Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

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

Always, in every prayer that I offer for you all--my prayers are full of joy--

Because of the share that you have had in spreading the Good News, from the first day that you received it until now.

Of this I am fully persuaded, that He who has begun a good work in you will go on completing it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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.

For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the compassion that the Messiah Jesus provides.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound yet more and more in intelligence and insight

for testing things that differ, so that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

men that are abounding in the fruits of right-doing with the help of Jesus Christ, to the honor and praise of God.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has turned out rather to help than to the hindrance of the gospel.

Throughout the whole Praetorian guard and among all the others it has become plain that these chains of mine are for the sake of Christ;

Insomuch that many of the brethren in the Lord are boldened through my bonds, and dare more largely speak the word without fear.

It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of Jealousy and opposition; but there are others who proclaim him from good- will.

the latter, indeed, are doing so from love to me, for they know that I am providentially put here to defend the good news;

These latter out of their love, because they know that I am set here for the defense of the gospel;

What of it? In any case, whether in pretence or in honest truth, Christ is still preached, and in that I am rejoicing, yes, and will rejoice.

For I know that these things will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

So it is my keen expectation and hope that I shall never feel ashamed, but that with fearless courage, now as hither to, Christ may be magnified in my body, whether by my life or by my death.

If it chance me to live in the flesh, that is to me fruitful for to work, and what to choose I know not.

I am hesitating between two desires, for I long to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far, far better,

but for your sakes it is more necessary that I should still live on in the body.

And because I am convinced of this, I know that I shall live, and go on working side by side with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

so that you may find me fresh cause of exultation in Christ Jesus, because of my presence among you once more.

Only do lead lives worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come to see you or hear reports concerning you in my absence, I may know that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul, enlisted in a common struggle for the faith of the gospel,

and in nothing fearing your adversaries: which is to them a token of perdition, and to you a sign of salvation, and that of God.

For unto you it is given, that not only ye should believe on Christ: but also suffer for his sake,

while you wage the same conflict which you once saw in me, and now hear that I maintain.

fulfil my joy, that ye draw one way, having one love, being of one accord, and of one mind,

that nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but that in meekness of mind every man esteem others better than himself,

and that no man consider his own, but what is mete for others.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus:

To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God;

but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].

and being in the human state, He humbled himself, and was obedient even unto death, and that the death of the cross.

This is why God has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name that is above every other name,

that in the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bend,

and every tongue confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord," to the glory of God the Father.

So that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out,

for it is God that worketh in you both to will, and to work, out of his own good-pleasure.

In all that you do, avoid murmuring and dissension,

that you may become blameless and innocent, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in a dark world,

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 you too should be glad and congratulate me upon that account.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be of good comfort when I learn the news concerning you.

For I have no man that is so like minded to me, which with so pure affection careth for your matters.

For all others seek their own, and not that which is Jesus Christ's.

Ye know the proof of him, how that as a son with the father, so with me bestowed he his labour upon the gospel.

Him, indeed, therefore, am I hoping to send - as soon as I can look off from the things that concern myself, - forthwith.

but I trust in the Lord that I also shall come shortly.

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

For he longed after you, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard say that he should be 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 honourably treat those that are such:

for it was through the work of the Lord that he came near to death; for he hazarded his very life to supply what was lacking in the help you sent me.

Finally, my brothers, continue to be glad that you are in union with the Lord. I am not tired of writing you the same things over and over: it means your safety.

Beware of those that are like dogs, beware of evil doers, beware of the concision.

for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:

though I have whereof I might rejoice in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, much more I:

according to zeal persecuting the assembly! according to righteousness that is in law becoming blameless!

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 found in him; not having my own righteousness of the Law, but that alone which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which comes from God, founded upon faith.

in knowing him, and the virtue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his passions, that I might be conformable unto his death,

in the hope of attaining, in some measure, the resurrection that lifts me out from among 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,

and press unto that mark appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, who have been instructed, have this in view: and if you are sollicitous about any thing else, God will reveal even that unto you.

Nevertheless in that whereunto we are come, let us proceed by one rule, that we may be of one accord.

Brethren, be imitators of me, and observe those that walk as ye have us for an example.

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 in the. end will be ruin'd, who place their religion in sensuality, their glory in that which is their shame, and fix their thoughts upon this earth.

But commonwealth is in heaven; and it is from heaven also that we are anxiously awaiting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,

which shall change into another fashion our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

So that, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, thus stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

I pray Euodia, and beseech Syntyche that they be of one accord in the Lord.

Yes, and I ask you, my true comrade, to help them, remembering that they toiled by my side in spreading the Good News; and so, too, did Clement and my other fellow-workers, whose names are 'in the Book of Life.'

Then, through your union with Christ Jesus, the peace of God, that surpasses all human thought, will keep guard over your hearts and thoughts.

Now, brothers, practice thinking on what is true, what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is lovable, what is high-toned, yes, on everything that is excellent or praiseworthy.

Practice the things you learned, received, and heard from me, things that you saw me do, and then the God who gives us peace will be with you.

Moreover, I greatly rejoiced in the Lord that now once more your care for me blossomed afresh; though indeed you did take thought in this matter, but you lacked the opportunity of expression.

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

I endure all things with him that strengthens me.

Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye bare part with me in my tribulation.

And you very well know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I had left Macedonia, no church but yourselves had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving.

That, even in Thessalonica, both once and again, unto my need, ye sent: -

It is not your gifts I am eager for, but I am eager for the abundant profit that accrues to your divine account.

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.

Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me salute you:

All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.