And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Lights in the World

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Straining Toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.