Greetings from Paul

(2 Samuel 6:12-15; 1 Chronicles 15:1-14; Colossians 1:1-2)

1Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants; 2Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4-9; Colossians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4)

3I give thanks to my God upon all the remembrance of you, 4always, in every supplication of mine for you all, with joy making the supplication, 5for your contribution to the good news from the first day till now, 6having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform it till a day of Jesus Christ, 7according as it is righteous for me to think this in behalf of you all, because of my having you in the heart, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the good news, all of you being fellow-partakers with me of grace. 8For God is my witness, how I long for you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ, 9and this I pray, that your love yet more and more may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment, 10for your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and offenceless -- to a day of Christ, 11being filled with the fruit of righteousness, that is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul's Trials Advance the Gospel

(James 1:2-8)

12And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come, 13so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in the whole praetorium, and to the other places -- all, 14and the greater part of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence by my bonds, are more abundantly bold -- fearlessly to speak the word. 15Certain, indeed, even through envy and contention, and certain also through good-will, do preach the Christ; 16the one, indeed, of rivalry the Christ do proclaim, not purely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds, 17and the other out of love, having known that for defence of the good news I am set: 18what then? in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed -- and in this I rejoice, yea, and shall rejoice. 19For I have known that this shall fall out to me for salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus, 20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, and in all freedom, as always, also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death,

To Live is Christ

21for to me to live is Christ, and to die gain. 22And if to live in the flesh is to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not; 23for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better, 24and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account, 25and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith, 26that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again to you.

Be Worthy of the Gospel

27Only worthily of the good news of the Christ conduct ye yourselves, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news, 28and not terrified in anything by those opposing, which to them indeed is a token of destruction, and to you of salvation, and that from God; 29because to you it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also on behalf of him to suffer; 30the same conflict having, such as ye saw in me, and now hear of in me.