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Philippians 1

Paul shows how Christ’s honor and the progress of the Good News govern his hopes under imprisonment and the church’s shared life.

Paul writes from imprisonment to the believers at Philippi, naming Timothy alongside him in the greeting. He thanks God for their partnership in the Good News and prays for their love to grow in knowledge and discernment. His chains have helped spread the message, even while some preachers seek to add to his distress. Facing the prospect of life or death, Paul wants Christ honored and urges the church to stand together amid opposition. The place of imprisonment is unnamed.

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1Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3I thank my God whenever I remember you,
4always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy,
5for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;
6being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.
8For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
9This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,
11being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,
13so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ,
14and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
15Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.
16The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
17but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.
18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.
19For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.
23But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
25Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.
27Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;
28and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
29Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,
30having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Philippians 1:6Paul grounds his confidence for these partners in God’s commitment to complete the work he began among them.
Philippians 1:27This command turns Paul’s account of imprisonment toward the church’s calling to shared courage and conduct worthy of the gospel.
Philippians 1:20Paul’s hope centers on Christ being honored in his body, even while the outcome of his imprisonment remains unresolved.
Where this chapter reaches

Romans and 2 Corinthians share this chapter’s themes of suffering in Christ’s service and hope that reaches beyond death, while service continues in the body. Ephesians shares its pairing of love with knowledge, and 1 Thessalonians shares its confidence in God’s work reaching completion at Christ’s coming.

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After reading the whole chapter

What stands out in Paul’s prayer for love to grow in knowledge and discernment?

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Where might standing firm together matter in the opposition or uncertainty you face?

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Questions people ask about Philippians 1

What is the good work in Philippians 1:6?

Paul places this promise within his thanks for the Philippians’ partnership in the Good News. The good work is God’s work among them, expressed in their shared faith and service. Its completion reaches to the day of Jesus Christ; the verse does not promise success for every personal plan.

What does Philippians 1:21 mean by “to die is gain”?

Paul explains the phrase in verse 23: death means departing to be with Christ, which he calls far better. He also sees continued life as fruitful work that serves the Philippians. His words express confidence in Christ beyond death while affirming the value of remaining alive to help the church.

Why does Paul rejoice when people preach Christ from envy?

Paul distinguishes the message being proclaimed from the motives of its preachers. Some seek to increase his distress through selfish ambition, yet Christ is still being proclaimed. His joy concerns that proclamation. The passage identifies their motives as wrong and gives no approval to their effort to harm him.

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Philippians · 4 chapters
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).