PHILIPPIANS

CHAPTER 1

Ph. 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers [Traditionally bishops] and deacons:

Ph. 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ph. 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Ph. 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

Ph. 1:5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

Ph. 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ph. 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

Ph. 1:8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Ph. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Ph. 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

Ph. 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

Ph. 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

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Ph. 1:13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard [Or whole palace] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

Ph. 1:14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Ph. 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

Ph. 1:16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel.

Ph. 1:17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. [Some late manuscripts have verses 16 and 17 in reverse order.]

Ph. 1:18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

Ph. 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. [Or salvation]

Ph. 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Ph. 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Ph. 1:22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Ph. 1:23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

Ph. 1:24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Ph. 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

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Ph. 1:26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Ph. 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

Ph. 1:28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God.

Ph. 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

Ph. 1:30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

CHAPTER 2

Ph. 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

Ph. 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Ph. 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Ph. 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Ph. 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Ph. 2:6 Who, being in very nature [Or in the form of] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Ph. 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature [Or the form] of a servant, being made in human likeness.

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Ph. 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Ph. 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Ph. 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Ph. 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ph. 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence

— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Ph. 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Ph. 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,

Ph. 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Ph. 2:16 as you hold out [Or hold on to] the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing.

Ph. 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Ph. 2:18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Ph. 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.

Ph. 2:20 I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.

Ph. 2:21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

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Ph. 2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Ph. 2:23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

Ph. 2:24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

Ph. 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

Ph. 2:26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

Ph. 2:27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

Ph. 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.

Ph. 2:29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him,

Ph. 2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

CHAPTER 3

Ph. 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Ph. 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.

Ph. 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh —

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Ph. 3:4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

Ph. 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;

Ph. 3:6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Ph. 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Ph. 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Ph. 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Ph. 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Ph. 3:11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Ph. 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Ph. 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead,

Ph. 3:14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Ph. 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

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Ph. 3:16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Ph. 3:17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

Ph. 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Ph. 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Ph. 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Ph. 3:21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

CHAPTER 4

Ph. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Ph. 4:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

Ph. 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, [Or loyal Syzygus] help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Ph. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Ph. 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Ph. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Ph. 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Ph. 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

Ph. 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Ph. 4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

Ph. 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Ph. 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Ph. 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Ph. 4:14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Ph. 4:15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

Ph. 4:16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

Ph. 4:17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

Ph. 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Ph. 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

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Ph. 4:20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ph. 4:21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings.

Ph. 4:22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

Ph. 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. [Some manuscripts: do not have Amen.]