The Letter from Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

1

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the holy people in Christ Jesus who are of Philippi, along with the supervisors and ministers: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I give thanks to my God in every memory of you, always in my every prayer for all of you, making the prayer with joy, 4 that you have come into the communion of the gospel from the first day until this time, 5 being convinced of this itself, that the one who began the good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ; 6 as it is fitting to me that I should think this of all of you, because I have you in my heart, 7 both in my shackles, and in defense and confirmation of the gospel, as you are all co-partakers with me in grace. 8 For God is my witness how much I have longed you all in the guts of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray: that your love may all the greater and greater abound, into the knowing of all discernment, 10 that you may examine those things which stand before you, that you may be sincere; and such that none of you may be a stumbling block in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 And I also want you to know, brothers, that those things which happened to me, came rather to the greater furtherance of the gospel, 13 that my shackles may be revealed in Christ, in every praetorium and other place; 14 and that many of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident through my shackles, are more emboldened to speak the word without fear.

15 Some, indeed, preach by envy and contention, but some because of the good will of Christ; 16 and some proclaim Christ impurely, from contention, deeming to add affliction to my shackles; 17 but then, others from love, knowing that I am placed in the defense of the gospel.

18 So what? Regardless, in every way, whether by occasion or by truth, Christ shall be proclaimed, and in this I rejoice, and I shall continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that this falls to me in salvation, by your praying, and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my expectation and hope that nothing whatsoever shall ashame me; but with all freedom, that always, as now also, Christ shall be greatened in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, life is Christ, and death reward.

22 For if I shall live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my toil; and which I shall choose, I do not know. 23 For I am caught between the two, desiring to be released, and to be with Christ before long, which is better; 24 but to remain in the flesh is the more necessary because of you; 25 and knowing this for sure, that I shall remain, and to continue to remain with all of you, for your furtherance and rejoicing of faith, 26 that your glorying may abound by Christ Jesus in me, by my coming to you; 27 such that it is worthy to act in the gospel of Christ; that whether I shall come and see you, or I remain absent, I will hear of your matters, that you remain in one spirit, one mind, striving together the faith of the gospel, 28 in nothing fearing your adversaries; for it is indeed a cause of perishing to some, but salvation to us; and this from God, 29 for it is a gift to you by Christ, not only that you believe in him, but also that you should suffer for him, 30 having the same conflict that you see in me, and now hear in me.

2

Therefore, if there shall be consolation in Christ, if any solace of love, if any communion of spirit, if any guts or mercies, 2 complete me my joy, that you may be of like mind, having the same love, one in soul, one in mind. 3 None ought to do anything by contention or by empty glory, but by humility of soul; but rather, one ought to deem others better than oneself. 4 Do not look upon the things of your own, but on those of each other. 5 For this ought to be the thought you have, which is also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, having been in the form of God, did not deem to seize upon being equal to God, 7 but poured himself out and took up the form of a servant, placed into the likeness of people, 8 and being found in the figure of a man, humbled himself, making himself obedient to the point of death, and that death being a cross. 9 Therefore also God lifted him up to the highest point and gave him a name which is above every name, 10 that in the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow itself down, of heaven or earth or hell, 11 and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ be the Lord, to the glory of God the father. 12 Therefore, my beloved ones, obey as always, not only in my presence; but now much greater in my absence, with fear and trembling work your own salvation. 13 For God is the one who acts in you, both that you may want, and that you may effect his good will. 14 Do all things without murmuring or arguing, 15 so that none of you may be blameless and sincere, without rebuke, the sons of God in the midst of a twisted and depraved nation, among whom you should shine like lights in the world, 16 sustaining the word of life, that I may be able to glory in the day of Christ that I have not run pointlessly, nor toiled pointlessly. 17 Furthermore if I shall be made the sacrifice upon the service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice together with all of you. 18 For this cause also you too rejoice, and rejoice together with me. 19 And I hope in the Lord Jesus, to be sending you Timothy before long, that I also may be be comforted when I know your situation. 20 For I have no one of like mind with me who will naturally care about your situation. 21 For all seek those things which are their own, not which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his testing, that like a son he has served with me, as with the father, in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him quickly, as soon as I know my own situation. 24 And I trust in the Lord, that I also shall be coming soon. 25 But I felt it necessary to send my brother, colleague and co-soldier, Epaphroditus, whom you sent and who ministered to me in my need, to you. 26 For he longed after all of you, anxious in soul, because you heard him to be ill. 27 And indeed he was ill; yes, close to death; but God had mercy on him, and not him alone, but me also, lest I have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I was studious to send him, and when you see him, you will rejoice anew, and I may have the less sorrow. 29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and those who are thusly hold in esteem, 30 because for the work of Christ, he was near to death; not concerning himself with his own life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

