Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus,
to all the holy in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:

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

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always make my requests with joy because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of the same thing, that he, having begun a good work in you, will go on completing it until the day of Jesus Christ. 1/6

It is right for me to think this about all of you because I have you in my heart. Both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you share with me in this grace. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love may abound more and more in understanding and all discernment, in order for you to test things that differ, so that you may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 1/11

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has led rather to the advance of the gospel, so that it has become evident throughout the whole fortress, and to all the rest, that my chains are on account of Christ. And most of the brothers, made confident in the Lord by my chains, are even more daring to speak the word of God fearlessly. Some indeed proclaim the Christ from envy and rivalry, but some from good will also, who do so in love, knowing that I am set here for the defense of the gospel. Those who declare the Christ out of rivalry, not purely, suppose that they can increase my affliction while in chains. What of it? Only that in every way, whether as a pretext or in truth, Christ is declared and I rejoice in this. 1/18

Moreover, I will rejoice, because I know that this will turn out safely for me through your prayers and with support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed in any way, but with all liberty of speech – as always, now also – Christ will be acclaimed with my body, whether by life or by death, since for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to live in the body, this means fruitful labour for me and I don't know what I would prefer, but I am gripped by both. I desire to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far better, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. And being confident of this, I know that I will remain and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in your faith. In this way, your boasting in Christ Jesus may overflow because of me, through my presence with you again. 1/26

Only live worthily of the gospel of the Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or hear news of you when absent, I will know that you stand in one Spirit, striving together as one soul for the faith of the gospel and not frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is evidence to them of destruction, but of your salvation. And this is from God, because for the sake of Christ it was graciously given to you not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him, you having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear in me. 1/30

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comforting in love, if any fellowship in spirit, if any compassion and mercy, then fill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, souls united, thinking one way – nothing from rivalry or conceit. But in humility, consider one another as protective of each other, each of you looking not only to your own concerns but also to the concerns of others. 2/4

Let the thinking among you be that which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. Having come in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient until death and death on a cross. And therefore God has exceedingly exalted him and has graciously given him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee would bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue would acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2/11

So then, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only as in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one working in you, both to intend and to act for the sake of his good purpose. Do all things without murmuring or argument, so that you may be blameless and untainted, unblemished children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Among them you appear as stars in the universe, attentive to the word of life, a boast for me in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. And if I am poured out as an offering on the sacrifice and ministry of your faith, I am joyful and I rejoice with all of you. And in the same way, you should be joyful and rejoice with me. 2/18

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that when I have learned of your circumstances I may be cheered also. I have no one of the same sort, who will truly care about your circumstances. They all look after their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know of his testing, how as a son with a father he has served on behalf of the gospel with me. Indeed, he is the one that I hope to send therefore, as soon as I see what my situation is, and I am confident in the Lord that I will come shortly myself. 2/24

Yet I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you, my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, and your apostle and minister to my needs. He has been longing for all of you and has been distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, close to death, but God had mercy on him and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. I have sent him even more readily then, so that you might be made to rejoice by seeing him again and I might be less anxious. Receive him in the Lord with all joy and hold such men in honour, because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to fill the gap in your ministry to me. 2/30

For the rest, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. 3/1

To write the same things to you is not a matter of reluctance to me, and it is safe for you: Watch out for the dogs; watch out for the bad workmen; watch out for those cutters. It is we who are the circumcision, we who serve in the Spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. 3/3

However, I have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks they can put confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised on the eighth day; of the people of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as for the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever was gain to me, those things I have considered as loss for the sake of the Christ. But more than that also, I consider all things to be loss for the sake of being protective of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. And I consider them garbage so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, that which is from law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God for this faith: to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, being conformed to his death, if somehow I may arrive at the resurrection from the dead. 3/11

Not that I have already received or already been made complete, but I pursue to see if indeed I may take hold, because I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not count myself to have taken hold, but I do one thing: forgetting what is behind and stretching toward what is ahead, I pursue with a goal, for the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus. 3/14

Therefore, as many as are ‘complete,’ let us think this way. And if you think something different, God will reveal this to you also. Only, whatever we have reached, let us walk in line with it. Together be imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk like this, just as you have an example from us. For many, of whom I have spoken often and speak now even weeping, walk as enemies of the cross of the Christ. Their end is destruction. Their god is the stomach and their glory is in their shame. Their thinking is of earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven and from there we await a saviour, Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humiliation, so that it is conformed to his glorious body by the working of his ability to subject all things to himself. So then, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord like this, beloved. 4/1

I encourage Euodia and I encourage Syntyche to think the same way in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true yoke-fellow, lend them a hand. They have worked hard together in the gospel beside me, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are written in the book of life. 4/3

Always rejoice in the Lord. I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to all people. The Lord is near; be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and asking with thankfulness, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which protects all understanding, will keep your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 4/7

For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is revered, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is well-spoken of, if there is any excellence or any praise, take account of those things. And the things that you have learned and received and heard, and have seen in me, practise those things and the God of peace will be with you. 4/9

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that you recently revived your concern for me, as indeed you were concerned for me but had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this out of any lack, because I have learned to be independent whatever my circumstances. I know what it is to be brought low and I know what it is to have abundance. I have been initiated in any and all circumstances, both to be well fed and to be hungry, both to have abundance and to lack. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. 4/13

However, you did well sharing in my affliction. And you Philippians also know that at the start of the gospel, when I went out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me for an account of giving and receiving except you alone, so that even in Thessalonica you sent aid to my needs both a first and second time. Not that I am seeking a gift, rather I seek fruit increasing for your account. I have received all things and I have abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will fill all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ages of ages. Amen. 4/20

Greet each of the holy in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the holy greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.