| 1 From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to the saints in Philippi, with their bishops and deacons; to you all in Christ Jesus: | |
| 2 May grace and peace be yours from God, our Father, and Christ Jesus the Lord. | |
| 3 I give thanks to my God each time I remember you, | |
| 4 and when I pray for you, I pray with joy. | |
| 5 I cannot forget all you shared with me in the service of the Gospel, from the first day until now. | |
| 6 Since God began such a good work in you, I am certain that he will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus. | |
| 7 This is my hope for you, for I carry you all in my heart: whether I am in prison or defending and confirming the Gospel, you are with me and share the same grace. | |
| 8 God knows that I love you dearly with the love of Christ Jesus, | |
| 9 and in my prayers I ask that your love may lead you each day to a deeper knowledge and clearer discernment, | |
| 10 that you may have good criteria for everything. So you may be pure of heart and come blameless to the day of Christ, | |
| 11 filled with the fruit of holiness that comes through Christ Jesus, for the glory and praise of God. | |
| 12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has served to advance the Gospel. | |
| 13 Actually the whole praetorian guard, and even those outside the palace, know that I am in chains for Christ. | |
| 14 And what is more, my condition as prisoner has encouraged most of our brothers who are now emboldened to proclaim the Word of God more openly and without fear. | |
| 15 Some, it is true, are moved by envy and rivalry, but others preach Christ with a good intention. | |
| 16 These latter are moved by love and realize that I am here to defend the Gospel. | |
| 17 The others announce Christ to challenge me. They do not act with a pure intention but think they are making my prison more unbearable. | |
| 18 But in any case, whether they are sincere or showing off, Christ is proclaimed and because of this I rejoice and have no regrets. | |
| 19 I know that all this will be a grace for me because of your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Christ. | |
| 20 I am hopeful, even certain, that I shall not be ashamed. I feel as assured now, as before, that Christ will be exalted through my person, whether I live or die. | |
| 21 For to me, living is Christ, and dying is gain. | |
| 22 But if I am to go on living, I shall be able to enjoy fruitful labor. Which shall I choose? | |
| 23 So I feel torn between the two. I desire greatly to leave this life and to be with Christ, which will be better by far, | |
| 24 but it is necessary for you that I remain in this life. | |
| 25 And because I am convinced of this, I know that I will stay and remain with you for your progress and happiness in the faith. | |
| 26 I will surely come to you again, and give you more reason for being proud of belonging to Christ Jesus. | |
| 27 Try, then, to adjust your lives according to the Gospel of Christ. May I see it when I come to you, and if I cannot come, may I at least hear that you stand firm in the same spirit, striving to uphold the faith of the Gospel with one heart. | |
| 28 Do not be afraid of your opponents. This will be a sign that they are defeated and you are saved, that is saved by God. | |
| 29 For through Christ you have been granted not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. | |
| 30 And you now share the same struggle that you saw I had and that I continue to have, as you know. | |