3

Furthermore, brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write such to you is not grievous to me, but is safe to you.

2 Beware of the dogs; beware of the workers of evil; beware of division. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and shall glory in Christ Jesus; and we do not confide in the flesh, even if I may confide in the flesh. 4 If anyone else shall deem to have trust in the flesh, I have greater, 5 having been circumcised on the eighth day, from the nation of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew from Hebrews, a Pharisee according to the law; 6 according to zeal persecuting the community, according to the “righteousness” which is in the law, done blamelessly. 7 But those things which were reward to me, I found myself to be condemned by them because of Christ. 8 Indeed, I deemed all things to be condemned because of the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, because of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and deemed to consider them damnable, so that I might win Christ, 9 and that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness from the law, but that which by faith is of Christ, which is the righteousness, above faith, from God; 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the communion of his affliction, causing me to become conformed to his death, 11 if somehow I shall attain the resurrection of the dead; 12 not as if I had attained it already, or that I were perfect already, but I pursue it; and if I seize upon it, for which I have been seized upon by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not deem myself to have seized; but one thing I do, forgetting those thing indeed which are behind me, and reaching toward those things which are ahead of me, 14 I pursue the target of the prize of the highest calling of God, by Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore as many of us as are perfected, this we should think; and if you think otherwise, this also God will reveal to you. 16 Regardless, to that which we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, that we mind the same thing.

17 Likewise, be imitators of me, brothers, and consider those who thus walk, so much as you have us for exemplars. 18 For many walk, of which I often told you, and now also I say in tears, as enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is perishing, whose god their stomach, and glory in their shame, which have their mind on earthly things. 20 For our activity is in heaven, from whence also we await the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who shall transform our humble bodies to be in conformance with his glorious body, according to the effectiveness by which also he is able to subject all things to himself.

4

Therefore, my beloved and well-desired brothers, my joy and crown, stand thus in the Lord of delight. 2 I beg Euodias, and I beg Syntyche, that they be of one heart in the Lord. 3 And I ask you personally, honest compeer, to help the women who toiled in the gospel with me, and also Clement and the rest of my co-workers, as many as are named in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say, rejoice.

5 May your modesty be made known to all people. The Lord is nearby. 6 Of no matter be worried, but in all prayer and supplication, with giving of thanks, make known your request with God. 7 And may the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds, by Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers: whatever shall be true, whatever honest, whatever just, whatever pure, whatever lovely, whatever in good repute; if there be any virtue, and if any praise, think on these things, 9 which you also have learned, and received, and heard and seen in me; do these things, and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at the end your worry for me has regained strength, in which also you are worried; but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak according to lack. For I have learned to be content, in whatever state I am. 12 And I know how to be humble, and I know how to excel; and wherever, and in every thing I am directed both to be satisfied and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer lack. 13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

14 Anyway, you have done well, that you have communicated my affliction. 15 And you in Philippi know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I went out to Macedonia, no community would communicate to me with regard to giving and receiving, except you people alone. 16 For also when I had been in Thessalonica, you sent me once and again what was needed; 17 not that I needed a gift, but I desired fruit abounding in your account. 18 But I have all things, and I abound; I am full, after having received from Epaphroditus the things which you sent, the scent of good fragrance, an acceptable sacrifice and pleasing to God. 19 But may my God supply to you according to his riches, with glory, by Christ Jesus. 20 And also, glory to God our father, for an age of ages. Amen.

21 Greet all the holy people in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the holy people greet you, most of all indeed those who are of the family of Caesar. 23 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.

To the Philippians. Written from Rome by Epaphroditus.