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The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints 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.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)
3
I thank my God every time I remember you.
4
In every prayer 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. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
8
God is my witness 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 test and prove 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.

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

(James 1:2–12)
12
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard (a) and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14
And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word (b) 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 in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.(c)
17
The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18
What then is the issue?(d) Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19
because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
20
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

21
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22
But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So 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 far better indeed.
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 will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26
so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.

Worthy of the Gospel

27
Nevertheless, 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 one spirit, contending side by side (e) for the faith of the gospel,
28
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from 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 encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Footnotes

(a)1:13 Or all the Praetorium
(b)1:14 NE and WH the word of God
(c)1:16 BYZ and TR reverse the order of verses 16 and 17.
(d)1:18 Literally What then?
(e)1:27 Or striving together with one mind
(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1
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)
2
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)
3
I thank my God whenever I remember you,
4
always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy,
5
for your partnership(d) in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;
6
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
7
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.
8
For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
9
This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10
so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,
11
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)
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,
13
so that it became evident to the whole palace (f) guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ,
14
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.
15
Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.
16
The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
17
but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.
18
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.
19
For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20
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

21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22
But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.
23
But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24
Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
25
Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26
that your boasting (g) may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Worthy of the Gospel

27
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;
28
and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
29
Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,
30
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
(c)1:1 Or, deacons
(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
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