Philippians:1

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* PAUL and Timothy , servants of Christ Jesus , to all the Holy in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi , with Bishops and Deacons : * Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . * I thank my God for all your remembrance of me , * always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy * for your fellowship in spreading the good news from the first day until now , * being confident of this very thing , that he who has begun the good work in you will carry it on to completion on the day of Christ Jesus . * So it is right for me to think of you all , because you have me in your hearts , and in my chains and in my defense and in establishing the good news you are all sharers in my privilege . * For God is my witness how much I long for you all in the affections of Christ Jesus . * And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all insight , * so that you may discriminate between the things that differ , that you may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ , * filled with the fruit of knowledge through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God . * I wish you to know , brethren , that my affairs have turned out rather to the furtherance of the good news , * so that my chains have become well known as for Christ to the whole Praetorian Guard and to all the rest , * and the most of the brethren in the Lord , made confident by my chains , are unusually brave in speaking the message fearlessly . * Some indeed proclaim Christ because of envy and rivalry , some also because of good will . * Some announce Christ from love , knowing that I am placed for the defense of the good news , * but others out of partisanship , thinking to add distress to my chains . * What then ? Still in every way , whether in pretense or in truth , Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice , yes , and will rejoice . * For I know that this will make for my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ , * according to my earnest expectation and hope that I may be put to shame in nothing , but with all courage , as always , so now Christ may be honored in my body , whether by my life or by my death . * For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain . * If it is to be life in the flesh , that means fruitful work for me . I know not which to choose . * I am under pressure both ways , having the desire to depart and be with Christ , for it is far better , * yet that I should stay in the flesh is more needful on your account . * And this I confidently know , that I shall stay and stay near you all for your advancement and joy of faith , * that your exultation in Christ Jesus may overflow on my account , because of my presence again with you . * Only exercise your citizenship in a manner worthy of the good news of Christ , so that , whether I come and see you or in absence hear news of you , I may know that you are standing in one spirit , with one mind wrestling in the faith of the good news * and not frightened in anything by your adversaries , which for them is a sign of ruin , but for you of salvation , and that from God ; * because it has been graciously allowed you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for his sake , * and you have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear of in me .

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