1 Paulo e Timóteo, servos de Cristo Jesus, a todos os santos em Cristo Jesus, inclusive bispos e diáconos que vivem em Filipos, 2 graça e paz a vós outros, da parte de Deus, nosso Pai, e do Senhor Jesus Cristo.

3 Dou graças ao meu Deus por tudo que recordo de vós, 4 fazendo sempre, com alegria, súplicas por todos vós, em todas as minhas orações, 5 pela vossa cooperação no evangelho, desde o primeiro dia até agora. 6 Estou plenamente certo de que aquele que começou boa obra em vós há de completá-la até ao Dia de Cristo Jesus. 7 Aliás, é justo que eu assim pense de todos vós, porque vos trago no coração, seja nas minhas algemas, seja na defesa e confirmação do evangelho, pois todos sois participantes da graça comigo. 8 Pois minha testemunha é Deus, da saudade que tenho de todos vós, na terna misericórdia de Cristo Jesus. 9 E também faço esta oração: que o vosso amor aumente mais e mais em pleno conhecimento e toda a percepção, 10 para aprovardes as coisas excelentes e serdes sinceros e inculpáveis para o Dia de Cristo, 11 cheios do fruto de justiça, o qual é mediante Jesus Cristo, para a glória e louvor de Deus.

12 Quero ainda, irmãos, cientificar-vos de que as coisas que me aconteceram têm, antes, contribuído para o progresso do evangelho; 13 de maneira que as minhas cadeias, em Cristo, se tornaram conhecidas de toda a guarda pretoriana e de todos os demais; 14 e a maioria dos irmãos, estimulados no Senhor por minhas algemas, ousam falar com mais desassombro a palavra de Deus. 15 Alguns, efetivamente, proclamam a Cristo por inveja e porfia; outros, porém, o fazem de boa vontade; 16 estes, por amor, sabendo que estou incumbido da defesa do evangelho; 17 aqueles, contudo, pregam a Cristo, por discórdia, insinceramente, julgando suscitar tribulação às minhas cadeias. 18 Todavia, que importa? Uma vez que Cristo, de qualquer modo, está sendo pregado, quer por pretexto, quer por verdade, também com isto me regozijo, sim, sempre me regozijarei.

19 Porque estou certo de que isto mesmo, pela vossa súplica e pela provisão do Espírito de Jesus Cristo, me redundará em libertação, 20 segundo a minha ardente expectativa e esperança de que em nada serei envergonhado; antes, com toda a ousadia, como sempre, também agora, será Cristo engrandecido no meu corpo, quer pela vida, quer pela morte. 21 Porquanto, para mim, o viver é Cristo, e o morrer é lucro. 22 Entretanto, se o viver na carne traz fruto para o meu trabalho, já não sei o que hei de escolher. 23 Ora, de um e outro lado, estou constrangido, tendo o desejo de partir e estar com Cristo, o que é incomparavelmente melhor. 24 Mas, por vossa causa, é mais necessário permanecer na carne. 25 E, convencido disto, estou certo de que ficarei e permanecerei com todos vós, para o vosso progresso e gozo da fé, 26 a fim de que aumente, quanto a mim, o motivo de vos gloriardes em Cristo Jesus, pela minha presença, de novo, convosco.

27 Vivei, acima de tudo, por modo digno do evangelho de Cristo, para que, ou indo ver-vos ou estando ausente, ouça, no tocante a vós outros, que estais firmes em um só espírito, como uma só alma, lutando juntos pela fé evangélica; 28 e que em nada estais intimidados pelos adversários. Pois o que é para eles prova evidente de perdição é, para vós outros, de salvação, e isto da parte de Deus. 29 Porque vos foi concedida a graça de padecerdes por Cristo e não somente de crerdes nele, 30 pois tendes o mesmo combate que vistes em mim e, ainda agora, ouvis que é o meu.

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, 5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even 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. 8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; 10 so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

12 Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel; 13 so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole prætorian guard, and to all the rest; 14 and 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. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel; 17 but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. 18 What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according 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. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if to live in the flesh,—if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. 23 But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith; 26 that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or 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; 28 and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God; 29 because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf: 30 having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons ":

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

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

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

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, "that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard "and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

19 for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. [^4]

20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

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

22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, "striving together as one for the faith of the gospel

28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved —and that by God.

29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.