Philippians 1

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3I thank my God every time I remember you,

4always praying with joy in every prayer of mine for all of you,

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

6I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart. Whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in grace with me.

8For God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this is my prayer: that your love may overflow more and more in knowledge and all insight,

10so that you may discern what is best, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel,

13so that it has become clear throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

14And most of the brothers and sisters, having become confident in the Lord because of my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15Some, it is true, proclaim Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

16These act out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17The others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking they will stir up trouble for me in my imprisonment.

18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will keep on rejoicing,

19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.

20It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed in anything, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

22But if I am to live on in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me. Yet which I will choose I cannot tell.

23I am torn between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

26so that through my coming to you again your boasting in Christ Jesus may overflow because of me.

27Only live your life as citizens in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,

28and not frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him,

30since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.