Philippians 1:12-26 - The Progress Of The Gospel

¹² Now I wish you, brethren, to know, that the things which have befallen me have rather conduced to the progress of the gospel; ¹³ so that my bonds are manifest in Christ through the whole palace, and all other places; ¹⁴ and very many of our brethren in the Lord, assuming confidence from my chains, are more abundantly bold, fearlessly to preach the word. ¹⁵ Some indeed do it in a spirit of envy and strife; but some also preach Christ with cordial good-will: ¹⁶ the one indeed preach Christ out of contention, not with purity of intention, thinking to add affliction to my bonds: ¹⁷ but the others of love, knowing that I am exposed for the defence of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? if Christ is preached in whatever manner it be, whether in pretext or reality, even in this do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. ¹⁹ For I know that this shall issue in my salvation through your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my firm expectation and hope, that I shall be confounded by no event, but that with all boldness, as always hitherto, Christ shall now also be magnified in my body, whether by my life or death.

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if it be his will, that I should live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my travail: and what to chuse I know not. ²³ For I am in a strait between the two, having an earnest longing to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, for this is far, far better: ²⁴ but to abide in the flesh may be more necessary for you. ²⁵ And being so persuaded, I know that I shall stay and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith; ²⁶ that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus for me by my coming again unto you.