The apostle’s affection for the Philippians.

¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

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

³ I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you,

⁴ always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy,

⁵ because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now.

⁶ I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus.

⁷ So then, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, and because, in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.

⁸ For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you.

⁹ And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding,

¹⁰ so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ:

¹¹ filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God.

¹² Now, brothers, I want you to know that the things concerning me happened for the advancement of the Gospel,

¹³ in such a way that my chains have become manifest in Christ in every place of judgment and in all other such places.

¹⁴ And many from among the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident through my chains, are now much bolder in speaking the Word of God without fear.

¹⁵ Certainly, some do so even because of envy and contention; and others, too, do so because of a good will to preach Christ.

¹⁶ Some act out of charity, knowing that I have been appointed for the defense of the Gospel.

¹⁷ But others, out of contention, announce Christ insincerely, claiming that their difficulties lift them up to my chains.

¹⁸ But what does it matter? As long as, by every means, whether under pretext or in truthfulness, Christ is announced. And about this, I rejoice, and moreover, I will continue to rejoice.¹

1. 1:18The word ‘occasionem,’ in this context, refers to acting under a pretext; it does not refer to an occasion or an opportunity. Thus, ‘veritatem’ is not so much ‘the truth’ as preaching or announcing Christ with truthfulness, that is, out of sincere motives.(Conte)

¹⁹ For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

²⁰ by means of my own expectation and hope. For in nothing shall I be confounded. Instead, with all confidence, now just as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

²² And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose.¹

1. 1:22This is to me, etc: His meaning is, that although his dying immediately for Christ would be his gain, by putting him presently in possession of heaven; yet he is doubtful what he should choose, because by staying longer in the flesh, he should be more beneficial to the souls of his neighbours.(Challoner)

²³ For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,

²⁴ but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake.

²⁵ And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and that I shall continue to remain with all of you, for your advancement and for your joy in the faith,

²⁶ so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again.

²⁷ Only let your behavior be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I return and see you, or whether, being absent, I hear about you, still you may stand firm with one spirit, with one mind, laboring together for the faith of the Gospel.

²⁸ And in nothing be terrified by the adversaries. For what is to them an occasion of perdition, is to you an occasion of salvation, and this is from God.

²⁹ For this has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him,

³⁰ engaging in the same struggle, of a kind which you also have seen in me, and which you now have heard from me.