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PHILIPPIANS
Philippians 1:1-2
I, Paul, write this letter to all of you who are God's people at Philippi. May God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord bless you.
IthankGodand rejoice becauseyouhavebeen working togetherwithmeto make known the good message fromwhenyou first believed untilnow.
I pray thatGodwill enable youto know howto love one another moreandmore appropriately andto completely understand howyoushould believe and act.
I want youto realize thatasaresultofmy imprisonment many more peoplehave heard the good message aboutChrist.
Eventhoughsome believers proclaim themessageaboutChristbecausetheyare antagonistic towardme, at least theyareproclaimingChrist, andsoI rejoice.
IwillcontinuetorejoicebecauseI know thatIwill remain completely victorious spiritually. I earnestly expect to boldly honor ChristwhetherI live or die.
Conduct yourselves just likeyou learned inthe message aboutChrist, unitedly and fearlessly resisting thosewho oppose youandthe gospel, sinceGodis helping youinallyour struggles.
Since Christ loves and encourages us and the Holy Spirit fellowships with us, make me completely happy by agreeing with one another, loving one another, and humbly serving one another.
Youshould think just like Christ Jesus thought. He willingly gave up his divine privileges and humbled himself, willingly obeying God althoughit meant disgracefully dying ona cross. Asa result, God exalted himtothe highest position, tobe acknowledged bythe entire universe asthe supreme Lord.
Sinceyouhavealways obeyed God, continueto try todothosethingswhichare appropriate forpeople whom Godhas saved, andhewill enable youtodoso.
Always obey Godandyour leaders, and never complain aboutthemor argue withthem, in order thatyoumaybe perfect children ofGod, witnessing by how you live andwhatyou say tothe ungodly peopleamongwhomyou live.
BecauseyouandI dedicate ourselves together todo God's will, evenifIamtobe executed, Iwill rejoice, andyou should also rejoice.
I confidently expect thatthe Lord Jesuswill enable meto send Timothy toyou soon. He genuinely cares foryourwelfare, nothisown interests. Iam confident thatthe Lord will enable mealsoto come soon.
Since Epaphroditus longs to see youandis distressed, Iam sending him back toyou. So welcome himvery joyfully. Sincehe nearly died while serving me onyour behalf, honor himand all peoplelikehim.
As for the other matters, continue to rejoice and know that it is not tiresome for me and it is safe for you to mention them again.
Beware ofthose unholy peoplewhowill harm you spiritually by insisting thatyoumustbe circumcised in order to become God's people.
SinceIwas circumcised properly andhavea purely Hebrew ancestry, andsinceIkeptthe Jewish laws blamelessly, Icouldrely upon whatIhave done andwhoIam better thananyoneelsecould, ifitwere beneficial formy salvation.
Inow consider allthese advantages thatI once supposed would help me tobe worthless, andI consider everything else as well tobe worthless, becauseI want to know Christ, tobe united withhim, andtobemade righteous through trusting in Christ alone.
Sinceyou desire to be perfected andsinceyouhavemy example of not considering thatI am already perfect, butof constantly striving to become more and more like Christ, follow my example.
Imitate me andthosewho live asI do. Remember thatthereare many peoplewhoare bad examples, as shown bytheir lustful behavior, wanting to do whattheir bodies desire. Butasforus, Christwill transform our weak bodies to be likehis glorious heavenly body.
On the basis of all that I have told you, continue to believe firmly in the Lord Jesus Christ according to what I have just taught you, and act accordingly.
I urge Euodia and Syntyche tobe reconciled with each other; help theminthis since theyhaveboth proclaimed the good news faithfully togetherwithmeandmy other fellow workers.
The Lord is coming soon. Always rejoice, be gentle toeveryone. Donot worry about anything, but pray toGod instead. Asa result, Godwill grant you profound peace.
Continually think abouteverythingthatis good and praiseworthy. Continually practice whateveryouhave learned from me. Asa result, Godwillbewithyouand give you inner peace.
I rejoice greatly becauseyouhave once again demonstrated your concern formeby giving to meet my needs, thoughitis true that Christ enables metobe content inevery situation.
You Philippians know thatinthe early days of preaching thegood news inyour region youweretheonly congregation that sent me money. Idonotsaythis because I desire your gifts, butI desire thatGod would abundantly bless youfor aiding me.
Ihave received your very generous gift; God is very pleased withthisgift, andhewill abundantly supply your every need also. Let us praise himforever.
Allof God's peoplehere, includingthosewho serve Godwithmeandthosewho work atthe emperor's palace, join mein greeting each oneof God's peoplethere.
Maythe Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

Note: The Old Testament in this translation is still being worked on, and is in draft form. Updates will be posted at eBible.org/t4t/.

© 2008-2017 Ellis W. Deibler, Jr.