Greetings from Paul and Timothy

(Colossians 1:1–2, Philemon 1:1–3)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with [the] overseers and deacons:

2 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 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.

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. 8 God [is] my witness how I long for all of you with [the] affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this [is] my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 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, 11 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 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances {have} actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[fn] and to everyone else [that] I am in chains for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, confident in [the] Lord by my chains, [now] dare more greatly to speak the word[fn] without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but [others] out of goodwill. 16 The [latter] do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for [the] defense of the gospel.[fn] 17 The [former], however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to [the] distress of my chains.

18 What then [ is the issue ]?[fn] 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 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 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 For to me, to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain. 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. 23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, [which is] far better indeed. 24 But [it is] more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

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, 26 so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.

Worthy of the Gospel

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, 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. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 [since] you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and [now] hear that I still have

One in Christ

(Ephesians 2:11–18)

2 Therefore if [you have] any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from [His] love, if any fellowship with [the] Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 [then] {make} my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit [and] purpose.

3 [Do] nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each [of you] should look not only {to} your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Mind of Christ

(Isaiah 52:13–15)

5 Let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, existing in [the] form of God, {did} not consider equality with God something to be grasped,[fn]

7 but emptied Himself, taking [the] form of a servant, being made in human likeness

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself [and] became obedient to death—even death on [a] cross.

9 Therefore God exalted Him {to the highest place} and gave Him the name above all names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to [the] glory of God [the] Father.

Lights in the World

(Matthew 5:13–16)

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of [His] good purpose.

14 Do everything without complaining [or] arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation,[fn] in which you shine as lights in [the] world 16 as you hold forth [the] word of life, in order that I may boast on [the] day of Christ that I did not run [or] labor in vain.

17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)

19 Now I hope in [the] Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you {are doing}. 20 I have nobody else like him who {will} genuinely care for your needs 21 For all the [others] look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know [Timothy’s] proven worth, that as a child [with his] father he has served with me to [advance] the gospel. 23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. 24 And I trust in [the] Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I thought [it] necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, [who is] also your messenger and minister to my needs. 26 For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

28 Therefore {I am} all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29 Welcome him in [the] Lord with great joy, and honor men [like him], 30 because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking [his] life to make up for your deficit of service to me.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

(Romans 3:21–31)

3 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in [the] Lord. [It is] no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and [it is] a safeguard for you.

2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 3 For [it is] we [who] are the circumcision, we who worship by [the] Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and [who] put no confidence in [the] flesh—

4 though I myself could have such confidence If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in [the] flesh, I [have] more: 5 circumcised on [the] eighth day, of [the] people of Israel, of [the] tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to [the] law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in [the] law, faultless.

7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider [them] rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from [the] law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ,[fn] the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10 [I want] to know [Christ] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to [Him] in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from [the] dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained [all this], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I {do} not consider myself yet to have taken hold [of it]. But one thing [I do] Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what [is] ahead, 14 I press on toward [the] goal to [win] the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us who [are] mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. 16 Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.

Citizenship in Heaven

17 Join one another in following my [example], brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you 18 For [as] I have often told you {before}, and now say [again] even with tears: Many live [as] enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 [Their] end [is] destruction, [their] god [is] [their] belly, and [their] glory [is] in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from [there], [the] Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Rejoice in the Lord

4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in [the] Lord, my beloved.

2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree [with each other] in [the] Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, [my] true yokefellow,[fn] to help these [women] who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names [are] in [the] Book of Life.

4 Rejoice in [the] Lord always. I will say [it] again: Rejoice! 5 {Let} your gentleness be apparent to all The Lord [is] near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever [is] honorable, whatever [is] right, whatever [is] pure, whatever [is] lovely, whatever [is] admirable—if anything [is] excellent [or] praiseworthy—think on these things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard [from me], or seen in me, put it into practice And the God of peace will be with you.

The Generosity of the Philippians

(2 Corinthians 8:1–15)

10 Now I rejoice greatly in [the] Lord that at last you have revived [your] concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity [to show it]. 11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances 12 I know [how] to live humbly, and I know [how] to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. 13 I can do all things through [Christ] who gives me strength

14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction. 15 And as you Philippians know, in [the] early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving. 16 For even [while I was] in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.

17 Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account. 18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. [They are] a fragrant [offering] an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father [be] glory forever [and] ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

(Ephesians 6:21–24, 2 Timothy 4:19–22)

21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings

22 All the saints send you greetings especially those from the household of Caesar.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.[fn]