1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for all of you I pray with joy,
1:5 because of · your partnership in the gospel from the first day until · now.
1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.
1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in · my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all share with me in the grace of God.
1:8 For God is my witness · that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
1:9 And this I pray, that · your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
1:10 so that you may determine what is essential, and so be pure and without blame on the day of Christ,
1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has turned out to advance the gospel even more,
1:13 so that it has become known throughout the entire palace guard, and by everyone else, that · my imprisonment is for Christ,
1:14 and that · most of the brothers, having gained confidence in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare more than ever to speak the word of God without fear.
1:15 To be sure, some · are proclaiming Christ out of envy and strife, but others · out of goodwill. ·
1:16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am here for the defense of the gospel.
1:17 The former proclaim Christ out of a sense of hostility, · not sincerely, intending to increase my distress while I am in prison.
1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.
1:19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through · your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
1:20 It is · my earnest expectation and hope that I will in no way be put to shame, but that with complete boldness, now as always, · Christ will be exalted in · my body, whether by life or by death.
1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
1:22 If · I am to go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; yet I do not know which I would prefer.
1:23 I am hard pressed · between the two, in that I have the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is much better by far,
1:24 yet for your sake it is better that I remain in the flesh.
1:25 So, convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for · your progress and joy in the faith,
1:26 so that when I come again to you, · your boasting in Christ Jesus might abound because of me. ·
1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or remain away, I may hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
1:28 and are in no way frightened by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you—and that from God.
1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him,
1:30 since you are experiencing the same conflict which you saw me in, and now hear that I still face.
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