The first Chapter.
Paul and Timotheus the servants of Iesu Christ. To all the saints in
Christ Iesu which are at Philippos, with the bishops and deacons.
Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the lord
Iesus Christe.
I thank my God with all remembrance of you, always in all my prayers
for you all, and pray with gladness, because of the fellowship which ye
have in the gospell from the first day unto now, and am surely
certified of this, that he which began a good work in you shall perform
it until the day of Iesus Christ, as it becometh me so to judge of you
all, because I have you in my heart, and have you also every one
companions of grace with me, even in my bonds as I defend, and stablish
the gospell.
God beareth me record how greatly I long after you all from the very
heart root in Iesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may
increase more and more in knowledge, and in all fealing, that ye might
accept things most excellent, that ye might be pure and such as should
hurt no man's conscience, until the day of Christ, filled with the
fruits of righteousness, which fruits come by Iesus Christ unto the
glory and laud of God.
I would ye understood brethren that my business is happened unto the
greater furthering of the gospell. So that my bonds in Christ are
manifest thorow out all the judgement hall: and in all other places, In
so much that many of the brethren in the lord are boldened thorow my
bonds, and dare more largely speak the word without fear. Some there
are which preach Christ of envy and strife, and some of goodwill. The
one part preacheth Christ of strife, and not purely, supposing to add
more adversity to my bonds. The other part of love, because they see
that I am set to defend to Gospell.
What thing is this? Notwithstanding by all manner ways, whether it be
by occasion or of truth, yet Christ is preached: and therefore I joy.
Yee and will joy. For I know that this shall be for my health, thorow
your prayer, and ministering of the spirit of Iesu Christ, as I
heartily look for and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed: but
that with all confidence, as always in times past, even so now Christ
shall be magnified in my body, whether it be thorow life, or else
death. For Christ is to me life, and death is to me advantage.
If it chance me to live in the flesh, that is to me fruitful for to
work, and what to choose I wot not. I am constrained of two things: I
desire to be lowsed, and to be with Christ, which thing is best of all:
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And this am
I sure of, that I shall abide, and with you all continue, for the
furtherance and joy of your faith, that ye may more abundantly rejoice
in Iesus Christ thorow me, by my coming to you again.
Only let your conversation be, as it becometh the gospell of Christ:
that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may yet hear of
you, that ye continue in one spirit, and in one soul laboring as we do
to maintain the faith of the gospell, and in nothing fearing your
adversaries: which is to them a token of perdition, and to you a sign
of health, and that of God. For unto you it is given, that not only ye
should believe on Christ: but also suffer for his sake, and have even
the same fight which ye saw me have and now hear of me.
The .ij. Chapter.
If there be among you any consolation in Christ, if there be any
comfortable love, if there be any fellowship of the spirit, if there be
any compassion of mercy: fulfil my joy, that ye draw one way, having
one love, being of one accord, and of one mind, that nothing be done
thorow strife or vain glory, but in meekness of mind. Let every person
think every other man better than himself, so that ye consider every
man, not what is in himself: But what is in other men.
Let the same mind be in you the which was in Christ Iesu: Which being
in the shape of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
Nevertheless he made himself of no reputation, and took on him the
shape of a servant, and became like unto men, and was found in his
apparel as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto the
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath exalted him, and
given him a name above all names: that in the name of Iesus should
every knee bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth and
things under earth, and that all tongues should confess that Iesus
Christ is the lord unto the praise of God the father.
Wherefore my dearly beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not when I was
present only, but now much more in mine absence, even so perform your
own health with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you,
both the will and also the deed, even of good will.
Do all thinge without murmuring and disputing, that ye may be
faultless, and pure, and the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked, and a perverse nation, among which see that ye shine as
lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, unto my rejoicing
in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither have
laboured in vain. Yee and though I be offered up on your sacrifice and
of your serving of God in the faith: I rejoice and rejoice with you
all. For the same cause also, rejoice ye, and rejoice ye with me.
I trust in the lord Iesus for to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that
I also may be of good comfort, when I know what case ye stand in. For I
have no man that is so like minded to me, which with so pure affection
careth for your matters. For all others seek their own, and not that
which is Iesus Christe's. Ye know the proof of him, how that as a son
with the father, so with me bestowed he his labour upon the gospell.
Him I hope to send as soon as I know how it will go with me. I trust in
the lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
I supposed it necessary to send brother Epaphreditus unto you, my
companion in labour and fellowsoldier, your Apostle, and my minister at
my needs. For he longed after you, and was full of heaviness, because
that ye had heard say that he should be sick, and no doubt he was sick,
and that nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him: not on him only,
but on me also, lest I should have had sorrow upon sorrow.
