[1] Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
[2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
[4] always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
[5] in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
[6] For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
[7] For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
[8] For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
[10] so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
[11] having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
[12] Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,
[13] so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,
[14] and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
[15] Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
[16] the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
[17] the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
[18] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
[19] for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
[20] according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
[21] For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
[22] But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
[23] But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
[24] yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
[25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
[26] so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
[27] Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
[28] in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
[29] For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
[30] experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.