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Philippians 2:12-4:23
New International Version
Philippians 2:12-4:23
New International Version
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(A) 13 for it is God who works in you(B) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(C)
14 Do everything without grumbling(D) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(E) and pure, “children of God(F) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a](G) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(H) that I did not run(I) or labor in vain.(J) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(K) on the sacrifice(L) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(M) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(N) to you soon,(O) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(P) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(Q) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(R) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(S) 24 And I am confident(T) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(U) and fellow soldier,(V) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(W) 26 For he longs for all of you(X) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(Y) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(Z) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(AA)
No Confidence in the Flesh
3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(AB) and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs,(AC) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision,(AD) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(AE) and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(AF)
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised(AG) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(AH) of the tribe of Benjamin,(AI) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(AJ) 6 as for zeal,(AK) persecuting the church;(AL) as for righteousness based on the law,(AM) faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(AN) for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(AO) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(AP) 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(AQ) but that which is through faith in[b] Christ—the righteousness(AR) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(AS) 10 I want to know(AT) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(AU) becoming like him in his death,(AV) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(AW) from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(AX) but I press on to take hold(AY) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(AZ) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(BA) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(BB) toward the goal to win the prize(BC) for which God has called(BD) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature(BE) should take such a view of things.(BF) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(BG) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example,(BH) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(BI) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(BJ) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(BK) 19 Their destiny(BL) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(BM) and their glory is in their shame.(BN) Their mind is set on earthly things.(BO) 20 But our citizenship(BP) is in heaven.(BQ) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(BR) 21 who, by the power(BS) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(BT) so that they will be like his glorious body.(BU)
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,(BV) my joy and crown, stand firm(BW) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind(BX) in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,(BY) whose names are in the book of life.(BZ)
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!(CA) 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.(CB) 6 Do not be anxious about anything,(CC) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(CD) 7 And the peace of God,(CE) which transcends all understanding,(CF) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.(CG) And the God of peace(CH) will be with you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.(CI) Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content(CJ) whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,(CK) whether living in plenty or in want.(CL) 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.(CM)
14 Yet it was good of you to share(CN) in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days(CO) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,(CP) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;(CQ) 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica,(CR) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.(CS) 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.(CT) 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus(CU) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant(CV) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs(CW) according to the riches of his glory(CX) in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father(CY) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(CZ)
Final Greetings
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me(DA) send greetings. 22 All God’s people(DB) here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ(DC) be with your spirit.(DD) Amen.[c]
Footnotes
- Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5
- Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of
- Philippians 4:23 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.
Philippians 2:12-4:23
King James Version
Philippians 2:12-4:23
King James Version
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
4 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
New International Version (NIV) 
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