Salutation

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

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

Prayer for the Church

I thank my God every time I remember you.

I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you

For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.

For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.

I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith,

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that—whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent—I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation—a sign which is from God.

who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,

for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.

And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.

In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him—and not to him only, but also to me—so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,