Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Philippians 1:3–11)

3 We always thank the God and Father[fn] of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and [your] love for all the saints—5 [the faith and love] proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you.

All over the world [this gospel] is bearing fruit and growing,[fn] just as [it has been doing] among you since the day you heard [it] and truly understood the grace of God. 7 You also learned [it][fn] from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your[fn] behalf, 8 [and] who also informed us of your love in [the] Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard [about you], we {have} not stopped praying for you and asking [God] to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [and] may please [Him] in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, [and] joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father,[fn] who has qualified us[fn] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought [us] into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption,[fn] the forgiveness of sins.