[This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God's holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons.

May unearned favor and peace be upon you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am confident of this very thing, that God, who began something good among you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ's [return].

For God is my witness that I long to see you with the [same] affection that Christ Jesus has [for you].

having been full of qualities of righteousness, which come from Jesus Christ and produce honor and praise to God.

For I know that, through your requests [in prayer] for me and the help provided by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, this situation will result in my being rescued [i.e., released from imprisonment].

so that, by my being with you again, you will be able to rejoice all the more in [our lives together with] Christ Jesus.

You should think about things the way Christ Jesus did.

[This was] so that, in [honor of] the name of Jesus, everyone's knee in heaven, on earth and under the earth [i.e., all rational creatures] should bow [i.e., before God],

and that everyone's mouth should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

But I hope in [harmony with the wishes of] the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I could be encouraged when I learn of your situation [i.e., when Timothy returns with news from Philippi].

For everyone else is looking out for his own interests, not for those of Jesus Christ.

For we [Christians] are the [true] circumcision [i.e., the real "Jews" in God's eyes. See Rom. 2:28-29]. We worship by means of God's Holy Spirit [i.e., are empowered and motivated by the Holy Spirit], and boast in [the person and work of] Christ Jesus, and [we] place no confidence in the flesh [i.e., in any outward ritual or status for salvation].

What is more, I consider everything to be a loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus [as] my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things. [I now] consider [all of] them to be trash, in order to gain Christ

[It is] not that I have already arrived at the goal [of spiritual maturity], or have already been made perfectly [righteous], but I am pushing onward in order to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for [i.e., to receive all that Christ intended for me].

But we are [really] citizens of heaven and we are waiting for a Savior [to return] from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

And [when you do], the peace from God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and thoughts [from anxiety] in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus.

And my God will supply all your needs [also], according to His glorious wealth [enjoyed by fellowship] in Christ Jesus.

Greet every saint [i.e., God's holy person] in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me [also] send their greetings to you.

May the favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.