4 always in aevery prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5afor your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun aa good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness awhich are by Jesus Christ, bto the glory and praise of God.
Christ Is Preached
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things whichhappened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident ato the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
161The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
Paul's example shows that being thankful for one another is a constant duty. Remaining upset with someone proves difficult while simultaneously thanking God that he is a brother in Christ. Motivated by outgoing concern for others, believers can express thankfulness for the faith of Christ displayed in them, their conversion, the true love they demonstrate through obedience to His Word, and the earnest care or zeal they show for the brethren and God's work. The reasons for such gratitude are endless.
Philippians 1:3-5
Through the apostle Paul's example, we see that it is our duty to be thankful for each other on a constant basis. It is difficult to be upset with someone while at the same time thanking God that he is our brother in Christ.
Spurred by outgoing concern for others, we can be thankful for the faith of Christ exhibited in them, their conversion, the true love they show through obedience to His Word, the earnest care or zeal exhibited by them for the brethren and God's work. The list is endless (II Corinthians 9:11).
Paul's example shows that being thankful for one another is a constant duty. Remaining upset with someone proves difficult while simultaneously thanking God that he is a brother in Christ. Motivated by outgoing concern for others, believers can express thankfulness for the faith of Christ displayed in them, their conversion, the true love they demonstrate through obedience to His Word, and the earnest care or zeal they show for the brethren and God's work. The reasons for such gratitude are endless.