1Paul saluteth the Philippians, 3and testifieth his thankfulness to God for their uninterrupted fellowship in the gospel: 8his affection for them, 9and prayers for their spiritual improvement. 12He informeth them that his bonds at Rome had turned out to the advancement of the gospel, which many were thereby induced to preach, though with different views: 21that considering how serviceable his life might be to the cause of Christ, though for himself it were happier to die, he was doubtful in his choice: 25but that he knew he should soon be at liberty to visit them again for their comfort. 27He exhorteth them to walk worthy of their profession, and to be steady and unanimous in the faith, for which they had already been fellowsufferers with him.
1PAUL and aTimotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to ball the saints in Christ Jesus which are at cPhilippi, with the d*bishops and deacons:
*bishops-overseers.
a 2Co. 1.1. Col. 1.1. 1Th. 1.1. 2Th. 1.1. Phile. 1. 1Co. 1.1. Ro. 1.1,9,16. Ac. 16.1. b Ep. 1.1. Col. 1.2. 1Co. 1.2. He. 3.1. Jn. 15.2. c Ac. 16.12-40. d Tit. 1.7. Ac. 20.28.
2eGrace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
e Ep. 1.2. Ga. 1.3. 1Co. 1.3. 2Co. 1.2. Ro. 1.7. 1Pe. 1.2. 2Pe. 1.2. Jude 2.
3fI thank my God upon every 1remembrance of you,
1Or, mention.
f Ro. 1.8-10. 1Co. 1.4. Ep. 1.15,16; 6.18. Col. 1.3. 1Th. 1.2,3. 2Ti. 1.3-5. Phile. 4,5.
4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5For your gfellowship in the gospel hfrom the first day until now;
g Ep. 3.6. 1Jn. 1.3,7. Ro. 12.13; 15.26. 2Co. 8.4; 9.13. Ga. 6.6. ch. 4.14. 1Ti. 6.18. He. 13.16. h Ac. 16.12-40. ch. 4.15.
6iBeing confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will 2perform it juntil the day of Jesus Christ:
2Or, finish.
i He. 10.35. Ps. 138.8. Jn. 6.29,44,45; 16.9-13. 1Th. 1.3. Ep. 2.4-10. 1Co. 3.9. 2Pe. 3.10. Eze. 36.25-29. j 2Co. 1.14. v.10.
7Even kas it is *meet for me to think this of you all, because 3I have you lin my heart; inasmuch as both min my bonds, and in the ndefence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers 4of my grace.
*meet-suitable, fit.
3Or, ye have me in your heart.
4Or, with me of grace.
k 1Co. 13.7. 1Th. 5.5. 2Th. 1.5. He. 3.1; 6.9,10. l 2Co. 3.2; 7.3. 1Th. 2.8. v.8. m Ep. 3.1; 4.1; 6.20. 2Ti. 1.8; 4.16. He. 13.3. ch. 4.14. v.5. n v.17.
8For oGod is my record, how pgreatly I long after you all in qthe *bowels of Jesus Christ.
*bowels-tender mercies.
o Ro. 1.9; 9.1. 2Co. 1.23; 11.31. Ga. 1.20. 2Ti. 4.1. p ch. 2.24,26; 4.1. Ro. 1.9-12. 1Th. 2.5. 2Co. 10.1. Ga. 4.19. q Col. 3.12.
9And this I pray, rthat your love may abound yet more and more in sknowledge and in all 5judgment;
5Or, sense.
r 1Th. 3.12; 4.9; 5.15. 2Pe. 3.18. Pr. 4.18. Ep. 1.18; 3.17-19. s Col. 1.9.
10tThat ye may 6approve things that 7are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the uday of Christ;
6Or, try.
7Or, differ.
t Ro. 2.18; 12.2. 1Th. 5.21-23; 3.13. Ac. 24.14,16. 1Co. 10.32. 2Co. 1.12. Ep. 5.10,27. u v.6. Ac. 17.31. 2Th. 1.7-10. 1Th. 4.14-17.
11Being vfilled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, wunto the glory and praise of God.
v Jn. 15.4,5,8. Col. 1.6,9-11. Ga. 5.22,23. 1Co. 15.58. Ep. 5.9; 2.10. Phi. 4.13. 1Co. 10.31. Mat. 5.16. w Ep. 1.12,14.
12But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me xhave fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
x Ps. 76.10. Ex. 18.11. Ro. 8.28. 2Th. 3.1.
