1:4 In every prayer of mine for you all, I have always made requests with joy,
1:5 due to your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
1:6 I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.
1:7 It is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonments and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are fellow partakers of my grace.
1:8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment,
1:10 that you may approve things that are excellent so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
1:11 being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.
1:12 But I want you to know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have resulted in advancing the gospel,
1:13 so that my imprisonments in Christ have become known throughout the entire palace guard and to all the rest.
1:14 And a great many of the brothers in the Lord, having become confident because of my incarcerations, have dared to speak the word without fear.
1:15 Some indeed are preaching Christ out of envy and strife, and some also from good will.
1:16 The former preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, intending to add trouble to my circumstance.
1:17 But the latter preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Indeed, I will rejoice.
1:19 For I know that through your prayer and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will result in my deliverance.
1:20 Accordingly, it is my earnest expectation and my hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but that with all boldness as always, so now also, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.
1:21 For to me, to continue living is Christ, and to die is gain.
1:22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor to me. Yet I do not know what I shall choose.
1:23 I am in a difficult position between the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.
1:24 Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
1:25 Having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your joyful advancement of the faith,
1:26 so that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ when I am in your presence again.
1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether or not I come and see you, I may hear of your activities, that you are standing fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.
1:28 Do not be frightened by your adversaries. This is a sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and this from God.
1:29 For to you it was granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
1:30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
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