Philippians 1
1Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all those set apart in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, along with the overseers and the assistants: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4always offering my petition for all of you with joy in every one of my prayers, 5because of your partnership in the good news from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this very thing: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart—for both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news, you are all co-partners with me in this grace. 8For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the deep-seated affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may overflow more and more in full knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may determine what is truly essential, in order that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11having been filled with the fruit of justice that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have actually resulted in the advancement of the good news. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the entire Praetorium and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for the sake of Christ. 14Furthermore, most of the brothers, having gained confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.
15Some, to be sure, announce Christ because of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the good news. 17The former, however, proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not with pure motives, thinking they can stir up trouble for me in my imprisonment. 18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether by pretext or in truth, Christ is being announced, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20This is in accordance with my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, as always and now, Christ will 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 I am to go on living in the flesh, this means fruitful labor for me—and I do not know which I would choose. 23I am hard-pressed between the two: I have the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24yet to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25Since I am confident of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith, 26so that your reason for boasting may overflow in Christ Jesus because of me, through my coming to you again.
27Only conduct yourselves as citizens in a manner worthy of the good news of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear about your circumstances—that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling together with one soul for the faith of the good news, 28and not being intimidated in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of destruction to them, but of salvation for you, and this is from God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw me in and now hear that I am still facing.