A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Philippians 1
Philippians 1 is the opening chapter of the fiftieth book of the Bible. The 30-verse chapter opens Paul's letter to the church at Philippi with a warm greeting, an update on his imprisonment, and reflections on whether it is better for him to live or to die.
The chapter opens with the greeting. Paul writes alongside Timothy and addresses all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. The tone is unusually affectionate. Paul thanks God every time he remembers them and prays for them with joy because of their partnership in the gospel from the first day.
He is confident that God, having begun a good work in them, will carry it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus. He prays that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and discernment, so that they may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless on the day of Christ.
Paul then updates them on his situation. He is in prison, but his circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. The entire palace guard now knows that he is in chains for Christ, and most of the brothers and sisters have been emboldened to speak the word without fear. Some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry against Paul, others out of goodwill. Paul does not mind the motives, as long as Christ is proclaimed.
The chapter then becomes deeply personal. Paul knows that the outcome of his imprisonment may be either release or execution. The famous line is here: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." He is torn between the two. Dying would mean being with Christ, which is far better, but staying alive would mean continued ministry to people like the Philippians, which is more useful to them.
The chapter closes with a call to the Philippians to stand firm in one spirit, contending together for the faith of the gospel without being frightened by their opponents.
Verse 1. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Verse 2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 3. I thank my God every time I remember you.
Verse 4. In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
Verse 5. because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Verse 6. being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Verse 7. 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.
Verse 8. God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Verse 9. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Verse 10. so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Verse 11. filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Verse 12. Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
Verse 13. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Verse 14. And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
Verse 15. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Verse 16. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
Verse 17. The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
Verse 18. 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,
Verse 19. because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
Verse 20. 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.
Verse 21. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Verse 22. 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.
Verse 23. I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
Verse 24. But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Verse 25. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Verse 26. so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
Verse 27. 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,
Verse 28. 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.
Verse 29. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
Verse 30. since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
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