Greetings from Paul and Timothy (Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1 CPDV Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. BSB BSB: Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2 CPDV Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer (1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)
3 CPDV I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you, BSB BSB: I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 CPDV always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy, BSB BSB: In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
5 CPDV because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now. BSB BSB: because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
7 CPDV So then, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, and because, in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of my joy. BSB BSB: It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
8 CPDV For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you. BSB BSB: God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 CPDV And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding, BSB BSB: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10 CPDV so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ: BSB BSB: so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 CPDV filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God. BSB BSB: filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel (James 1:2–12)
12 CPDV Now, brothers, I want you to know that the things concerning me happened for the advancement of the Gospel, BSB BSB: Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13 CPDV in such a way that my chains have become manifest in Christ in every place of judgment and in all other such places. BSB BSB: As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14 CPDV And many from among the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident through my chains, are now much bolder in speaking the Word of God without fear. BSB BSB: And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
15 CPDV Certainly, some do so even because of envy and contention; and others, too, do so because of a good will to preach Christ. BSB BSB: It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 CPDV But others, out of contention, announce Christ insincerely, claiming that their difficulties lift them up to my chains. BSB BSB: The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
17 CPDV Some act out of charity, knowing that I have been appointed for the defense of the Gospel. BSB BSB: The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18 CPDV But what does it matter? As long as, by every means, whether under pretext or in truthfulness, Christ is announced. And about this, I rejoice, and moreover, I will continue to rejoice. BSB BSB: What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19 CPDV For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, BSB BSB: because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
20 CPDV by means of my own expectation and hope. For in nothing shall I be confounded. Instead, with all confidence, now just as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. BSB BSB: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
To Live Is Christ 21 CPDV For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. BSB BSB: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 CPDV And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose. BSB BSB: But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.
23 CPDV For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing, BSB BSB: I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
24 CPDV but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake. BSB BSB: But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25 CPDV And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and that I shall continue to remain with all of you, for your advancement and for your joy in the faith, BSB BSB: Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 CPDV so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again. BSB BSB: so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
Worthy of the Gospel 27 CPDV Only let your behavior be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I return and see you, or whether, being absent, I hear about you, still you may stand firm with one spirit, with one mind, laboring together for the faith of the Gospel. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,
28 CPDV And in nothing be terrified by the adversaries. For what is to them an occasion of perdition, is to you an occasion of salvation, and this is from God. BSB BSB: without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
29 CPDV For this has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him, BSB BSB: For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
30 CPDV engaging in the same struggle, of a kind which you also have seen in me, and which you now have heard from me. BSB BSB: since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.