Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians




1 [1-11] From Paul and Timothy, the workers of Yeshua the Christ, to all those in Christ Yeshua, which are at Philippi, along with the overseers and helpers of the church: May God’s grace and peace be with you, from Yahweh God, and from Yeshua the Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you in prayer, always asking for what I need with joy, for your friendship in the New Word from the first day until now; I am so sure that Yahweh God, who has begun a good work in you will do it until the day Yeshua the Christ comes again. It’s right for me to think this way of you all, because you’re in my heart. You all have shared of my grace, both while I have been locked up, and as I have defended and proven the New Word. God knows how greatly I long for you all in the spirit of Yeshua the Christ. And I pray that your love can grow more and more in knowledge and in good judgment, so that you can know what’s best; and that you can be honest and without blame till the day of Christ; which ends in the acts of goodness that come from Yeshua the Christ, to the victory and praise of God.

[12-30] But I want you to understand, dear Christians, that the things which happened to me have worked out to spread the New Word; So that it’s plain to all in the government, and everywhere else that I have been put in jail for Christ; And being more sure because of my being locked up, many of those in Christ speak the Word much more boldly and without fear. It’s true that some preach Christ even out of jealousy, causing trouble; but some also out of good will: The first ones preach Christ because of a disagreement, not honestly, but wanting to add to my suffering while I am locked up: But the other out of love, knowing that I am here for defending the New Word. So what then? In spite of this, whether in lies, or in truth, Christ is preached in every way; and I celebrate in this, yes, and will keep on celebrating. I know that I will be freed through your prayers, and by the Spirit of Yeshua the Christ. It’s my deep belief and hope that I won’t be ashamed of anything, but will act without fear, as always, so Christ will be made known by my life now also, whether it is by living, or by dying. To me, to live is to live for Christ, and to die is to get everlasting life. But if I keep on living in my body, I will have more time for my work, still, I don’t even know what I would choose. I can’t choose between the two, wanting to go to be with Christ; which is so much better. But just the same, to keep on living in the body is more needful for you. And trusting this, I know that I’ll live and stay with you all for your personal growth and joy in the faith; so that by my coming to you again, you will have greater joy in Yeshua the Christ, for me. Only let your lifestyle be as the New Word of Christ says it should, that whether I come and see you or not, I’ll hear all about you, that you have one spirit, working together with one mind for the faith of the New Word. Don’t be afraid of those who come against you, because this clearly shows them that they’re damned, but shows you that you’re saved by God. On behalf of Christ, God has let you, not only believe in the Christ, but also suffer for the Christ’s sake. You are now going through the same kinds of troubles which you saw me having, and hear that I’m having right now.

2 [1-11] So if you have hope in Christ, if you have any comfort of Christ’s love, if you have any relationship with the Spirit, if any tender care and mercy, make my joy complete, having the same mind, the same love, the same purpose, and the same spirit. Don’t let anything be done with fighting or for selfish reasons; but in a spirit of humbleness, let everyone think of others as better than themselves. Don’t just think about yourselves, but also think of others. Think the same way that Christ Yeshua did: Who, being in the form of God, thought nothing of being the same as God. But the Christ, having no known name, became as a hired worker, coming in the form of a human being. Then being found as a human being, the Christ was humble, and accepted death, even the death of the cross. So God has also put the Christ in the highest place, and given the Christ a name above all names: That at the name of Yeshua every knee would bow, all those in heaven, all those on earth, and all those buried in Hell; And that every mouth would admit that Yeshua the Christ is Christ, to the praise of the God we are from.

[12-17] So, my dear loved one, just as you’ve always done, and not just when I’m there, but now much more while I’m away, keep on working toward being saved yourself with a shivering fear. It’s God who works in you, both to make you want to do God’s will, and to do God’s will. So do everything without whispering complaints or arguing about it, so that you can’t be blamed for anything. Be harmless children of God, without fault, in a world of twisted and evil people. Then you will shine out as a light in the night sky when you share the Word of Life with others, and I’ll celebrate in the day of Christ, that I haven’t done all this for nothing. Yes, and even if I have to sacrifice myself as a drink poured out in service for your faith, I’m happy, and celebrate with you all. For the same reason you’re also happy, and celebrate with me.

