Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, 2Co 1:1Act 16:12-15Rom 1:1Col 1:1-21Co 1:1-21Th 1:11Ti 3:82Pe 1:1
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:72Co 1:21Pe 1:2
Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)
I thank my God every time I remember you. 1Co 1:41Th 1:2-3Phm 1:4-52Ti 1:3Eph 1:15-16Col 1:3-41Th 3:9Rom 1:8-9 In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 1Th 1:2Rom 1:92Jn 1:4Php 2:2Eph 1:14-231Th 2:19-20Col 2:5Phm 1:7 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, Php 4:14-15Heb 3:14Php 1:7Phm 1:172Co 8:11Jn 1:3Act 16:12-40Col 1:21-23 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. 1Th 5:23-24Php 2:13Eph 4:12Heb 13:20-21Psa 138:81Pe 5:10Rom 8:28-301Co 1:8
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 2Co 7:3Php 1:52Ti 2:9Col 4:18Act 16:23-25Act 20:23Eph 3:1Eph 6:20 God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. Rom 1:9Php 4:11Th 2:82Ti 1:4Col 2:1Rom 9:1Jer 31:20Phm 1:12
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 1Th 3:12Col 1:92Pe 1:5-6Phm 1:6Col 3:101Th 4:9-102Co 8:71Pe 1:22 so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, Rom 12:21Th 3:131Th 5:23Rom 2:18Eph 5:101Jn 4:1Php 1:61Th 5:21 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Heb 12:11Jhn 15:8Jhn 15:4-5Col 1:10Gal 5:22-23Jas 3:17-18Php 4:17Rom 6:22
Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel
(James 1:2–12)
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 2Ti 2:9Rom 8:28Act 11:19-21Rom 8:37Act 22:1-30Act 8:4Est 9:1Act 28:1-31 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard 1and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 2Ti 2:9Eph 3:1Act 26:29Eph 6:20Php 1:7Php 4:221Pe 4:12-16Act 20:23-24 And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word 2without fear. Eph 6:19-201Th 2:2Luk 1:74Col 4:4Php 1:7Col 4:72Co 1:3-7Act 4:23-31
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. Rom 16:17-18Php 2:31Pe 5:2-42Co 11:132Co 4:51Co 3:3-42Co 1:19Mat 23:5 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 3 2Co 2:172Co 4:1-2Job 6:14Php 1:10Php 1:12Php 1:7Psa 69:26Job 16:4 The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. 2Ti 1:11-12Php 2:31Co 9:16-172Ti 4:6-71Ti 2:72Ti 4:16Act 22:1Act 26:1
What then is the issue? 4 Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, Luk 9:50Mrk 9:38-401Co 15:11Php 1:14-171Co 14:15Mat 23:132Jn 1:9-11Mrk 12:40 because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance. Rom 8:28Act 16:72Co 1:11Gal 4:6Rom 8:91Co 4:17Eph 6:18-191Pe 1:11 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 1Pe 4:161Co 6:20Isa 54:41Th 5:231Jn 2:28Eph 6:19-202Co 4:102Ti 4:6-7
To Live Is Christ
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Gal 2:202Co 5:82Co 5:1Php 1:232Co 5:6Php 1:20Col 3:4Rev 14:13 But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. 1Pe 4:2Gal 2:20Php 1:242Co 10:3Act 3:17Psa 71:18Col 2:1Exo 32:1 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 2Co 5:8Psa 17:15Rev 14:132Ti 4:6Act 7:59Jhn 17:24Luk 23:43Rev 7:14-17 But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Jhn 16:7Php 1:22Php 1:25-26Act 20:29-31
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, Php 2:242Co 1:24Eph 4:11-13Act 20:25Rom 1:11-12Rom 15:13Rom 5:21Pe 1:8 so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me. 2Co 1:142Co 5:12Php 3:3Php 4:42Co 7:6Jhn 16:22Jhn 16:24Php 2:16-18
Worthy of the Gospel
Nevertheless, 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 one spirit, contending side by side 5for the faith of the gospel, Eph 4:11Co 16:13-141Co 1:102Pe 3:14Php 2:1-2Col 1:10Jud 1:31Th 4:1 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. 2Ti 1:7-82Th 1:5-6Mat 10:28Isa 51:72Ti 2:11-121Pe 4:12-14Mat 5:10-12Isa 12:2 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, Jas 1:21Pe 4:13Act 5:41Rom 5:3Act 14:22Mat 5:11-12Eph 2:8Jas 1:17-18 since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. 1Th 2:2Act 16:19-402Ti 4:7Rom 8:35-372Ti 2:10-12Heb 12:4Jhn 16:33Eph 6:11-18