-
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
-
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
-
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
-
so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
-
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
-
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
-
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
-
But 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,
-
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
-
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
-
If 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!
-
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
-
but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
-
without 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.
-
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
-
since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
-
Imitating Christ’s Humility
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
-
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
-
not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
-
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
-
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
-
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
-
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
-
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-
Do Everything Without Grumbling
Therefore, 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,