[19-30] But I trust in Christ Yeshua to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I can be in good spirits also, when I know how you are. I don’t have anyone else who thinks like me, who will naturally care about you, as I do. Everyone looks out for their own well being, and not for the well being of those who belong to Yeshua the Christ. But he has proven to you, that, as a child with a parent, he has served along side me in the New Word. I hope to send him quickly, as soon as I see what’s going to happen to me. I trust in God that I will come shortly myself. Yet I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you, my Christian brother, and coworker, and soldier for Christ, but also the angel you sent to take care of my needs. He longed after you all, and missed you terribly, because you had heard that he had been sick. And he truly was so sick he was near death, but God had mercy on him; and not only on him, but on me also, or I would have had one sorrow added to another. So I sent him all the more carefully, so that, when you see him again, you can celebrate, and so that I can be less sorrowful. So accept him in Christ with great happiness; and respect those like him. He came in your place to help me for the work of Christ, being near death, and not thinking of his own life.

3 [1-10] Finally, my dear Christians, celebrate in God. It isn’t any trouble for me to write the same things to you again, because it’s to keep you safe. Beware of those dogs, the evil people who only want to cut you to pieces. We’re the ones who are clean, which worship God in the spirit, and celebrate in Christ Yeshua, and have no trust in what we do in the body, though I might have reason to trust what I’ve done in the body. If anyone thinks that they have reason to trust in what they’ve done in the body, I have more: My flesh was cut on the eighth day after my birth; I am of the family of Israel, of the family of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; And as to the Word of God, a religious leader; As to passion, I treated the church shamefully; as to being good as is in the Word of God, I was without blame. But whatever I might have gained from this, I think as nothing but loss for Christ. Yes, no doubt, and I think of everything as loss for the greater knowledge of Yeshua, my Christ, for whom I’ve suffered the loss of everything, and think of it all as nothing more than the waste of the body, so that I can be found in Christ. I no longer have my own goodness from doing the Word of God, but what is through the faith of Christ, the goodness which is of God by faith. Now I know Christ, and the power of Christ’s coming to life again, and have shared in the Christ’s sufferings, being made acceptable by the Christ’s death.

[11-21] By this way, I hope I might come to new life from the dead. It’s not as though I’ve already gotten there, or were already complete: but I chase after it, so that I can hold on to that for which I am also held on to by Christ Yeshua. Christians, I don’t think myself to have made it: but I do this one thing; I forget the things that are in the past, and reach for things that are ahead of me, I run for the finish line to win the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Yeshua. So whoever wants to be complete should do this same thing: and if you think another way about anything, God will reveal even this to you. Just the same, those who are being completed, should walk by this same rule, and should think in the same way. So, Christians, be followers along with me, and watch those who walk in the way of Christ, so that you have us for an example. I’ve told you often and now tell you again with tears, that many are enemies of the cross of Christ. Those who live only to eat, and who celebrate in their shameful behaviors, who think only of earthly things will be destroyed in the end. But we live for heaven, where we’ll also find the Savior, Yeshua the Christ: Who will change our sinful body, so that it can become like the amazing body of the Christ. And the Christ, by this power, is even able to control everything for the Christ’s own purpose.

4 [1-9] Christians, my dear loved ones, who I long for, you are my joy and my crown. So keep yourselves in Christ, my dear loved ones. I beg Euodias, and Syntyche to come together in Christ. And I beg you also, my true coworkers, help those women who worked with me in the New Word, along with Clement also, and with my other coworkers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Celebrate in Christ always: and again I say, Celebrate! Let your self-control be seen by everyone. Christ is here. Don’t worry about anything; but pray about everything, making known whatever you need to God, with thankfulness. And the peace from God, which is greater than anyone can ever understand, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Yeshua. Finally, dear Christians, whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is spoken well of; if there’s anything good, and if there’s anything worthy of praise, think about these kinds of things. Those things, which you’ve learned, and been given, and heard about, and seen me doing, do them and the God of peace will be with you.

[10-20] But I celebrate in Christ greatly, that now, at last, your care for me is growing again; I know you cared for me, even when you couldn’t show it. I’m not saying this out of need, because I’ve learned to be at peace, however I am. I know how to do without, and how it is to have more than I need. I’ve learned through everything, both to be full and to be hungry, both to have more than enough and to suffer with needs. I can do anything in Christ, who gives me strength. Just the same, you’ve done well, in that you understood why I suffered. Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the New Word, when I went from Macedonia, that no church talked with me about giving and receiving, but only you. Even in Thessalonica, you sent for my needs once again. I’m not saying this because I want a gift, but because I want the results of what helps you grow. But I have all I need, and am satisfied. I have plenty, having gotten from Epaphroditus the things which you sent, the scent of a sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God will give you everything you need out of the riches that have been made known by Christ Yeshua. Now may our God, who we’re from, be made known forever and ever. So be it!

[21-23] Say hello to every Christian in Christ Yeshua. Those who are with me say hello to you. All the Christians say hello to you, and most importantly those who are of Caesar's family. The grace of our Christ Yeshua be with you all. So be it!