Philippians 1
Expanded Bible
1 From Paul and Timothy [2:19–24; Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; 1 and 2 Timothy], ·servants [slaves; bondservants] of Christ Jesus.
To all of ·God’s holy people [T the saints] in Christ Jesus who live in Philippi [C a city located in Macedonia, present-day northern Greece; Acts 16], including your ·overseers [T bishops; C perhaps the same as elders] and ·deacons [servants; ministers]:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you. 5 I thank God for ·the help you gave me [L your partnership/participation] in ·spreading the Good News [L the Good News/Gospel] from the first day you believed until now. 6 God began doing a good work in you, and I am ·sure [confident; persuaded] he will continue it until it is ·finished [completed; perfected] ·when Jesus Christ comes again [L on the day of Christ Jesus; C the final day of judgment and reward].
7 And I know that I am right to think like this about all of you, because ·I have you in my [or you have me in your] heart. All of you ·share [are partners/co-sharers] in God’s grace with me while I am in ·prison [chains; C Paul is probably writing from house arrest in Rome, about ad 60; see Acts 28:30–31] and while I am defending and ·proving the truth of [confirming] the ·Good News [Gospel]. 8 [L For] God ·knows [L is my witness] that I ·want [long] to see you very much, because I love all of you with the ·love [affection] of Christ Jesus.
9 This is my prayer for you: that your love will ·grow [increase; abound] more and more; that you will have knowledge and ·understanding [insight; discernment] with your love; 10 that you will ·see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good [L discern/test and prove what is best]; that you will be pure and ·without wrong [blameless] ·for the coming [in the day; v. 6] of Christ; 11 that you will be filled with the ·good things produced in your life by Christ [L fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ] to bring glory and praise to God.
Paul’s Troubles Help the Work
12 I want you brothers and sisters to know that what has happened to me has helped to ·spread [advance] the ·Good News [Gospel]. 13 All the ·palace guards [imperial guard; L praetorium; C Caesar’s elite troops] and everyone else knows that I am in ·prison [chains] ·because I am a believer in [or for the cause of] Christ. 14 Because I am in prison, most of the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] have become more ·bold [confident] in the Lord and ·are not afraid [L dare without fear] to speak the word of God.
15 It is true that some preach about Christ because of ·jealousy [envy] and ·ambition [rivalry], but others preach about Christ because ·they want to help [of good will/intentions]. 16 They preach because they have love, and they know that ·God gave me the work of [I have been appointed for; or I have been put here (in prison) for] defending the ·Good News [Gospel]. 17 But the others preach about Christ for ·selfish [selfish ambition; or rivalry] and ·wrong reasons [not sincerely], wanting to make trouble for me in ·prison [my chains].
18 ·But it doesn’t matter [What difference does it make? or What is the result? L For what?]. The important thing is that in every way, whether ·for right or wrong reasons [from false motives or true], they are preaching about Christ. So ·I am happy [L in this I rejoice], ·and [indeed] I will continue to ·be happy [rejoice]. 19 Because I know ·this trouble [L this] will ·bring my [result in] ·freedom [deliverance; or salvation], through your prayers and the ·help of [support from] the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 I expect and hope that I will not ·fail Christ in [L be ashamed about] anything but that I will have the ·courage [boldness] now, as always, ·to show the greatness of Christ [or so that Christ will be exalted] in my ·life here on earth [L body], whether I live or die. 21 [L For] To me ·the only important thing about living [L to live] is Christ, and ·dying would be profit for me [L to die is gain/profit]. 22 If I continue living in my ·body [flesh], ·I will be able to work for the Lord [L this is productive/fruitful work for me]. I do not know what to choose—living or dying. 23 ·It is hard to choose [I am torn/hard pressed] between the two. I ·want [desire; long] to leave this life and be with Christ, which is much better, 24 but ·you need me here [or it is better for you that I remain] in ·my body [the flesh]. 25 Since I am sure of this, I know I will stay with you ·to help you grow and have [L for your progress/success and] joy in your faith. 26 [L …so that] ·You will be very happy [or Because of me, your confidence/pride will increase; L Your boasting in me will abound] in Christ Jesus when I am with you again.
27 ·Only one thing concerns me [or Whatever happens; L Only]: Be sure that you ·live [conduct yourselves; live as citizens] in a way that ·brings honor to [is worthy of] the ·Good News [Gospel] of Christ. ·Then [L …so that] whether I come and ·visit [see] you or am away from you, I will hear that you are standing strong ·with one purpose [with one spirit; or in the one Spirit], that you work together ·as one [with one mind/soul] for the faith ·of [or that is; or in] the ·Good News [Gospel], 28 and that you are not ·frightened [intimidated] in any way by ·those who are against you [your opponents]. All of this is ·proof [evidence; a sign] that ·your enemies [they] will be destroyed but that you will be saved. And ·this salvation [or this proof/evidence/sign; L this] is from God. 29 ·God gave you the honor [L For it has been granted/given to you] not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for him. 30 You yourselves are having the same kind of struggles that you saw ·I had when I was with you [L in me], and ·you hear that I am still having now [L now hear in me].
Philippians 1
New Matthew Bible
He exhorts them to increase in love, in knowledge, and in experience of divine things, makes mention of his imprisonment at Rome, is glad to hear Christ preached, and is content either to die or live. He prays them to lead a godly life, to be of one mind, and to fear no persecution.
1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
2 Grace be with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God with every remembrance of you, 4 always in all my prayers for you, and pray with gladness, 5 because of the fellowship that you have had in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am confident of this: that he who began a good work in you will go forth with it until the day of Jesus Christ – 7 as it is fitting for me so to judge of you all, because I have you in my heart, and have you also every one companions of grace with me, even in my bonds, as I defend and establish the gospel.
8 For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all from the very heart root in Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray: that your love may increase more and more in knowledge and in all experience, 10 that you may accept the things of most value, that you may be pure, and such as would hurt no man’s conscience until the day of Christ – 11 filled with the fruits of righteousness, which fruits come by Jesus Christ for the glory and laud of God.
12 I would you understood, brethren, that my trouble has served for the great furthering of the gospel. 13 For my bonds in Christ are manifest throughout all the judgment hall and in all other places, 14 and many of the brethren in the Lord are emboldened through my bonds, and dare to more freely speak the word without fear. 15 Some there are who preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, and some of goodwill. 16 The one part preach Christ out of rivalry, and not purely, supposing to add more adversity to my bonds, 17 but the other part out of love, because they see that I am set to defend the gospel. 18 What then? If only Christ be preached – whatever the way, whether through opportunism or of a true intent – I rejoice.
19 Yea, and I will rejoice, because I know that these circumstances will bear toward my salvation (through your prayer and ministering of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 as I heartily look for), and hope that in nothing I will be ashamed, but that with all confidence, as always in times past, so now Christ may be magnified in my body, whether it be through life or death. 21 For Christ is to me life, and death is to me gain.
22 If it happens that I live in the flesh, it means fruitful work for me, and what to choose I do not know. 23 I am constrained by two things: I desire to be released and to be with Christ, which thing is best of all. 24 Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And this I am sure of: that I will abide, and continue with you all for the furtherance and joy of your faith, 26 so that you may more abundantly rejoice in Jesus Christ through me, by my coming to you again.
27 Only be sure that you live worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may yet hear of you that you continue in one spirit and in one soul, labouring as we do to maintain the faith of the gospel – 28 and in nothing fearing your adversaries, which is to them a sign of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it is given not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for his sake, 30 and to have even the same fight which you saw me have and now hear of me.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.