From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

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

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

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.

The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that -- whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent -- I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation -- a sign which is from God.

who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.

I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness -- a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.

and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

But our citizenship is in heaven -- and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent -- a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.