Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,†

To all the saints in Christ Jesus being in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2Grace to you⁺ and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)

3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you⁺, 4always in my every supplication for all of you⁺, making the supplication with joy, 5for your⁺ partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you⁺ will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.†

7Accordingly, it is right for me to think this about all of you⁺, because of me having you⁺ in the heart. Both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you⁺ all are fellow partakers of grace with me. 8For God is my witness how I long for you⁺ all in the inner affections of Christ Jesus.

9And this I pray, that your⁺ love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10for you⁺ to approve the things being excellent, so that you⁺ may be pure and blameless unto the day of Christ, 11being filled with the fruit of righteousness that is† through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel
(James 1:2–12)

12Now I want you⁺ to know brothers, that the things concerning me really have come to the advancement of the gospel, 13so as for my chains in Christ to have become manifest in all the Praetorium† and to all the rest; 14and most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord by my chains, dare more abundantly to speak fearlessly the word.†

15Indeed, some, even through envy and strife, but some also through goodwill, preach Christ— 16the ones indeed out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;† 17but the others proclaim Christ out of self-interest, not purely, supposing to add tribulation to my chains.

18What then?† Only that in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that this will turn out for me to deliverance, through your⁺ supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20according to my eager expectation and hope that I will be ashamed in nothing, but in all boldness, as always, also now, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death.

To Live Is Christ

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22But if I am to live in flesh, this for me is the fruit of work; and what will I choose? I do not know. 23But† I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for† it is very much better, 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on account of you⁺.

25And having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you⁺ for your⁺ progress and joy of the faith, 26so that through my coming to you⁺ again your⁺ boasting in me may abound in Christ Jesus.

Worthy of the Gospel

27Only conduct yourselves worthily of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether having come and having seen you⁺, or being absent, I might hear the things concerning you⁺, that you⁺ stand firm in one spirit, contending together with one mind† for the faith of the gospel, 28and not being frightened in anything by those opposing you, which is† a demonstration of destruction to them, but of salvation to you⁺—and this from God. 29For it was granted to you⁺ on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on behalf of Him, 30having the same struggle such as you⁺ saw in me and now hear of in me.

Footnotes:

1 BYZ and TR of Jesus Christ; similarly in verse 8
6 GOC, F35, TR, and WH Jesus Christ
11 BYZ and TR the fruits of righteousness that are
13 Or the whole palace guard
14 NE and WH the word of God
16 BYZ and TR reverse the order of verses 16 and 17.
18 Or What then is the issue?
23 TR For
23 BYZ and TR do not include for
27 Or contending side by side
28 BYZ and TR include indeed