13So that ymy bonds 8in Christ are manifest in all 9the palace, and 10in all other places ;
8Or, for Christ.
9Or, C's court, ch. 4.22.
10Or, to all others.
y Ep. 3.1; 4.1; 6.20. 2Ti. 1.8; 4.17; 2.9. Ac. 28.
14And many of the brethren in the Lord, zwaxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
z Ep. 3.13. 1Th. 3.3. Is. 41.10,14; 43.2. Ep. 6.19,20.
15aSome indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also bof good will:
a ch. 3.2,18,19. Ga. 1.7; 2.4; 5.8,12; 6.12. Ec. 4.4. Ja. 4.5. v.16. b 2Co. 2.17; 4.1,2. Ps. 40.9,10.
16cThe one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
c Ho. 10.1. Mi. 7.2,4.
17But the other dof love, knowing that eI am set for the defence of the gospel.
d Is. 52.8. Ps. 40.9,10; 45. Is. 5.1. 2Co. 5.14,20. e 1Co. 9.16,17. Ro. 1.16,17. 2Ti. 4.6,7,17. v.7.
18What then? notwithstanding, every way, fwhether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
f v.14-17. Mat. 21.16.
19gFor I know that this shall turn to my salvation hthrough your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
g Ro. 8.28. 2Co. 4.17. Ps. 76.10. Job 13.16. 1Pe. 1.7,9. h 2Co. 1.11. Ro. 8.9,26.
20iAccording to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, jbut that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
i 2Ti. 1.12. Ro. 5.5. Ga. 6.14. j Ep. 6.19,20. Ac. 20.24; 21.13. 2Co. 4.10,11. Ro. 14.7,8.
21kFor to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
k Ga. 2.20. 1Co. 1.30. Col. 2.10; 3.11. Ga. 6.14. Re. 14.13. Ps. 73.26.
22But lif I live in the flesh, mthis is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I *wot not.
*wot-know.
l Ga. 2.20. 2Co. 10.3, not Ro. 8.1,4,13. m Ac. 20.24; 21.13.
23For I am in a strait betwixt two, nhaving a desire oto depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
n 2Co. 5.2,4,6,8. Lu. 23.43. 1Th. 4.17. Jn. 17.24. Ps. 16.11. o 2Ti. 4.6.
24Nevertheless pto abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
p Ac. 20.29.
25And having this confidence, I know that qI shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and rjoy of faith;
q ch. 2.24. 2Co. 1.24. Ro. 1.11,12; 15.32. Phile. 22. r 1Pe. 1.8. 2Ch. 20.20. Ps. 60.6. Je. 15.16.
26sThat your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
s 2Co. 1.14; 5.12. ch. 2.16-18. Ro. 1.11,12.
27Only tlet your *conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that uwhether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that vye stand fast in one spirit, with wone mind striving together for the xfaith of the gospel;
*conversation-citizenship.
t ch. 3.20. Ep. 4.1,3. Col. 1.10. 1Th. 2.11,12; 4.1,7. 1Co. 7.19,20,24. Tit. 2.11,12,14; 3.8,14. Ga. 5.22,23. 2Pe. 1.4-9. 2Co. 7.1. u v.19-26. ch. 2.24. Phile. 22. v Ps. 133.1. 1Co. 1.10. ch. 2.2,14,16; 3.15-17; 4.1,2. Jude 3. Ep. 4.3. Pr. 23.23. w Ac. 4.32. x Ac. 24.24. Ro. 1.5; 10.8. Ga. 3.23,25; 1.23; 3.2. Ep. 4.5. 1Ti. 1.19; 3.9; 4.1,6; 5.8,12; 6.10. 2Ti. 4.7. Tit. 1.1.
28And yin nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an zevident token of perdition, but to you aof salvation, and that of God.
y Is. 41.10,14; 43.2; 51.7,12. Mat. 10.28. He. 13.5,6. ch. 3.2,18. z 2Th. 1.5,6. Lu. 21.13. a Ro. 8.17. 2Ti. 2.11,12. 2Co. 1.10.
29For unto you bit is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
b Is. 53.10-12. Ps. 22.27-30. Ac. 5.41. 1Pe. 3.14. Mat. 5.12.
30Having the same conflict cwhich ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
c Ac. 16.19-40. 1Th. 2.2. v.13. Ac. 14.22; 20.23. 2Ti. 3.11,12.