1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons,
2 Grace be unto you, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every mention of you,
4 Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel, from the first day until now:
6 Being persuaded of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ,
7 As it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, who were all partakers of my grace, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all, with the bowels of Jesus Christ.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more, in all knowledge and in all spiritual sense,
10 That ye may try the things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ,
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things concerning me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:
13 So that my bonds in Christ have been made manifest in the whole palace, and to all others:
14 And many of the brethren trusting in the Lord through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even through envy and strife; but some through good will.
16 The one preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the others out of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
18 What then? still every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ:
20 According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified 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 in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour, and what I should chuse, I know not.
23 For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, for it is far better.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being persuaded of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith:
26 That your rejoicing for me may abound through Christ Jesus, by my presence with you again.
27 Only let your behaviour be worthy the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear concerning you, that ye stand fast, in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel,
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation.
29 This also is of God. For to you it is given, with regard to Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him:
30 Having the same conflict, which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.