1Paul and Timothy , servants of Christ Jesus , to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi , with the bishops and deacons : 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . 3I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you , 4always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy , 5for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now ;
Paul's Imprisonment and the Advancement of the Gospel
6being confident of this very thing , that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ : 7even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf 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 with me of grace . 8For God is my witness , how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus . 9And this I pray , that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; 10so that ye may approve the things that are excellent ; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ ; 11being filled with the fruits of righteousness , which are through Jesus Christ , unto the glory and praise of God . 12Now I would have you know , brethren , that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel ; 13so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole prætorian guard , and to all the rest ; 14and that most of the brethren in the Lord , being confident through my bonds , are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
The Importance of Unity and Love
15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife ; and some also of good will : 16the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel ; 17but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds . 18What then ? only that in every way , whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed ; and therein I rejoice , yea , and will rejoice . 19For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation , through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ , 20according to my earnest expectation and hope , that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness , as always , so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body , whether by life , or by death . 21For to me to live is Christ , and to die is gain . 22But if to live in the flesh ,— if this shall bring fruit from my work , then what I shall choose I know not . 23But I am in a strait betwixt the two , having the desire to depart and be with Christ ; for it is very far better : 24yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake . 25And having this confidence , I know that I shall abide , yea , and abide with you all , for your progress and joy in the faith ; 26that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again .
Living for Christ
27Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ : that , whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state , that ye stand fast in one spirit , with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel ; 28and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation , and that from God ; 29because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ , not only to believe on him , but also to suffer in his behalf : 30having the same conflict which ye saw in me , and now hear to be in me .