Philippians

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1This letter is from Paul and Timothy. They serve Jesus Christ. It is for God's people in the town of Philippi. It is also for their church leaders and their helpers.

2Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you. We pray they will give you peace.

3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

3Every single time I remember you, I thank my God.

4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

4I always pray for all of you. I pray with a happy heart.

5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

5I am happy because you have helped share the good news about Jesus. You have helped from the very first day until now.

6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

6God started something good in you. I am sure he will finish it. He will keep working on it until the day Jesus Christ comes.

7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

7It is right for me to think this about you. I hold you in my heart. I am in chains, and I speak up to show the good news is true. In all of that, you share God's kindness right along with me.

8For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

8God knows it is true. I miss you all so much. I care about you with the deep love of Jesus Christ.

NoteThe KJV says "bowels." In 1611 that word meant the deepest feelings inside a person. It means deep love and care, not the stomach.

9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

9Here is what I pray for you. I ask that your love will grow more and more. I ask that you will know more and understand more.

10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

10Then you will be able to pick out what is best. Then your hearts will be clean. No one will be able to blame you when Christ comes.

11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

11Jesus Christ will fill your life with good and right things. All of that brings honor and praise to God.

12But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

12Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand something. What has happened to me has actually helped the good news spread.

13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

13Now the whole palace guard knows why I am in chains. Everyone else knows too. I am in chains because I belong to Christ.

14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

14Because of my chains, most of God's people trust the Lord more. Now they are much braver. They tell God's message and are not afraid.

15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

15It is true that some people tell about Christ because they are jealous. They want to fight. But others tell about Christ because they mean well.

16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

16Some talk about Christ just to stir up trouble. They are not honest. They hope to make my time in chains even harder.

NoteIn the KJV, verse 16 is about people who cause trouble and verse 17 is about people who love Paul. Most newer Bibles put these two verses the other way around, because they follow older Greek copies.

17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

17But the others speak because they love me. They know God put me here to show that the good news is true.

18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

18So what? Either way, people are hearing about Christ. Some have good reasons and some do not. I am glad about that. And I will keep on being glad.

19For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

19You are praying for me. The Spirit of Jesus Christ gives me what I need. So I know this will all turn out well for me.

20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

20I want very much to never feel ashamed. I hope to be brave now, as I always have been. I want people to see how great Christ is in my body. That is true whether I live or whether I die.

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

21For me, living means living for Christ. And dying would bring me something even better.

22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

22But if I keep on living, my work will bring good things. So which one do I want? I do not know.

23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

23I feel pulled in two directions. I want to leave and be with Christ. That would be far better.

24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

24But it is better for you if I stay alive and stay here.

25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

25I am sure of this. So I know I will stay and keep on being with you all. I will help you grow and be glad in what you believe.

26That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

26Then I will come to see you again. And you will be even more glad in Jesus Christ because of me.

27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

27Just live in a way that fits the good news of Christ. Then I will hear how you are doing. That will be true whether I come to see you or stay away. I want to hear that you stand strong together. Stand with one spirit and one mind. Work side by side for the faith of the good news.

NoteThe KJV says "conversation." Back then that word did not mean talking. It meant the whole way a person lives.

28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

28Do not let the people who fight you scare you at all. That is a clear sign to them that they will be destroyed. It is a sign to you that you will be saved. And that sign comes from God.

29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

29God has given you a gift because you belong to Christ. You get to believe in him. You also get to suffer for him.

30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

30You are in the same fight that you once saw me in. And now you hear that I am still in it.