Greeting
1 Paul 1:1 Ac 13:9 and Timothy, 1:1 Ac 16:1; 1Tm 1:2 servants of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, 1:1 Ac 16:12–40; 20:3–6; 1Th 2:2 including the overseers 1:1 Ac 20:28; Ti 1:7 and deacons. 1:1 1Co 3:5
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 1:3 Or for your every remembrance of me4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day 1:5 Ac 16:12–40 until now. 1:5 1Co 9:15–18; 2Co 11:7–9; Php 4:10,16,186 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work 1:6 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10 in you 1:6 Or work among you will carry it on to completion 1:6 2Co 7:1 until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right 1:7 Rm 1:17 for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, 1:7 Or because you have me in your heart and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment 1:7 Php 1:13–14,17–20,25,30; 2:17,24; 4:22 and in the defense 1:7 Ac 22:1 and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, 1:8 Rm 1:9 how deeply I miss all of you 1:8 1Th 3:6 with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love 1:9 1Co 13:1 will keep on growing 1:9 1Co 15:58 in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 1:9 Eph 5:1710 so that you may approve the things that are superior 1:9–10 Rm 12:2 and may be pure 1:10 2Pt 3:1 and blameless 1:10 Ac 24:16; 1Co 10:32 in the day of Christ, 1:10 Php 1:6,1511 filled with the fruit 1:11 Mt 3:8; Gl 5:22 of righteousness 1:11 Rm 1:17 that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory 1:11 Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 2Pt 3:18 and praise of God.
Advance of the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 1:12 Mk 13:9; Ac 21–2613 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word 1:14 Other mss add of God, 1:14 Lk 8:21; Jn 18:32; Ac 17:11; Heb 4:12 fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, 1:15 Rm 1:29; Ti 3:9 but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, 1:16 1Co 13:1 knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, 1:17 Rm 2:8 not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives 1:18 1Th 2:5 or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation 1:19 Or vindication, 1:19 Jb 13:16–18 through your prayers and help from the Spirit 1:19 Gl 5:25 of Jesus Christ. 1:19 Ac 16:7; Rm 8:9; 1Pt 1:1120 My eager expectation and hope 1:20 Ac 23:6; 1Th 1:3 is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life 1:20 1Jn 5:12 or by death. 1:20 Jn 8:51
Living Is Christ
21 For me, to live is Christ 1:21 Rm 14:7–9; Gl 2:19–20; Php 1:11,15; Col 2:6–3:11 and to die is gain. 1:21 Rm 8:38–39; Php 3:722 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful 1:22 Mt 3:8; Rm 1:13; Gl 5:22 work 1:22 Mk 14:6; Gl 3:10; Jms 2:14–26 for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ 1:23 Rm 6:8; 2Co 4:14; 13:4–5; 1Th 4:14; 5:9–10 — which is far better 1:23 Jn 12:26 — 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 1:25 Mt 8:10; Ac 3:16; Rm 1:8; 1Co 2:5; Gl 2:16; 1Tm 1:2; Heb 4:2; Jd 326 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting 1:26 1Co 15:58 in Christ Jesus 1:26 Rm 16:7; Eph 2:6; 1Pt 5:14 may abound.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life 1:27 Ac 23:1 worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm 1:27 1Co 16:13; Gl 5:1; Eph 6:13–17; Php 4:1; 2Th 2:15 in one 1:27 Jn 11:52 spirit, in one accord, 1:27 Lit soul contending together for the faith 1:27 1Tm 3:9; 4:1,6; 5:8; 6:10,21 of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. 1:28 1Co 16:9 This is a sign of destruction for them, 1:28 Mt 7:13; Rm 9:22 but of your salvation 1:28 Ac 4:12; 2Co 7:10; Heb 5:9 — and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe 1:29 Mk 11:24; Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10 in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.