Philippians 1; Philippians 2; Philippians 3; Philippians 4

Viewing Multiple Passages

Philippians 1

1 We, Paul and Timothy, are writing this letter. We serve Christ Jesus. We are sending this letter to you, all of God's people in Philippi. You belong to Christ Jesus. We are also sending this letter to your leaders and deacons.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.
5 I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now.
6 I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God's grace together with me.
8 God can give witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives.
9 I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding.
10 Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns.
11 You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God.
12 Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has really helped to spread the good news.
13 One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because of my stand for Christ. All of the palace guards and everyone else know it.
14 Because I am being held by chains, most of the believers in the Lord have become bolder. They now speak God's word more boldly and without fear.
15 It's true that some preach about Christ because they are jealous. But others preach about Christ to help me in my work.
16 The last group acts out of love. They know I have been put here to stand up for the good news.
17 But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They are not honest and true. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains.
18 But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for reasons that are right or wrong, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad. And I will continue to be glad.
19 I know that you are praying for me. I also know that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will help me. So no matter what happens, I'm sure I will still be saved.
20 I completely expect and hope that I won't be ashamed in any way. I'm sure I will be brave enough. Now as always Christ will be lifted high through my body. He will be lifted up whether I live or die.
21 For me, life finds all of its meaning in Christ. Death also has its benefits.
22 Suppose I go on living in my body. Then I will be able to carry on my work. It will bear a lot of fruit. But what should I choose? I don't know.
23 I can't decide between the two. I long to leave this world and be with Christ. That is better by far.
24 But it is more important for you that I stay alive.
25 I'm sure of that. So I know I will remain with you. And I will continue with all of you to help you grow and be joyful in what you have been taught.
26 I'm sure I will be with you again. Then your joy in Christ Jesus will be greater than ever because of me.
27 No matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then I will know that you stand firm with one purpose. I may come and see you or only hear about you. But I will know that you work together as one person. And I will know that you work to spread the teachings of the good news.
28 So don't be afraid in any way of those who oppose you. That will show them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. That's what God will do.
29 Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him.
30 You are going through the same struggle you saw me go through. As you have heard, I am still struggling.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.

Philippians 2

1 Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you?
2 Then make my joy complete by agreeing with each other. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and purpose.
3 Don't do anything only to get ahead. Don't do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves.
4 None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others.
5 You should think in the same way Christ Jesus does.
6 In his very nature he was God. But he did not think that being equal with God was something he should hold on to.
7 Instead, he made himself nothing. He took on the very nature of a servant. He was made in human form.
8 He appeared as a man. He came down to the lowest level. He obeyed God completely, even though it led to his death.
9 So God lifted him up to the highest place. He gave him the name that is above every name.
10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone's knee will bow to worship him. Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship him.
11 Everyone's mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.
12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling.
13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose.
14 Do everything without finding fault or arguing.
15 Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens.
16 You shine as you hold out to them the word of life. So I can brag about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn't run or work for nothing.
17 But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I'm talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you.
18 So you too should be glad and joyful with me.
19 I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be cheered up when I receive news about you.
20 I have no one else like Timothy. He truly cares about how you are doing.
21 All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news.
23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
24 And I'm sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.
25 But I think it's necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs.
26 He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was sick.
27 He was very sick. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness.
28 So I want even more to send him to you. Then when you see him again, you will be glad. And I won't worry so much.
29 Welcome him as a brother in the Lord with great joy. Honor people like him.
30 He almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger to make up for the help you couldn't give me.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.

Philippians 3

1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, be joyful because you belong to the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write about some important matters to you again. If you know about them, you will have a safe path to follow.
2 Watch out for those dogs. They do evil things. When they circumcise, it is nothing more than a useless cutting of the body.
3 But we have been truly circumcised. We worship God by the power of his Spirit. We brag about what Christ Jesus has done. We don't put our trust in our weak human nature.
4 I have many reasons to trust in my human nature. Others may think they have reasons to trust in theirs. But I have even more.
5 I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee.
6 As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the Law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.
7 I thought things like that were for my benefit. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ.
8 Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is the best thing of all. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can get to know Christ.
9 I want to be joined to him. For me, being right with God does not come from the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God. It is received by faith.
10 I want to know Christ better. I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death.
11 Then by God's grace I will rise from the dead.
12 I have not yet received all of those things. I have not yet been made perfect. But I move on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for.
13 Brothers and sisters, I don't consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me.
14 I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.
15 All of us who are grown up in the faith should see things that way. Maybe you think differently about something. But God will make it clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already reached.
17 Brothers and sisters, join with others in following my example. Pay close attention to those who live in keeping with the pattern we gave you.
18 I have told you those things many times before. Now I say it again with tears in my eyes. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 The only thing they have coming to them is death. Their stomach is their god. They brag about what they should be ashamed of. They think only about earthly things.
20 But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Savior from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ.
21 He has the power to bring everything under his control. By his power he will change our earthly bodies. They will become like his glorious body.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.

Philippians 4

1 My brothers and sisters, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord's strength. I love you and long for you. Dear friends, you are my joy and my crown.
2 Here is what I'm asking Euodia and Syntyche to do. I want them to agree with each other because they belong to the Lord.
3 My true companion, here is what I ask you to do. Help those women. They have served at my side. They have helped me spread the good news. So have Clement and the rest of those who have worked together with me. Their names are all written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.
5 Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon.
6 Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him.
7 Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood.
8 Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.
9 Do what you have learned or received or heard from me. Follow my example. The God who gives peace will be with you.
10 At last you are concerned about me again. That makes me very happy. We belong to the Lord. I know that you have been concerned. But you had no chance to show it.
11 I'm not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me.
12 I know what it's like not to have what I need. I also know what it's like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough.
13 I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.
14 But it was good of you to share in my troubles.
15 And you believers at Philippi know what happened when I left Macedonia. Not one church helped me in the matter of giving and receiving. You were the only one that did. That was in the early days when you first heard the good news.
16 Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help when I needed it. You did it again and again.
17 I'm not looking for a gift. I'm looking for what is best for you.
18 I have received my full pay, and even more than that. I have everything I need. That's because Epaphroditus brought me the gifts you sent. They are a sweet-smelling offering. They are a gift that God accepts. He is pleased with it.
19 My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus.
20 Give glory to our God and Father for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all of God's people. They belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings.
22 All of God's people here send you greetings. Most of all, those who live in the palace of Caesar send you greetings.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.