Philippians 1

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons.

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

I thank my God every time I remember you.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

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

And I'm confident of this: that the one who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It's right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I've got you in my heart. Whether I'm in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

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

And this is my prayer: that your love may keep on growing more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

so you'll be able to work out what's best, and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

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

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

As a result, it's become clear right through the palace guard and to everyone else that I'm in chains for Christ.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to speak the word without fear.

It's true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

The ones who do it out of love know I'm put here for the defence of the gospel.

The others preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking they can stir up trouble for me while I'm in chains.

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 that I'm glad. Yes, and I'll go on being glad,

because I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what's happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

I fully expect and hope that I won't be ashamed in any way, but will have enough courage that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Because to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I'm to go on living in the body, that means fruitful work for me. Yet what should I choose? I don't know.

I'm torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.

But it's more necessary for you that I stay on in the body.

Convinced of this, I know I'll remain, and I'll go on with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you, I'll know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel,

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

Because it's been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

since you're going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.