Philippians 1

1 Paul [a Roman apostle] and Timothy [dear to God], servants [bondservants, slaves] of Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, God’s salvation], To all [every single one] the saints [holy ones, set apart] in Christ Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed] at Philippi [a city in Macedonia], together with [in close association] the overseers [church leaders, bishops] and deacons [ministers, servants]: word study 2 Grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] and peace [harmony, prosperity, freedom from war] to you [as individuals, directly addressed] from God [the one true deity] our Father [the male parent] and the Lord [the supreme authority, master] Jesus Christ [the anointed one, God’s salvation]. word study 3 I thank [give praise to, express gratitude] my God [the one true deity] every time [upon all remembrance, whenever] I remember [think of, have in mind] you [all of you, my friends]. word study 4 In every [all, each] prayer [petition, supplication] for all [every one, each one] of you, I always [at all times, constantly] pray [make request, offer thanks] with [accompanied by, filled with] joy [deep and lasting happiness, gladness], word study 5 because of your partnership [fellowship, or participation] in the [good news, gospel message, or message of salvation] gospel from the [very, first] first day until [this present time, the current moment] now, word study 6 being confident [fully persuaded, having faith] of this, that He [the Lord, Jesus Christ] who began [initiated, started] a good [beneficial, righteous] work [task, labor] in you will carry [complete, perfect] it on to completion [perfection, maturity] until [up to the point of] the day [time, period] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] Jesus [God is salvation]. word study 7 It is right [just, fair, and reasonable] for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart [in my thoughts and affections]. For in my chains [bonds, imprisonment] and in my defense [apology, vindication] and confirmation [validation, establishment] of the gospel [good news, message of salvation], you are all partners [sharers, partakers] in grace [unmerited favor, divine blessing] with me. word study 8 God [the one true deity, Creator of all] is my witness [one who sees and testifies] how I long for [deeply desire, yearn after] all of you [every single one, without exception] with the affection [tender mercies, loving care] of Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, Savior]. word study 9 And this [specific request, heartfelt desire] is my prayer: that your [unconditional, selfless] love [agape, divine affection] may abound [superabound, overflow] more and more [exceedingly, abundantly] in [deep, spiritual] knowledge [full understanding] and [discerning, wise] depth of insight [all judgment, spiritual perception], word study 10 so that you may be able to [thoroughly examine and discern] test and prove [prove the value of, approve] what is [excellent, surpassing] best and may be [sincere, genuine] pure and [without offense, blameless] blameless for the day [day of reckoning, time of judgment] of Christ, word study 11 filled with the fruit [of righteous living, the product of a virtuous life] of righteousness [living according to God’s will, being in right standing with Him] that comes [through the power and work] through Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed Savior], to the glory [honor, admiration] and praise [approval, commendation, and worship] of God [the one true deity, Creator of all]. word study 12 Now I want you to know [desire to make clear], brothers [fellow believers], that my circumstances [experiences, things that have happened to me] have actually served [turned out, resulted] to advance [promote, further] the gospel [good news, message of salvation]. word study 13 As a result [therefore, so], it has become clear [manifest, apparent] throughout the whole [entire, all] palace guard [praetorium, Roman governor’s headquarters] and to everyone else [all the rest, the remaining ones] that I am in chains [bonds, shackles] for Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus the Messiah]. word study 14 And most [the greater part] of the brothers [fellow Christians, brethren in the Lord], confident [having faith, trusting] in the Lord [God, Master] by my chains [bonds, imprisonment], now dare [are bold, have courage] more greatly [exceedingly, beyond measure] to speak [proclaim, utter] the word [Logos, the divine message] without fear [fearlessly, boldly, with confidence]. word study 15 It is true that some [certain individuals, one] preach Christ [the Anointed, Jesus] out of [because of, through] envy [jealousy, spite] and [also] rivalry [quarrel, strife], but others [different ones, some also] out of [from, because of] goodwill [good pleasure, kindness]. word study 16 The latter [these people, they] do so in [selfless, genuine] love, knowing that I am appointed [set, designated] for the defense [protection, vindication] of the gospel [the good news, God’s message of salvation]. word study 17 The former, however, preach Christ [deceptively] out of [from a place of] selfish ambition [for their own gain], not sincerely [from their hearts], supposing [thinking, with the purpose] that they can add to the distress [affliction, problems] of my chains [imprisonment, bonds]. word study 18 What then is the issue [the problem, the concern]? Just this: that in every way [manner, circumstance], whether by false motives [pretense, hypocrisy] or true [genuine, sincere], Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah] is preached [proclaimed, announced]. And in this I rejoice [am glad, feel happy]. