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.

God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and more with full knowledge and insight,

Then you will be able to approve of [only] what is best and be sincere and without just blame on the day of Christ's [return],

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus the Messiah so that God will be glorified and praised.

Some indeed are preaching Christ out of envy and contentiousness, but others from good-will.

The former proclaim the Messiah because they are selfishly ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.

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.

in accordance with my eager expectation and hope that I shall never disgrace myself, but that now as always hitherto, by my all-conquering courage, whether by living or dying, Christ will be honored in me.

But if [it is] to live in the flesh, this [is] fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer [I do] not know.

Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you, so you will mature in the faith and know joy in it.

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.

Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel,

Never in the slightest degree be frightened by your opponents, for such fearlessness will be strong evidence to them of their impending destruction, but to you a sure sign, and that from God, of your salvation.

You will be engaged in the same hard struggle as that which you once saw me waging, and which you hear that I am waging still.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow -- in heaven and on earth and under the earth --

Then every tongue in one accord, will say that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, while God the Father praising.

for it is God who, in his good-will is ever working in you both will and deed.

so that you will be blameless and honest, faultless children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted age, in which you appear 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.

But even if I am poured out like a drink offering [See Ex. 29:38-41] on the sacrifice and service produced by your faith, I am glad and will rejoice with all of you. [Note: Paul here likens the possible pouring out of his blood to the wine and oil of the Old Testament sacrifice, which is then likened to the Philippians' faithful service to God].

I will rejoice and congratulate you all; and in the same way you must rejoice and congratulate me.

For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

So I hope to send him, as soon as ever I see how it will go with me;

Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you soon.

I sent him therefore with the greater dispatch, that I might have the less disquietude, by the satisfaction you will find in seeing him again.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in [your relationship to] the Lord. It does not trouble me to write the same things to you again, because you will be safer if I do. [Note: These "same things" may refer to warnings against false teachers which Paul had either spoken to them or written about previously].

assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Let us all then, who are mature Christians, strive for this! God will make this clear to any of you who are striving for other goals;

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.

from whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ: who will change our vile body,

who will change the fashion of the body of our abasement into the likeness of his glorious body by the energy with which he is able even to subject all things to himself.

Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again will I say, rejoice!

and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

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.

But I will not say anything about my needs, for I am able, wherever I am, to be dependent on myself.

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

All your own needs my God will fully supply, according to his riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.