Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ; to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Paulus et Timotheus, servi Jesu Christi, omnibus sanctis in Christo Jesu, qui sunt Philippis, cum episcopis et diaconibus.

Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with their pastors and deacons;

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

Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo.

Grace and peace be yours from God who is our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you,

Gratias ago Deo meo in omni memoria vestri,

I give thanks to my God for all my memories of you,

Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy;

semper in cunctis orationibus meis pro omnibus vobis, cum gaudio deprecationem faciens,

happy at all times in all the prayer I offer for all of you;

For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day unto now.

super communicatione vestra in Evangelio Christi a prima die usque nunc.

so full a part have you taken in the work of Christ’s gospel, from the day when it first reached you till now.

Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.

Confidens hoc ipsum, quia qui cœpit in vobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in diem Christi Jesu:

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.

As it is meet for me to think this for you all, for that I have you in my heart; and that in my bands, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.

sicut est mihi justum hoc sentire pro omnibus vobis: eo quod habeam vos in corde, et in vinculis meis, et in defensione, et confirmatione Evangelii, socios gaudii mei omnes vos esse.

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.

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

Testis enim mihi est Deus, quomodo cupiam omnes vos in visceribus Jesu Christi.

God knows how I long for you all, with the tenderness of Jesus Christ himself.

And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:

Et hoc oro, ut caritas vestra magis ac magis abundet in scientia, et in omni sensu:

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,

That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ,

ut probetis potiora, ut sitis sinceri, et sine offensa in diem Christi,

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;

Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

repleti fructu justitiæ per Jesum Christum, in gloriam et laudem Dei.

may you reap, through Jesus Christ, the full harvest of your justification to God’s glory and praise.

Now, brethren, I desire you should know, that the things which have happened to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:

Scire autem vos volo fratres, quia quæ circa me sunt, magis ad profectum venerunt Evangelii:

I hasten to assure you, brethren, that my circumstances here have only had the effect of spreading the gospel further;

So that my bands are made manifest in Christ, in all the court, and in all other places:

ita ut vincula mea manifesta fierent in Christo in omni prætorio, et in ceteris omnibus,

so widely has my imprisonment become known, in Christ’s honour, throughout the praetorium and to all the world beyond.

And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.

et plures e fratribus in Domino confidentes vinculis meis, abundantius auderent sine timore verbum Dei loqui.

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.

Some indeed, even out of envy and contention; but some also for good will preach Christ.

Quidam quidem et propter invidiam et contentionem: quidam autem et propter bonam voluntatem Christum prædicant:

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.

Some out of charity, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

quidam ex caritate, scientes quoniam in defensionem Evangelii positus sum.

Some, I mean, are moved by charity, because they recognize that I am here to defend the gospel,

And some out of contention preach Christ not sincerely: supposing that they raise affliction to my bands.

Quidam autem ex contentione Christum annuntiant non sincere, existimantes pressuram se suscitare vinculis meis.

others by party spirit, proclaiming Christ from wrong motives, just because they hope to make my chains gall me worse.

But what then? So that by all means, whether by occasion, or by truth, Christ be preached: in this also I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Quid enim? Dum omni modo sive per occasionem, sive per veritatem, Christus annuntietur: et in hoc gaudeo, sed et gaudebo.

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;

For I know that this shall fall out to me unto salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Scio enim quia hoc mihi proveniet ad salutem, per vestram orationem, et subministrationem Spiritus Jesu Christi,

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.

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

secundum exspectationem et spem meam, quia in nullo confundar: sed in omni fiducia sicut semper, et nunc magnificabitur Christus in corpore meo, sive per vitam, sive per mortem.

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.

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

Mihi enim vivere Christus est, et mori lucrum.

For me, life means Christ; death is a prize to be won.

And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know not.

Quod si vivere in carne, hic mihi fructus operis est, et quid eligam ignoro.

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;

But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.

Coarctor autem e duobus: desiderium habens dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, multo magis melius:

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;

But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you.

permanere autem in carne, necessarium propter vos.

and yet, for your sakes, that I should wait in the body is more urgent still.

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

Et hoc confidens scio quia manebo, et permanebo omnibus vobis ad profectum vestrum, et gaudium fidei:

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.

That your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, by my coming to you again.

ut gratulatio vestra abundet in Christo Jesu in me, per meum adventum iterum ad vos.

Yes, you shall be prouder of me than ever in Christ Jesus, when I come once again to visit you.

Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel.

Tantum digne Evangelio Christi conversamini: ut sive cum venero, et videro vos, sive absens audiam de vobis, quia statis in uno spiritu unanimes, collaborantes fidei Evangelii:

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.

And in nothing be ye terrified by the adversaries: which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of salvation, and this from God:

et in nullo terreamini ab adversariis: quæ illis est causa perditionis, vobis autem salutis, et hoc a Deo:

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;

For unto you it is given for Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.

quia vobis donatum est pro Christo, non solum ut in eum credatis, sed ut etiam pro illo patiamini:

the grace that has been granted you is that of suffering for Christ’s sake, not merely believing in him.

Having the same conflict as that which you have seen in me, and now have heard of me.

idem certamen habentes, quale et vidistis in me, et nunc audistis de me.

Your battle is my own battle; you saw how I fought it once, and you have heard how I am fighting it now.