December 11
Philippians 1 - 4 (New International Version)
Philippians 1
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the
overseers and deacons:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
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
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in
you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you,
since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and
confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8
God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ
Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more
and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you
may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the
day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what
has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to
everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And
because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident
in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and
rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so
out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not
sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in
chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is
that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.
And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that
through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what
has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I
eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have
sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is
Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in
the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I
do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to
depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but
it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all
of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that
through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on
account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy
of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about
you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,
striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign
to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by
God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ
not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30
since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear
that I still have.
Philippians 2
Imitating Christ’s Humility
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in
the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by
being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one
mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ
Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own
advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my
presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your
salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will
and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become
blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
16 as
you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the
day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being
poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from
your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be
glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be
cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who
will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for
their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy
has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me
in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I
see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself
will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother,
co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to
take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed
because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God
had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow
upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when
you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then,
welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30
because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up
for the help you yourselves could not give me.
Philippians 3
No Confidence in the Flesh
1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!
It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a
safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those
mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who
serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no
confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I
have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6
as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law,
faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I
consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not
having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the
basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his
resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my
goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold
of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken
hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if
on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16
Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as
you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For,
as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many
live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction,
their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is
set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly
await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that
enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 4
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and
long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear
friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in
the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since
they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with
Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put
it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for
me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 I
am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any
and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or
in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
15 Moreover, as you
Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel,
when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter
of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in
Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that
I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply
supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in
Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are
with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings,
especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.