1:1   From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Philippi who are united with Christ Jesus, with their overseers and deacons.

1:2   May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be yours!

1:3   I thank my God every time I remember you,

1:4   always praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you

1:5   because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

1:6   I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Christ Jesus.

1:7   For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart. Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in grace.

1:8   For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.

1:9   And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and more in full knowledge and perfect insight,

1:10   so that you may be able to determine what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

1:11   having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

1:12   Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually turned out for the progress of the gospel.

1:13   As a result, it has become clear to the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that I am in prison because of Christ.

1:14   Moreover, because of my imprisonment most of the brothers have been made confident in the Lord to speak God's word more boldly and courageously than ever before.

1:15   Some are preaching Christ because of their envy and rivalry, while others do so because of their good will.

1:16   The latter are motivated by love, because they know that I have been appointed for the defense of the gospel.

1:17   The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition and without sincerity, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.

1:18   But what does it matter? Just this, that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and because of this I rejoice. Yes, I will continue to rejoice,

1:19   because I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

1:20   This is according to my eager expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, because of my boldness Christ will be exalted in my body, now as always, whether I live or die.

1:21   For to me, to go on living is Christ, and to die is gain.

1:22   Now if I go on living in this body, that will produce more results, yet I do not know which I would prefer.

1:23   Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with Christ, for that is far better.

1:24   But for your sake it is better that I remain in this body.

1:25   Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith.

1:26   Then your boasting in Christ Jesus will increase along with mine through my coming again to you.

1:27   The only thing that matters is that you continue to live as good citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I may hear all about you-that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling with one mind for the faith of the gospel,

1:28   and that you are not intimidated by your opponents in any way. This is evidence that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved-and all because of God.

1:29   For you have been given the privilege for Christ's sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.

1:30   You have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear that I am still having.