THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. CHAPTER I. 3 He testifieth his thankfulness to God, and his love toward them, for the fruits of their faith, and fellowship in his sufferings, 9 daily praying to him for their increase in grace: 12 he sheweth what good the faith of Christ had received by his troubles at Rome, 21 and how ready he is to glorify Christ either by his life or death, 27 exhorting them to unity, 28 and to fortitude in persecution. PAUL and JL and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons : 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how 1 Gr. bondservants. 2 Or, overseers UL and Timothy, 1 servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and 2 deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 3 I thank my God upon all my 4 remembrance of you, always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my sup5 plication with joy, for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until 6 now; being confident of this very thing, that he which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are 8 partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how I long 3 Or, ye have me in your heart greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. after you all in the tender mer9 cies of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowl10 edge and all discernment; so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence 11 unto the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things 12 which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. of Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress 13 the gospel; so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole prætorian guard, 14 and to all the rest; and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God 15 without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good 16 will: the one do it of love, know ing that I am set for the defence 17 of the gospel: but the other pro claim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. 18 What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will 'Or, prove the things that differ Gr. fruit. 3 Gr. in the whole Prætorium. 'Gr. trusting in 19 For I know that this shall 19 rejoice. turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus 20 Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether 21 by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die 22 is gain. But if to live in the flesh, if this is the fruit of my 3 1 work, then 2 what I shall choose 23 I wot not. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more 24 Nevertheless to abide in the 25 needful for your sake. And flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress 26 and joy in the faith; that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my pres27 ence with you again. Only 'let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for 28 the faith of the gospel; and in nothing affrighted by the adver 1Or, But if to live in the flesh be my lot, this is the fruit of my work: and what I shall choose I wot not. 2 Or, what shall I choose? Or, I do not make known Or, of faith 5 Gr. behave as citizens worthily, • Gr. with. your adversaries: which is to them. an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. CHAPTER II. I He exhorteth them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility and exaltation: 12 to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to the wicked world, 16 and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God. 19 He hopeth to send Timothy to them, whom he greatly commendeth, 25 as Epaphroditus also, whom he presently sendeth to them. IF saries which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from 29 God; because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf: 30 having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. F there be therefore any consola- 2 tion in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: • 7 But made himself of no repu 1 Some ancient authorities read of the same mind. grasped. IF F there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies 2 and compassions, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one 3 accord, 'of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better 4 than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. 5 Have this mind in you, which was 6 also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality 7 with God, but emptied himself, 3 Gr. being originally. Gr. a thing to be tation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: IO That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without mur- 14 Do all things without murmurmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your 15 ings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as 'lights in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labour 17 in vain. Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of 1 Gr. bondservant. 2 Gr. becoming in. 3 Or, things of the world below Some ancient authorities 5 Gr. luminaries. 6 Gr. poured out as a drink-offering. omit as. |