Philippians

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, chapter 1, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 1 New English Translation

Salutation

   1 From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons. 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ!

Prayer for the Church

   3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you 5 because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God's grace together with me. 8 For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight 10 so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere 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.

Ministry as a Prisoner

   12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel: 13 The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ, 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the LORD because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.
   15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment. 18 What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don't know which I prefer: 23 I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, 24 but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body. 25 And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.
   27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that - whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent - I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation - a sign which is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.

King James Version

   1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
   2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
   3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
   4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
   5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
   6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
   7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
   8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
   9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
   10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
   11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
   12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
   13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
   14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
   15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
   16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
   17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
   18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
   19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
   20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
   21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
   22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
   23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
   24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
   25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
   26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
   27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
   28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
   29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
   30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.