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice [take delight, be joyful], word study 19 because I know [am deeply convinced, have spiritual awareness] that through your [urgent] prayers [supplications, petitions] and the provision [supply, contribution] of the Spirit [the vital principle] of Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, God’s salvation], my distress [troubles, affliction] will turn out [result, come to pass] for my deliverance [salvation, rescue, safety]. word study 20 I eagerly expect [with intense anticipation] and hope [trusting in God’s goodness] that I will in no way be ashamed [put to shame, feel embarrassed], but will have complete [all, every kind of] boldness [freedom in speaking, confidence] so that now as always [at all times, consistently] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] will be exalted [magnified, praised] in my body [physical person, whole being], whether by life [physical existence, spiritual life] or by death [physical death, spiritual separation]. word study 21 For to me [as for my own life], to live [to have life, either physically or spiritually] is Christ [the Anointed, Jesus as Messiah], and to die [to stop living, pass away] is gain [profit, advantage, spiritual benefit]. word study 22 But if I go on living [in the flesh, physically] in the body [my physical form], this will mean [result in, bring forth] fruitful [productive, abundant] labor [work, service] for me. So what shall I choose [select, decide]? I do not know [am uncertain, cannot determine]. word study 23 I am torn [pressed, in a strait] between the two [two options, a dilemma]. I desire [have a strong longing, yearning] to depart [to break up, leave this world] and be with [together, in close association] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], which is far better [more advantageous, greater] indeed [truly, by far]. word study 24 But it is more [extremely, exceedingly] necessary [needful, essential] for you that I remain [to abide, stay] in the body [flesh, physical form] [for your sake, because of you]. word study 25 Convinced [having this confidence, being certain] of this [the truth, the fact], I know [am persuaded, have insight] that I will remain [stay, abide] and will continue [stay with, remain together] with all [every one] of you for your [your own, belonging to you] progress [advancement, growth] and joy [happiness, delight] in the faith [trust, confidence in God], word study 26 so that through my coming [again, once more] to you again your exultation [rejoicing, boasting] in Christ Jesus [the Messiah, the Anointed One] will resound [abound, be more abundant] on account of me [because of my presence, through my being with you]. word study 27 Nevertheless, conduct [live, behave] yourselves in a manner worthy [fitting] of the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. Then, whether I come [visit, arrive] and see [perceive, observe] you or only hear [learn, understand] about you in my absence [when I am away, not present], I will know that you stand [remain, endure] firm in one [united, harmonious] spirit [breath, attitude], contending [striving, laboring] side by side [together, in unity] for the faith [trust, confidence] of the gospel [message of salvation, good news], word study 28 without being frightened [or intimidated, terrified] in any way by those who oppose [or are adversaries to] you [as believers]. This is a clear sign [or demonstration, proof] of their destruction [or perdition, eternal loss] but of your salvation [or rescue, spiritual deliverance], and it is from [or comes from, given by] God [the supreme Creator and Savior]. word study 29 For it has been granted [given as a gift, freely bestowed] to you [as a privilege, a special blessing] on behalf of Christ [as His representatives, for His sake] not only [alone, exclusively] to believe in Him [to trust, have faith, rely on], but also [in addition, furthermore] to suffer [to endure, experience pain, hardship] for Him [on His account, for His name’s sake], word study 30 since you are encountering [experiencing, having] the same struggle [conflict, fight] you saw [perceived, witnessed] I had [experienced, endured], and now [at this present time] hear [are informed, understand] that I still [continually, to this day] have [am experiencing, undergoing]. word study