The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the Philippians
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Chapter 1
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1 2 3 4
1
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with their pastors and deacons;
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Grace and peace be yours from God who is our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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I give thanks to my God for all my memories of you,
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happy at all times in all the prayer I offer for all of you;
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so full a part have you taken in the work of Christ’s gospel, from the day when it first reached you till now.
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Nor am I less confident, that he who has inspired this generosity in you will bring it to perfection, ready for the day when Jesus Christ comes.
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It is only fitting that I should entertain such hopes for you; you are close to my heart, and I know that you all share my happiness in being a prisoner, and being able to defend and assert the truth of the gospel.
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God knows how I long for you all, with the tenderness of Jesus Christ himself.
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And this is my prayer for you; may your love grow richer and richer yet, in the fulness of its knowledge and the depth of its perception,
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so that you may learn to prize what is of value; may nothing cloud your consciences or hinder your progress till the day when Christ comes;
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may you reap, through Jesus Christ, the full harvest of your justification to God’s glory and praise.

12
I hasten to assure you, brethren, that my circumstances here have only had the effect of spreading the gospel further;
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so widely has my imprisonment become known, in Christ’s honour, throughout the praetorium and to all the world beyond.
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And most of the brethren, deriving fresh confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment, are making bold to preach God’s word with more freedom than ever.
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Some of them, it is true, for no better reason than rivalry or jealousy; but there are others who really proclaim Christ out of good will.
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Some, I mean, are moved by charity, because they recognize that I am here to defend the gospel,
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others by party spirit, proclaiming Christ from wrong motives, just because they hope to make my chains gall me worse.
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What matter, so long as either way, for private ends or in all honesty, Christ is proclaimed? Of that I am glad now; yes, and I shall be glad hereafter;
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I am well assured that this will make for my soul’s health, with you to pray for me, and Jesus Christ to supply my needs with his Spirit.
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This is my earnest longing and my hope, that I shall never be put to the blush; that I shall speak with entire freedom, and so this body of mine will do Christ honour, now as always, in life or in death.
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For me, life means Christ; death is a prize to be won.
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But what if living on in this mortal body is the only way to harvest what I have sown? Thus I cannot tell what to choose;
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I am hemmed in on both sides. I long to have done with it, and be with Christ, a better thing, much more than a better thing;
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and yet, for your sakes, that I should wait in the body is more urgent still.
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I am certain of that, and I do not doubt that I shall wait, and wait upon you all, to the happy furtherance of your faith.
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Yes, you shall be prouder of me than ever in Christ Jesus, when I come once again to visit you.

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Only, you must play a part worthy of Christ’s gospel; whether I come to see you, or only hear about you at a distance, this must be my news of you, that you are standing fast in a common unity of spirit, with the faith of the gospel for your common cause.
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Shew a bold front at all points to your adversaries; that is the seal of their perdition, of your salvation, and it comes from God;
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the grace that has been granted you is that of suffering for Christ’s sake, not merely believing in him.
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Your battle is my own battle; you saw how I fought it once, and you have heard how I am fighting it now.