 L ive 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.

Only conduct yourselves worthily of the glad tidings of the Christ, in order that whether coming and seeing you, or absent, I may hear of what concerns you, that ye stand firm in one spirit, with one soul, labouring together in the same conflict with the faith of the glad tidings;

28 D o 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.

and not frightened in anything by the opposers, which is to them a demonstration of destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God;

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

because to you has been given, as regards Christ, not only the believing on him but the suffering for him also,

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

having the same conflict which ye have seen in me, and now hear of in me.