Greetings from Paul and Timothy (Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1 ULT Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus being in 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 ULT Grace 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 ULT I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, BSB BSB: I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 ULT always, in every prayer of mine for all of you, making my prayer with joy BSB BSB: In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
5 ULT because of 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 ULT just as it is right for me to think this{ way} about all of you because, I have you in my heart, all of you being partakers with me of grace both in my chains 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 ULT For God{ is} my witness, how I long for all of you with the inner parts of Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 ULT And I pray this: that your love would abound still 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 ULT so that you may approve{ what} excels, so that you might be pure and blameless until 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 ULT being filled with the fruit of righteousness{ that is} 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 ULT Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me have really 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 ULT As a result, my chains in Christ became apparent among the whole palace guard and all the others. 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 ULT And most of the brothers have become confident in the Lord by my chains to dare more fearlessly to 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 ULT Some indeed even proclaim Christ because of envy and strife, but also some because of goodwill, BSB BSB: It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 ULT the ones indeed from love having understood that I am appointed 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 ULT but the ones from selfish ambition proclaim Christ not sincerely, supposing to raise up trouble in my 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 ULT What then? Only that in every way— whether in pretext or in truth— 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 ULT for I know that this will result to me in deliverance through your prayers and the provision 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 ULT according to my eager expectation and hope that I will in nothing be ashamed, but in everything have boldness, and that now, as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through 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 ULT 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 ULT Now if to live in the flesh, this{ is} fruitful labor for me, but I do not know which I will 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 ULT But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for{ that is} very much better, BSB BSB: I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
24 ULT but 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 ULT And having become confident of this, I know that I will remain and will 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 ULT so that in me your boasting in Christ Jesus might abound through my coming 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 ULT Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether having come and having seen you or whether being absent, I might hear about you, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul 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 ULT And do not be frightened in anything by the ones opposing{ you}. 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 ULT For it has been freely given to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of 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 ULT having the same struggle 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.