1Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ. To all of God's holy people in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the church leaders and deacons:
2May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3I thank my God every time I remember you.
4Every time I pray, I pray for all of you with joy.
5I am thankful for your participation in spreading the Good News from the first day until now.
6I am confident that God, who began a good work in you, will continue to complete it until the day Jesus Christ returns.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because you are in my heart. You all share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and as I defend and confirm the Good News.
8God is my witness that I long for all of you with the deep affection of Christ Jesus.
9This is my prayer: that your love will grow more and more, along with knowledge and all understanding,
10so that you can choose what is best. Then you will be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
11filled with the good fruits that come from being right with God, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that what has happened to me has actually helped the Good News to spread.
13As a result, everyone in the palace guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison because of Christ.
14Also, because of my imprisonment, most of the believers in the Lord have become more confident and are now speaking God's word more boldly and without fear.
15Some people preach about Christ because of jealousy and rivalry, but others do it out of good intentions.
16Those who preach out of selfish ambition do so insincerely, thinking they can add to the trouble I am already in.
17But those who preach out of love know that I am here to defend the Good News.
18What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is being announced. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.
19For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will result in my deliverance.
20My eager expectation and hope is that I will in no way be ashamed, but that I will have complete boldness, as always, so that now as well, Christ will be honored in my body, whether I live or die.
21For me, living means serving Christ, and dying means a greater reward.
22But if I continue to live physically, it will produce good results from my work; yet I don't know what I should choose.
23I am torn between two desires: I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is much better.
24However, remaining alive is more necessary for your benefit.
25Because of this confidence, I know I will stay, and yes, I will stay with all of you to help you progress and find joy in your faith.
26Then you will have even more reason to boast about Christ Jesus because of my presence with you again.
27Just make sure your way of life is worthy of the Good News of Christ. Whether I come to see you or I am absent, I want to hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, working together with one purpose for the faith of the Good News.
28Don't be afraid of your opponents in any way. This shows them that they are headed for destruction, but it shows you that you will be saved, and this comes from God.
29For you have been given the privilege, on Christ's behalf, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.
30You are going through the same struggle you saw me experience, and which you now hear I am still experiencing.