Philippians 1

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus who live in Philippi, including the church leaders and helpers:

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2May grace and peace be given to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you,

3I thank my God every time I remember you.

4always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy,

4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy,

5for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now;

5because you have partnered with me in spreading the Good News from the first day until now.

6being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

6I am certain that God, who began a good work in you, will continue to complete it until the day Jesus Christ returns.

7even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.

7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you because I hold you in my heart. Whether I am in prison or defending and proving the truth of the Good News, you all share in God’s grace with me.

8For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

8God knows how much I long for all of you with the deep affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

9I pray that your love will keep growing more and more, along with true knowledge and perfect insight.

10so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;

10I want you to be able to choose what is best, so that you will be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.

11being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

11May you be filled with the fruit of right living that comes through Jesus Christ, bringing glory and praise to God.

12Now I would have you know, brethren, that the thingswhich happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the Good News.

13so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole prætorian guard, and to all the rest;

13As a result, it has become clear to the whole palace guard and everyone else that I am in chains for the sake of Christ.

14and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

14Because of my imprisonment, most of the believers have gained confidence in the Lord and are much bolder to speak the word of God without fear.

15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

15It is true that some preach about Christ out of jealousy and rivalry, but others do it with good intentions.

16the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;

16Those who preach from love know that I have been put here to defend the Good News.

17but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds.

17The others preach about Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking they can make my time in prison more difficult.

18What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

18But does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether for the wrong reasons or the right ones, Christ is being preached. I am happy about this, and I will continue to be happy.

19For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

19For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will lead to my deliverance.

20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

20I eagerly expect and hope that I will never be ashamed. Instead, I hope that I will always be brave, so that now, as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether I live or die.

21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

21For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.

22But if to live in the flesh,—if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not.

22If I keep on living in this body, I can do more productive work. So I don't know which I would choose.

23But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:

23I am pulled in two directions. I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is much better by far.

24yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

24However, for your sake, it is more important that I stay here in this body.

25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;

25Since I am sure of this, I know I will remain and continue with all of you to help you grow and find joy in your faith.

26that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

26Then, when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of me.

27Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

27Above all, live your lives in a way that is worthy of the Good News of Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or only hear about you from a distance, I will know that you are standing firm with one purpose. I will know you are working together as one to fight for the faith of the Good News.

28and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;

28Do not be intimidated in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but it is a sign from God that you will be saved.

29because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:

29For God has granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for him.

30having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

30You are struggling in the same way you saw me struggle, and you hear that I am still struggling now.