Study Desk

Paul^(a) and Timothy,^(b) slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,^(c) including the overseers^(d) and deacons.^(e)

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

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,^[a]

always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day^(f) until now.^(g)

I am sure of this, that He who started a good work^(h) in you^[b] will carry it on to completion⁽ⁱ⁾ until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right^(j) for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,^[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment^(k) and in the defense^(l) and establishment of the gospel.

For God is my witness,^(m) how deeply I miss all of you⁽ⁿ⁾ with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And I pray this: that your love^(o) will keep on growing^(p) in knowledge and every kind of discernment,^(q)

so that you can approve the things that are superior^(r) and can be pure^(s) and blameless^(t) in^[d] the day of Christ,^(u)

filled with the fruit^(v) of righteousness^(w) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory^(x) and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,^(y)

so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,^[e] and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ.

Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message^[f](z) fearlessly.

To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife,^(aa) but others out of good will.^[g]

These do so out of love,^(ab) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;

the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry,^(ac) not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.^[h]

What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives^(ad) or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice

because I know this will lead to my deliverance^[i](ae) through your prayers and help from the Spirit^(af) of Jesus Christ.^(ag)

My eager expectation and hope^(ah) is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life^(ai) or by death.^(aj)

For me, living is Christ^(ak) and dying is gain.^(al)

Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful^(am) work^(an) for me; and I don't know which one I should choose.

I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ^(ao)—which is far better^(ap)—

but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.

Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,^(aq)

so that, because of me, your confidence may grow^(ar) in Christ Jesus^(as) when I come to you again.

Just one thing: Live your life^(at) in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm^(au) in one^(av) spirit, with one mind,^[j] working side by side for the faith^(aw) that comes from the gospel,

not being frightened in any way by your opponents.^(ax) This is a sign of destruction for them,^(ay) but of your deliverance^(az)—and this is from God.

For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe^(ba) in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,^(a) if any fellowship with the Spirit,^(b) if any affection and mercy,^(c)

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way,^(d) having the same love,^(e) sharing the same feelings, focusing on one^(f) goal.

Do nothing out of rivalry^(g) or conceit,^(h) but in humility⁽ⁱ⁾ consider others as more important^(j) than yourselves.

Everyone should look out not only for his own interests,^(k) but also for the interests of others.^(l)

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God^(m) as something to be used for His own advantage.^[a]

Instead He emptied Himself⁽ⁿ⁾ by assuming the form of a slave,^(o) taking on the likeness of men.^(p) And when He had come as a man in His external form,

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.^(q)

For this reason God highly exalted Him^(r) and gave Him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow^(s)— of those who are in heaven^(t) and on earth and under the earth^(u)—

and every tongue^(v) should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,^[b] to the glory^(w) of God the Father.

So then, my dear friends,^(x) just as you have always obeyed,^(y) not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling^(z) and arguing,^(aa)

so that you may be blameless^(ab) and pure,^(ac) children of God who are faultless^(ad) in a crooked^(ae) and perverted^(af) generation,^(ag) among whom you shine like stars in the world.

Hold firmly to^[c] the message^(ah) of life. Then I can boast^(ai) in the day of Christ^(aj) that I didn't run or labor for nothing.

But even if I am poured out^(ak) as a drink offering^(al) on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus^(am) to send Timothy^(an) to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.

For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

all seek their own interests,^(ao) not those of Jesus Christ.^(ap)

But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.^(aq)

But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus^(ar)—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need^(as)—

since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another.

For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious.

Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor,

because he came close to death for the work^(at) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.