Philippians 1-2

Revised Geneva Translation

1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the elders and deacons:

² Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I thank my God with every remembrance of you,

⁴ (always, in all my prayers for all you, praying with joy),

⁵ because of the fellowship which you have in the Gospel, from the first day until now.

⁶ And I am persuaded of this same thing: that He who has begun this good work in you will perfect it until the Day of Jesus Christ;

⁷ just as it is right for me to think this way of you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all were fellow partakers of grace with me.

⁸ For God is my witness how I long after you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

⁹ And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

¹⁰ so that you may test those things which are better; that you may be pure and without offense until the Day of Christ,

¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness which is by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

¹² Brothers, I desire that you understand that the things which are against me have really caused a furthering of the Gospel.

¹³ So, as for my bonds in Christ, they are famous throughout all the Praetorium and in all other places;

¹⁴ so much so that many of the brothers in the Lord are emboldened by my bonds and dare speak the Word of God more frankly.

¹⁵ Indeed, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but some also out of goodwill.

¹⁶ Indeed, the former preaches Christ out of rivalry (and not purely, supposing to add more affliction to my bonds),

¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Gospel.

¹⁸ What then? Christ is still preached in all manner of ways, whether under a pretense or sincerely. And I rejoice in that! Indeed, and I will rejoice!

¹⁹ For I know that this shall cause my deliverance (through your prayer and by the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ)

²⁰ as I fervently expect and hope that in nothing shall I be ashamed. But that with all confidence (as always) so now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.

²¹ For, to me, Christ is life and death is gain.

²² But if living in the flesh brings fruit from my labor, what shall I choose? I do not know!

²³ For I am caught between both desiring to be released and to be with Christ (which is best of all).

²⁴ Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

²⁵ And of this I am sure: that I shall stay and continue with you all for the progress and joy of your faith,

²⁶ so that by my coming to you again your boasting in Jesus Christ may abound through me.

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves as it becomes the Gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your matters that you continue in one spirit and in one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

²⁸ And be frightened in nothing by your adversaries (which is to them a proof of destruction - but to you of salvation - and this from God!).

²⁹ For to you it is given concerning Christ that not only should you believe in Him, but also to suffer concerning Him,

³⁰ having the same fight which you saw in me and now hear of in me.

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and affection,

² fulfill my joy; so that you are like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one judgment.

³ So that nothing is done through self-interest or empty pride. But that in humility, everyone thinks others better than himself.

⁴ Do not be preoccupied with your own things, but rather with the things of others.

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, did not eagerly desire equality with God as a prize.

⁷ But He emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant (and the likeness of a man, having been made).

⁸ He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death - even the death of the cross.

⁹ Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name above every name,

¹⁰ so that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow—in Heaven, and on Earth, and under the Earth—

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

¹² Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me - not only in my presence, but now much more so in my absence - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³ For it is God who works in you - both in your will and in your works - according to His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and pure children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a perverted and crooked nation (among whom you shine as lights in the world).

¹⁶ Hold forth the Word of life, so that I may rejoice on the day of Christ that I have not run for nothing or labored for nothing.

¹⁷ Indeed, and though I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all!

¹⁸ And likewise also, you be glad and rejoice with me!

¹⁹ And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

²⁰ For I have no one of like mind who will faithfully care for your matters.

²¹ For all seek their own, and not that which is Jesus Christ’s.

²² But you know the proof of him who, as a child with his father, has served with me in the Gospel.

²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I know how it will go with me.

²⁴ And I trust in the Lord that I, myself, shall also come shortly.

²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you my brother, fellow laborer, and fellow soldier, Epaphroditus (who is now your messenger and minister to my needs).

²⁶ For he longed after all of you, and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick.

²⁷ And no doubt he was sick, very near to death. But God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, so that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow.

²⁸ Therefore, I sent him all the more speedily, so that when you would see him again you might rejoice and I might be the less sorrowful.

²⁹ Therefore, receive him in the Lord with all joy. And value such men highly.

³⁰ Because he was near death for the work of Christ and did not regard his life, to fulfill that service which was lacking on your part toward me.