The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and servants:

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)

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

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

for your contribution to the good news from the first day until now,

having been confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will complete [it] until [the] day of Jesus Christ,

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 [in] the defense and confirmation of the good news, all of you being fellow-partakers with me of grace.

For God is my witness, how I long for you all with [the] yearnings of Jesus Christ,

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

for your proving the things that differ, that you may be pure and offenseless—to [the] Day of Christ,

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

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

(James 1:2–12)

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

so that my bonds have become evident in Christ in the whole Praetorium, and to all the other places,

and the greater part of the brothers in the LORD, having confidence by my bonds, are more abundantly bold to fearlessly speak the word.

Certain, indeed, even through envy and contention, and certain also through goodwill, preach the Christ;

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

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

what then? In every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed—and I rejoice in this, indeed, and will rejoice.

For I have known that this will turn out to me for salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus,

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will be ashamed in nothing, and in all freedom, as always, also Christ will now be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death,

To Live Is Christ

for to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.

And if to live in the flesh [is] to me a fruit of work, then what will I choose? I do not know;

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

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

and being persuaded of this, I have known that I will remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith,

that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my coming again to you.

Worthy of the Gospel

Only conduct yourselves worthily of the good news of the Christ, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news,

and not be terrified in anything by those opposing, which is indeed a token of destruction to them, and to you of salvation, and that from God;

because to you it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on behalf of Him;

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

(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ,(a) to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers

(b)

and servants:(c)

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)

I thank my God whenever I remember you,

always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy,

for your partnership(d) in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,

being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

(James 1:2–12)

Now I desire to have you know, brothers,(e) that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,

so that it became evident to the whole palace

(f)

guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ,

and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

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

But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.

But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

that your boasting

(g)

may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Worthy of the Gospel

Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)1:1 or, superintendents, or bishops

(d)1:5 The word translated “partnership” (κοινωνίᾳ) also means “fellowship” and “sharing”.

(e)1:12 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(f)1:13 or, praetorian

(g)1:26 or, rejoicing