Philippians

A letter of joy and encouragement, emphasizing humility and unity through Christ.

Chapter 1

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

*Paul and Timothy, helpers of Jesus, greet all the believers in Christ in Philippi, including leaders and helpers.

2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

*May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

*I am grateful to God whenever I think of you.

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

*In every prayer, I ask God happily for you all.

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

*For your partnership in the good news, from the start until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

*We are certain that the one who started doing something good in you will continue to finish it until the day when Jesus returns.

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this 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 of my grace.

*Since it's right for me to think highly of you all, because you're in my heart, I want you to know that you all share in my grace. This is true whether I am in chains or standing up for the gospel.

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

*God is my witness, I really miss you all with all my heart through Jesus Christ.

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

*I ask that your love keeps growing and becoming even better as you learn more and make wiser decisions.

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

*So you can tell what is truly good, and be honest and blameless until the day Jesus returns.

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

*Filled with good deeds from Jesus, showing honor to God.

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

*But I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the things that happened to me actually helped spread the good news more.

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

*So that everyone at the palace and everywhere else can see my loyalty to Christ through my actions.

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

*Many brothers and sisters in faith become more brave when they see me in chains, and they share the message without fear.

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

*Some preachers teach about Christ because they are envious and argumentative, while others do it out of kindness.

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

*Someone teaches about Christ in an argumentative way, not genuinely, thinking it will cause me more trouble and chains.

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

*But the other of love, understanding that I am prepared to defend the good news.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

*So what happens? Even though it's sometimes fake or true, Christ is being proclaimed everywhere. And I am happy about that, and will continue to be happy.

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

*I understand that this situation will be saved because of your prayers and the help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

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

*I hope and expect that I won't be embarrassed in any way. Instead, I will confidently live my life so that Christ is honored in everything I do, whether it's through living or through dying.

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

*For me, living means having Christ, and dying brings a profit.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

*But if I live physically, this is what I get from my work. However, I'm not sure what choice I will make.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

*Because I'm caught between two choices, wanting to leave and be with Christ, who is much better.

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

*However, staying connected to your physical body is more important for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

*With this confidence, I am sure I will stay with you all to help grow your faith and bring you joy.

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

*So that you can celebrate even more because I'm coming back to see you, in Jesus Christ.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

*Just make sure your talk is fitting for Christ's message. This way, when I visit or not there, I can learn about how you're doing. I want to know that you're all united in spirit and thinking, working together to defend the faith of the gospel.

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

*Don't be scared by those who oppose you. For them, it shows they are lost, but for you, it shows you will be saved by God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

*It's been given to you to believe in Christ and also to endure hardships for his sake.

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

*Having the same fight that you witnessed in me before, and now hear is happening to me again.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes