Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thankfulness to God,

because of the fellowship which ye have in the gospel, from the first day unto now;

It is but just that I should be thus mindful of you all, because I have you in my heart, and because in these fetters of mine and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel you are all my fellow partners in the privilege.

And it is my prayer that your love may be more and more rich in knowledge and all manner of insight, enabling you to have a sense of what is vital,

so that you may have a sense of what is vital, and may be men of transparent character and blameless life, in preparation for the Day of Christ,

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in the whole praetorium, and to the other places -- all,

and that most of the Christian brothers have grown confident enough, because of my imprisonment, to dare to tell God's message without being afraid.

The latter are motivated by love, because they know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel.

For I have known that this shall fall out to me for salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus,

I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of, because through my boldness the Messiah will be exalted through me, now as always, whether I live or die.

But if to live in the flesh [is allowed me], I have this fruit of my work, and which I shall choose I know not.

but am in a quandary between the two. I am perplexed. I have a strong desire to break camp and to be with Christ, which is far better;

and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith,

which will result in your joy; so that, through union with Christ Jesus, you may have more than sufficient ground for boasting about me, through my being with you again.

Only let your behaviour do credit to the good news of Christ, so that if I come and see you or if I am away from you, I may have news of you that you are strong in one spirit, working together with one soul for the faith of the good news;

For you have been given the privilege for the Messiah's sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.

and have even the same fight which ye saw me have and now hear of me.

So, if there is any appeal in our union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if we have any common share in the Spirit, if you have any tenderheartedness and sympathy,

fulfil my joy, that you have the same mind, having the same love, sympathizing with each other, having one opinion.

Let each have an eye not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus:

And so, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, with reverence and self-distrust work out your own salvation;

holding out a message of life. Thus it will be my boast at the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, or toiled for nothing.

And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all:

And in the same way do you be glad and have a part in my joy.

I am hoping, however, in the Lord Jesus - Timothy, shortly, to send unto you, in order that, I also, may be of cheerful soul, when I have ascertained the things that concern you.

For I have no other like him with a genuine concern for your welfare,

But ye know the proof I have had of him, that as son with a father he served with me in the gospel.

But I have confidence in the Lord that I myself shall come shortly.

Epaphroditus, my brother and coworker and fellow soldier, who is your messenger and minister to my needs, I have thought it necessary to send to you;

for he has been longing to see you and has been homesick because you have heard that he was sick.

And indeed he was sick nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also so that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Therefore I have been the more eager to send him, in order that you may rejoice in seeing him again, and that I may have one sorrow less.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and have such in estimation,

for he came near dying for the Lord's work, and risked his life to make up for what was lacking in the service you have done me.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. it is not uneasy to me to write what I have already said, and it is an advantage to you.

For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and make our boast in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in outward rites,

although I myself might have confidence in outward rites. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I;

But what was once gain to me, that I have counted loss for Christ.

In very truth I count all things but loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and esteem them but refuse that I may gain Christ,

and be known to be united to him, with any uprightness I may have not based on law but coming through faith in Christ??he uprightness that comes from God through faith.

That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death;

If in any way I may have the reward of life from the dead.

I do not say that I have already won, or am already perfect, but I am passing on to lay hold on the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.

Brothers, I do not regard myself to have yet laid hold of it; but this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind me, but straining every nerve toward that which lies ahead,

So let us all who are mature have this attitude. If you have a different attitude, God will make it clear to you.

if only we guide our steps by the standards we have already attained.

Brothers, be comrades in imitating me, and study those whose life and walk is according to the pattern I have set you.

For many walk - of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping - that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,

Who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.

I urge Euodia and Syntyche to have the same attitude in the Lord.

Yes, I also ask you, my true partner, to help these women. They have worked hard with me to advance the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God.

Furthermore brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things pertain to love, whatsoever things are of honest report, if there be any virtuous thing, if there be any laudable thing, those same have ye in your mind,

Put in practise also what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me; and the God of peace shall be with you.

I was made very happy as a Christian to have your interest in my welfare revived again after so long; because you have always had the interest but not the opportunity to show it.

Not that I speak as if I were in want, for at least have learned how to be content, whatever happens.

I know how to live humbly, and I also know how to bear prosperity. In every place and under all circumstances I have been initiated into the secret of fulness and of hunger, of prosperity and of want.

For all things I have strength, in Christ's strengthening me;

Notwithstanding, you have acted nobly in making yourselves comrades in my trouble.

and ye have known, even ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the good news when I went forth from Macedonia, no assembly did communicate with me in regard to giving and receiving except ye only;

Not that I want your gifts, but I want you to have the profits that will accumulate to your credit.

I received all, and have plenty. I was even filled after that I have received of Epaphroditus, that which came from you, an odor that smelleth sweet, a sacrifice accepted and pleasant to God.

And my God will give you all you have need of from the wealth of his glory in Christ Jesus.