Greetings from Paul and Timothy (Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1 UEB Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all those set apart in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers 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 UEB May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and 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 UEB I thank my God every time I remember you; BSB BSB: I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 UEB and always in every prayer for all of you, I pray with joy. BSB BSB: In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
5 UEB I give thanks for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. BSB BSB: because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
7 UEB It is right for me to feel this way about all of you because I have you in my heart. You all have been my partners in grace both in my imprisonment and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel. 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 UEB For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 UEB I am praying this: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all understanding. BSB BSB: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10 UEB I pray for this so that you may approve what is excellent, and so 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 UEB I pray that you also will be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to 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 UEB Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. BSB BSB: Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13 UEB As a result, my chains in Christ came to light throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else. 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 UEB Most of the brothers have far more confidence in the Lord because of my chains, and they have courage to fearlessly speak the word. 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 UEB Some indeed even proclaim Christ out of envy and strife, and also others out of good will. BSB BSB: It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 UEB The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. BSB BSB: The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
17 UEB But the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely. They think they will afflict me while I am in chains. 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 UEB What then? Only that in every way—whether from false motives or from true—Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will 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 UEB for I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help 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 UEB It is my eager expectation and certain hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but that I will have complete boldness, so that now as always, Christ will be exalted 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 UEB 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 UEB But if I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which to choose? I do not know. 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 UEB For I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, BSB BSB: I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
24 UEB yet to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. BSB BSB: But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25 UEB Being convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and 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 UEB so that in me you may have increasing reasons to boast in Christ Jesus when I come 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 UEB Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come to see you or am absent, I may hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving 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 UEB Do not be frightened in any respect by those who are your opponents. This is a sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation—and this 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 UEB For it has been granted to you, for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake, 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 UEB having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now you hear in 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.