Philippians 1-2

New International Version

1 Paul and Timothy,^(A) servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people^(B) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,^(C) together with the overseers^(D) and deacons^[a]:^(E)

²Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(F)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³I thank my God every time I remember you.^(G) ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray^(H) with joy ⁵because of your partnership^(I) in the gospel from the first day^(J) until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion^(K) until the day of Christ Jesus.^(L)

⁷It is right^(M) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart^(N) and, whether I am in chains^(O) or defending^(P) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸God can testify^(Q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love^(R) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,^(S) ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,^(T) ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness^(U) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains^(V) for Christ. ¹⁴And because of my chains,^(W) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.^(X)

¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.^(Y) ¹⁷The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,^(Z) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.^(AA) ¹⁸But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers^(AB) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ^(AC) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^[d]^(AD) ²⁰I eagerly expect^(AE) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^(AF) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,^(AG) whether by life or by death.^(AH) ²¹For to me, to live is Christ^(AI) and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(AJ) and be with Christ,^(AK) which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^(AL) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm^(AM) in the one Spirit,^[e] striving together^(AN) as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you^(AO) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer^(AP) for him, ³⁰since you are going through the same struggle^(AQ) you saw^(AR) I had, and now hear^(AS) that I still have.

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,^(AT) if any tenderness and compassion,^(AU) ²then make my joy complete^(AV) by being like-minded,^(AW) having the same love, being one^(AX) in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(AY) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^(AZ) ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^(BA)

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(BB)

⁶Who, being in very nature^[f] God,^(BC)
    did not consider equality with God^(BD) something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing^(BE)
    by taking the very nature^[g] of a servant,^(BF)
    being made in human likeness.^(BG)
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death^(BH)—
        even death on a cross!^(BI)

⁹Therefore God exalted him^(BJ) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,^(BK)
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,^(BL)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,^(BM)
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,^(BN)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,^(BO) ¹³for it is God who works in you^(BP) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(BQ)

¹⁴Do everything without grumbling^(BR) or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless^(BS) and pure, “children of God^(BT) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[h]^(BU) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(BV) that I did not run^(BW) or labor in vain.^(BX) ¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering^(BY) on the sacrifice^(BZ) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.^(CA) ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy^(CB) to you soon,^(CC) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like him,^(CD) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(CE) not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father^(CF) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.^(CG) ²⁴And I am confident^(CH) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker^(CI) and fellow soldier,^(CJ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.^(CK) ²⁶For he longs for all of you^(CL) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,^(CM) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,^(CN) ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.^(CO)

Footnotes

Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.
Philippians 1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.
Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace
Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit
Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
Philippians 2:7 Or the form
Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5