OET-RV PHP Chapter 1

3 I thank my God every time that I hear you mentioned 4 and every time that I pray for you all, I’m always glad when I make my requests 5 because the good message united us in fellowship from the first day until now. 6 I’m sure of this: that the one who started a good work in you all will ensure that it’s continued through to the day of the return of Messiah Yeshua. 7 It’s right for me to be thinking this about you because I have you all in my heart. You received grace along with me so whether I’m in chains or defending and confirming the good message, we are fellow recipients. 8 God is my witness that I long for you with all the compassions of Messiah Yeshua.

9 And this is what I’m praying: that your love would grow more and more with knowledge and all insight 10 so that you all will approve what’s of value and so remain sincere and blameless until Messiah returns, 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness through Yeshua Messiah, honouring and praising God.

12 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the good message has progressed more because of what’s happened to me, 13 [ref]in that my being in chains because of Messiah, has become known in the governor’s residence and to all the rest. 14 Now, because of my imprisonment, more of the brothers and sisters in the master have become much more daring to fearlessly tell others God’s message.

15 Some do proclaim Messiah because of envy and strife, but others do it from their good will. 16 The ones proclaiming Messiah out of selfish ambition don’t do it sincerely, but expect that it will add to my troubles while I’m here in chains. 17 The ones who do it out of love, know that I was appointed to defend the good message.

18 What then? I will be happy, excited even, as long as Messiah is being proclaimed in any manner, whether their reason for doing it is suspect or in truth. 19 I know that this will turn out to be my SALVATION/DELIVERANCE due to your prayers and from the resources of the spirit of Yeshua Messiah, 20 as my eager expectation and hope is that I won’t be ashamed of anything, but that Messiah will be magnified by my life, always in boldness and even now whether I go on to live or to die, 21 because to me, to live is to serve Messiah, and to die is to also gain. 22 If I continue to live in this body, I can continue in productive work, but I don’t really know which is my preference. 23 I feel squeezed between the two: the desire to depart from here and be with Messiah which would be much better, 24 or to remain on in this body, which is maybe more necessary because of all of you. 25 Yes, I’m convinced: I know that I should remain in this world and continue with you all to assist in the progress of your faith and the happiness that comes from that, 26 so that when I come to visit you again, I’ll hear your pride in how you are all growing in Messiah Yeshua.

27 Live as citizen who’re worthy of the good message of Messiah, so that whether I’m able to come and see you all, or even if I’m absent, I’ll be able to hear everything about you all: that you’re standing firm in one spirit, with one heart contending together for the faith of the good message 28 and not being frightened about anything because of those in opposition. That will be a sign to them that they will face destruction but you all will receive salvation from God, 29 because it’s been granted to you on Messiah’s behalf for you to believe in him, yet also to suffer because of him— 30 [ref]the same struggle that you all saw in me, and now hear it from me.