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PHILIPPIANS
Philippians 1:1-2
I, Paul, write this letter to all of you who are God’s people at Philippi. May God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord bless you.
IthankGodandrejoicebecauseyouhavebeenworkingtogetherwithmetomakeknownthegoodmessagefromwhenyoufirstbelieveduntilnow.
IpraythatGodwillenableyoutoknowhowtoloveoneanothermoreandmoreappropriatelyandtocompletelyunderstandhowyoushouldbelieveandact.
IwantyoutorealizethatasaresultofmyimprisonmentmanymorepeoplehaveheardthegoodmessageaboutChrist.
Eventhoughsome believers proclaimthemessageaboutChristbecausetheyare antagonistic towardme, atleasttheyareproclaimingChrist, andsoIrejoice.
IwillcontinuetorejoicebecauseIknowthatIwillremaincompletelyvictorious spiritually. IearnestlyexpecttoboldlyhonorChristwhetherIliveordie.
ConductyourselvesjustlikeyoulearnedinthemessageaboutChrist, unitedly and fearlessly resisting thosewhoopposeyouandthe gospel, sinceGodishelpingyouinallyour struggles.
Since Christ loves and encourages us and the Holy Spirit fellowships with us, make me completely happy by agreeing with one another, loving one another, and humbly serving one another.
Youshouldthinkjustlike Christ Jesusthought. Hewillinglygaveuphisdivine privileges andhumbledhimself, willinglyobeyingGodalthoughitmeantdisgracefullydyingonacross. Asaresult, Godexaltedhimtothehighestposition, tobeacknowledgedbytheentire universe asthe supreme Lord.
SinceyouhavealwaysobeyedGod, continuetotrytodothosethingswhichareappropriateforpeoplewhomGodhassaved, andhewillenableyoutodoso.
AlwaysobeyGodandyourleaders, andnevercomplainaboutthemorarguewiththem, inorderthatyoumaybeperfectchildrenofGod, witnessing byhowyouliveandwhatyousaytotheungodlypeopleamongwhomyoulive.
BecauseyouandIdedicateourselvestogethertodoGod’swill, evenifIamtobeexecuted, Iwillrejoice, andyoushouldalsorejoice.
IconfidentlyexpectthattheLordJesuswillenablemetosend Timothy toyousoon. He genuinely caresforyourwelfare, nothisown interests. IamconfidentthattheLordwillenablemealsotocomesoon.
Since Epaphroditus longstoseeyouandisdistressed, Iamsendinghimbacktoyou. Sowelcomehimveryjoyfully. Sincehenearlydiedwhileservingmeonyourbehalf, honorhimandallpeoplelikehim.
As for the other matters, continue to rejoice and know that it is not tiresome for me and it is safe for you to mention them again.
Bewareofthoseunholypeoplewhowillharmyou spiritually by insisting thatyoumustbecircumcisedinordertobecomeGod’speople.
SinceIwascircumcisedproperlyandhaveapurelyHebrewancestry, andsinceIkepttheJewishlawsblamelessly, IcouldrelyuponwhatIhavedoneandwhoIambetterthananyoneelsecould, ifitwerebeneficialformysalvation.
Inowconsiderallthese advantages thatIonce supposed wouldhelpmetobeworthless, andIconsidereverythingelseaswelltobeworthless, becauseIwanttoknow Christ, tobeunitedwithhim, andtobemaderighteousthroughtrustingin Christ alone.
SinceyoudesiretobeperfectedandsinceyouhavemyexampleofnotconsideringthatIamalreadyperfect, butofconstantlystrivingtobecomemoreandmorelike Christ, followmyexample.
ImitatemeandthosewholiveasIdo. Rememberthattherearemanypeoplewhoarebadexamples, asshownbytheirlustfulbehavior, wantingtodowhattheirbodiesdesire. Butasforus, Christ will transform ourweakbodiestobelikehisgloriousheavenlybody.
On the basis of all that I have told you, continue to believe firmly in the Lord Jesus Christ according to what I have just taught you, and act accordingly.
Iurge Euodia and Syntyche tobe reconciled witheachother; helptheminthissincetheyhavebothproclaimedthegoodnewsfaithfullytogetherwithmeandmyotherfellowworkers.
TheLordiscomingsoon. Alwaysrejoice, begentletoeveryone. Donotworryaboutanything, butpraytoGodinstead. Asaresult, Godwillgrantyouprofoundpeace.
Continuallythinkabouteverythingthatisgoodand praiseworthy. Continuallypracticewhateveryouhavelearnedfromme. Asaresult, Godwillbewithyouandgiveyouinnerpeace.
Irejoicegreatlybecauseyouhaveonceagaindemonstratedyourconcernformebygivingtomeetmyneeds, thoughitistruethat Christ enables metobecontentineverysituation.
You Philippians knowthatintheearlydaysofpreachingthegoodnewsinyourregionyouweretheonlycongregationthatsentmemoney. IdonotsaythisbecauseIdesireyourgifts, butIdesirethatGodwouldabundantlyblessyoufor aiding me.
Ihavereceivedyourverygenerousgift; Godisverypleasedwiththisgift, andhewillabundantlysupplyyoureveryneedalso. Letuspraisehimforever.
AllofGod’speoplehere, includingthosewhoserveGodwithmeandthosewhoworkatthe emperor’s palace, joinmein greeting eachoneofGod’speoplethere.
MaytheLordJesus Christ blessyou.

© Copyright © 2008-2017 Ellis W. Deibler, Jr.