Philippians 1

Philippians 1:1-2

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

Paul and Timothy greet all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, with overseers and servants, blessing them with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3-5

³I thank my God whenever I remember you, ⁴always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy, ⁵for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

Paul thanks God whenever he remembers the Philippians, praying with joy for their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Philippians 1:6

⁶being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Paul is confident that God, who began a good work in the Philippians, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:7-8

⁷It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

Paul affirms it is right to feel confident about them because they share his grace in bonds and in defending the gospel, longing for them with Christ’s tender mercies.

Philippians 1:9-11

⁹This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, ¹¹being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays that their love may abound in knowledge and discernment so they approve what is excellent, remain sincere until Christ’s day, and be filled with fruits of righteousness through Jesus to God’s glory.

Philippians 1:12-17

¹²Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News, ¹³so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ, ¹⁴and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. ¹⁵Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. ¹⁶The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

Paul reports that his imprisonment has advanced the gospel among the palace guard and emboldened others to speak, even while some preach Christ from envy and selfish ambition and others from love.

Philippians 1:18-20

¹⁸What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice. ¹⁹For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed whether in pretense or truth, expecting that through prayer and the Spirit’s supply he will not be ashamed but Christ will be magnified in his body by life or death.

Philippians 1:21

²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Paul summarizes his life creed: to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:22-26

²²But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. ²³But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. ²⁴Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. ²⁵Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Paul weighs fruitful labor in the flesh against departing to be with Christ, concluding that remaining is more needful for the Philippians’ progress and joy of faith so their boasting in Christ may abound through him.

Philippians 1:27-30

²⁷Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News; ²⁸and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf, ³⁰having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Paul urges a manner of life worthy of the gospel—standing firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith, unafraid of opponents—as a sign of salvation and of God-granted suffering for Christ like Paul’s own.

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