Philippians 1:12-2:11

English Standard Version

The Advance of the Gospel

¹² I want you to know, brothers,^[a] that what has happened to me has really ^(A)served to advance the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard^[b] and ^(B)to all the rest that ^(C)my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴ And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold ^(D)to speak the word^[c] without fear.

^15 (E)Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, ^(F)knowing that I am put here for ^(G)the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ ^(H)out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that ^(I)through your prayers and ^(J)the help of ^(K)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(L)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(M)courage now as always Christ ^(N)will be honored in my body, ^(O)whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me ^(P)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ^23 (Q)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is ^(R)to depart and ^(S)be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ^25 (T)Convinced of this, ^(U)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your ^(V)progress and ^(W)joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me ^(X)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only ^(Y)let your manner of life be ^(Z)worthy^[d] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you ^(AA)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with ^(AB)one mind ^(AC)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is ^(AD)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but ^(AE)of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For ^(AF)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(AG)suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same ^(AH)conflict that ^(AI)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from ^(AJ)love, any ^(AK)participation in the Spirit, any ^(AL)affection and sympathy, ^2 (AM)complete my joy by being ^(AN)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from ^(AO)selfish ambition or ^(AP)conceit, but in ^(AQ)humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you ^(AR)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ^5 (AS)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,^{[e] 6 (AT)}who, though he was in ^(AU)the form of God, did not count equality with God ^(AV)a thing to be grasped,^{[f] 7} but ^(AW)emptied himself, by taking the form of a ^(AX)servant,^{[g] (AY)}being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by ^(AZ)becoming obedient to the point of death, ^(BA)even death on a cross. ^9 (BB)Therefore ^(BC)God has ^(BD)highly exalted him and bestowed on him ^(BE)the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(BF)every knee should bow, ^(BG)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and ^(BH)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is ^(BI)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.