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, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I give thanks to my God upon all the remembrance of you,

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

always, in every supplication of mine for you all, with joy making the supplication,

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

for your contribution to the good news from the first day till 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 been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform till a day of Jesus Christ,

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.

according as it is righteous for me to think this in behalf of you all, because of my having you in the heart, both in my bonds, and the defence and confirmation of the good news, all of you being fellow-partakers with me of 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 for you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ,

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 yet more and more may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment,

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.

for your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and offenceless -- to a day of Christ,

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 filled with the fruit of righteousness, that through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

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

And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come,

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 the whole praetorium, and to the other places -- all,

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 the greater part of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence by my bonds, are more abundantly bold -- fearlessly to speak the word.

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

Certain, indeed, even through envy and contention, and certain also through good-will, do 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.

the one, indeed, of rivalry the Christ do proclaim, not purely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds,

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.

and the other out of love, having known that for defence of the good news I am set:

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 then? in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed -- and in this I rejoice, yea, and shall 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 have known that this shall fall out to me for salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus,

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, and in all freedom, as always, also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death,

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

for to 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.

And if to live in the flesh to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not;

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.

for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,

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

and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account,

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

and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the 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 in me through my presence again to 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 worthily of the good news of the Christ conduct ye yourselves, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news,

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 terrified in anything by those opposing, which to them indeed is a token of destruction, and to you of 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 it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also on behalf of him to suffer;

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

the same conflict having, such as ye saw in me, and now hear of in me.