Philippians 1:1-21 ▼

1 the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the christians that are at Philippi, to the bishops, and to the deacons.

2 Grace and peace be with you from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank God, for your remembrance of me,

4 and I never pray without praying for you all with joy, for your liberality to the gospel,

5 from the first day to the present time, being persuaded that

6 he who has begun this good work in you will bring it to perfection against the appearance of Christ, it is but just

7 I should have this opinion of you, being sensible you make the dispensation I am under a common concern, with respect to my confinement, and the defence and confirmation of the gospel.

8 for God is my witness, that I love you with a christian tenderness.

9 and the favour I ask of him is this, that your kindness to me may be crown'd with farther improvements in knowledge and all prudence;

10 that being capable to distinguish what is best, you may remain stedfastly sincere until the day of Christ,

11 abounding in good works by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 Now I would have you know, my brethren, that what has happen'd to me, has only conduc'd to the progress of the gospel;

13 so that the whole court and publick are well appriz'd that I am a prisoner upon the account of Jesus Christ.

14 even many of our brethren, encourag'd by my bonds, preach the word with greater freedom and intrepidity.

15 it is true, there are some who preach Christ out of a spirit of envy and contention; but others do it out of pure affection.

16 those preach the gospel of Christ, not in sincerity, but from a principle of contention, with a view to inflame the persecution against me:

17 the others act from affection, as knowing that I suffer for having defended the gospel.

18 is it not however some advantage? since in either way, whether it be occasionally, or professedly, Christ is preach'd; which is now, and always will be matter of joy to me.

19 for I know that this shall turn to my deliverance, thro' your prayers, by the spirit, which Jesus Christ will supply me with,

20 agreeably to that expectation and persuasion I have, that I shall not labour in vain; but as I always have, so I shall still glorify Christ in my body, whether it be by life or by death: for if I live, I live to Christ;

21 and if I die, I gain.