Philippians 1

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants 1 of Christ Jesus, To all the a saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the b overseers 2 and c deacons: 3

2 d Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 e I thank my God f in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 g because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began h a good work in you i will bring it to completion at j the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you k in my heart, for you are all l partakers with me of grace, 4 both m in my imprisonment and in n the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For o God is my witness, p how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that q your love may abound more and more, r with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, s and so be pure and blameless t for the day of Christ, 11 filled u with the fruit of righteousness that comes v through Jesus Christ, w to the glory and praise of God.

The Advance of the Gospel

12 I want you to know, brothers, 5 that what has happened to me has really x served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard 6 and y to all the rest that z my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold a to speak the word 7 without fear.

15 b Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, c knowing that I am put here for d the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ e out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

To Live Is Christ

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that f through your prayers and g the help of h the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope i that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full j courage now as always Christ k will be honored in my body, l whether by life or by death. 21 For to me m to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 n I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is o to depart and p be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 q Convinced of this, r I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your s progress and t joy in the faith, 26 so that in me u you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

27 Only v let your manner of life be w worthy 8 of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you x that you are standing firm in one spirit, with y one mind z striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a a clear sign to them of their destruction, but b of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For c it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also b suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same d conflict that e you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

  1. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
    Colossians 1:2
    To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 20:28
    Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
  3. Cross References
    1 Timothy 3:8
    Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
    1 Timothy 3:12
    Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 1:7
    To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    1 Corinthians 1:3
    Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  5. Cross References
    Romans 1:8
    First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
  6. Cross References
    Romans 1:9
    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
    Ephesians 1:16
    I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
    2 Timothy 1:3
    I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
  7. Cross References
    Philippians 2:12
    Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
    Philippians 4:15
    And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
    Acts 16:12 - 40
    And from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
  8. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 57:2
    I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
    Psalms 138:8
    The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
    1 Thessalonians 5:24
    He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
  10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:8
    Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  11. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:3
    I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
  12. Cross References
    Philippians 4:14
    Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 20:23
    Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in ...
    Acts 26:29
    And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would ...
    Colossians 4:18
    I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. ...
    2 Timothy 2:9
    For which I am suffering, bound with chains as ...
    Philemon 1:10
    I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose f...
    Philemon 1:13
    I would have been glad to keep him with me, in ...
    Ephesians 3:1
    For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ ...
  14. Cross References
    Philippians 1:16
    The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 1:9
    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
    Romans 9:1
    I am speaking the truth in Christ - I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit -
  16. Cross References
    Philippians 4:1
    Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
    Romans 1:11
    For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you -
    Romans 15:23
    But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you.
    1 Thessalonians 3:6
    But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you -
    2 Timothy 1:4
    As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
  17. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:12
    And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.
    2 Thessalonians 1:3
    We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
  18. Cross References
    Colossians 1:9
    And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
    Colossians 3:10
    And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
    Philemon 1:6
    And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 24:16
    So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
    1 Thessalonians 3:13
    So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
    1 Thessalonians 5:23
    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  20. Cross References
    Philippians 1:6
    And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
  21. Cross References
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
    Colossians 1:10
    So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
    James 3:18
    And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
  22. Cross References
    John 15:4 - 5
    Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
  23. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:12
    So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
    Ephesians 1:14
    Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
  24. Cross References
    Philippians 1:25
    Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.
    1 Timothy 4:15
    Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
  25. Cross References
    Acts 28:30 - 31
    He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him.
    2 Timothy 2:9
    For which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
  26. Cross References
    Luke 21:13
    This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
    Philippians 1:7
    It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
  27. Cross References
    Acts 4:31
    And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
  28. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:13
    For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
  29. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:17
    For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
  30. Cross References
    Philippians 1:7
    It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
  31. Cross References
    Philippians 2:3
    Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
    James 3:14
    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
  32. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:11
    You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
  33. Cross References
    Galatians 3:5
    Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith -
  34. Cross References
    Acts 16:7
    And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
  35. Cross References
    Romans 5:5
    And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
    Joel 2:27
    You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
    2 Timothy 2:15
    Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
  36. Cross References
    Acts 4:13
    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
  37. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:20
    For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
  38. Cross References
    Romans 14:8
    For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
  39. Cross References
    Galatians 2:20
    I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
  40. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:8
    Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
  41. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:6
    For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
  42. Cross References
    John 12:26
    If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
  43. Cross References
    Philippians 2:24
    And I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
  44. Cross References
    Acts 20:25
    And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
  45. Cross References
    Philippians 1:12
    I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
  46. Cross References
    Romans 15:13
    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
  47. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:14
    Just as you did partially acknowledge us - that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.
  48. Cross References
    Philippians 3:20
    But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
  49. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:1
    I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.
  50. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:13
    Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
  51. Cross References
    Philippians 2:2
    Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
    1 Corinthians 1:10
    I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
  52. Cross References
    Jude 1:3
    Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
  53. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 1:5
    This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering -
  54. Cross References
    Acts 14:22
    Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
  55. Cross References
    Matthew 5:12
    Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  56. Cross References
    Philippians 1:28
    And not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
  57. Cross References
    Colossians 1:29
    For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
    Colossians 2:1
    For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face.
    1 Timothy 6:12
    Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
    2 Timothy 4:7
    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
    Hebrews 10:32
    But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.
  58. Cross References
    Acts 16:19 - 40
    But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
    1 Thessalonians 2:2
    But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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