I sent him therefore the diligentlier, that when ye should see him, ye
might rejoice again, and I might be the less sorrowful. Receive him
therefore in the lord with all gladness, and make much of such: because
that for the work of Christ he went so far, that he was nigh unto
death, and regarded not his life, to fulfil that service which was
lacking on your part toward me.
The .iij. Chapter.
Moreover brethren mine, rejoice in the lord. It grieveth me not to
write the very same things unto you. For to you it is a sure thing.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers. Beware of dissension: For we
are circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ
Iesu, and have no confidence in the flesh: though I have whereof I
might rejoice in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath
whereof he might trust in the flesh: much more I: circumcised the
eighth day, of the kindred of Israhell, of the tribe of Benjamin an
Hebrew born of the Hebrews: as concerning the law, a Pharisee, and as
concerning ferventness I persecuted the congregation, and as touching
the righteousness which is in the law I was such a one as no man could
complain on.
But the things that were winning unto me I counted loss for Christe's
sake. Yee I think all things but loss for that excellent knowledge's
sake of Christ Iesu my lord. For whom I have counted all thing loss,
and do judge them but dung, that I might win Christ, and might be found
in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law: But that
which springeth of the faith which is in Christ. I mean the
righteousness which cometh of God thorow faith in knowing him, and the
virtue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his passions, that I
might be conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain
unto the resurrection from death.
Not as though I had all ready received it, either were all ready
perfect: but I follow, if that I may comprehend that, wherein I am
comprehended of Christ Iesu. Brethren I count not myself that I have
gotten it: but one thing I say: I forget that which is behind me, and
stretch myself unto that which is before me and press unto that mark
appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of God in Christ
Iesu. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus wise minded: and
if ye be other wise minded, I pray God open even this unto you.
Nevertheless in that whereunto we are come, let us proceed by one rule,
that we may be of one accord.
Brethren be followers of me, and look on them which walk even so, as
ye have us for an ensample. For many walk (of whom I have told you
often, and now tell you weeping) that they are the enemies of the
cross of Christ, whose end is damnation, whose God is their belly and
glory to their shame, which are worldly minded. But our conversation
is in heaven, from whence we look for the saviour Iesus Christ, which
shall change into another fashion our vile bodies, that they may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working
whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
The .iiij. Chapter.
Herefore brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so
continue beloved in the lord. I pray Euodias, and beseech Sintiches
that they be of one accord in the lord. Yee and I beseech thee faithful
yokefellow, help the women which laboured with me in the gospell, and
with Clement also, and with other my labourfellows, whose names are in
the book of life. Rejoice in the lord alway, and again I say rejoice.
Let your softness be known unto all men. The lord is even at hand. Be
not carefull: but in all things shew your petition unto God in prayer
and supplication with giving of thanks. And the peace of God which
passeth all understanding keep your hearts, and minds in Christ Iesu.
Furthermore brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things pertain to love, whatsoever things are of honest
report, if there be any virtuous thing, if there be any laudable thing,
those same have ye in your mind, which ye have both learned and
received, heard and also seen in me: those things do, and the God of
peace shall be with you. I rejoice in the lord greatly, that now at the
last ye are revived, and are waxed mindfull of me again in that wherein
ye were also mindfull, but ye lacked opportunity. I speak not because
of necessity. For I have learned in whatsoever estate I am, therewith
to be content. I can both cast down myself, I can also exceed.
Everywhere, and in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to
be hungry: to have plenty, and to suffer need. I can do all things
thorow the help of Christ, which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye
have well done, that ye bare part with me in my tribulation.
Ye of Philippos know that in the beginning of the gospell, when I
departed from Macedonia, no congregation bare part with me as
concerning giving and receiving but ye only. For when I was in
Thessalonica, ye sent once, and afterward again, unto my needs: not
that I desire gifts: but I desire abundant fruit on your part. I
received all, and have plenty. I was even filled after that I had
received of Epaphroditus, that which came from you, an odor that
smelleth sweet, a sacrifice accepted and pleasant to God. My God fulfil
all your needs thorow his glorious riches in Iesu Christ.
Unto God and our father be praise for ever more Amen. Salute all the
saints in Christ Iesu. The brethren which are with me greet you. All
the saints salute you: and most of all they which are of the emperors
household. The grace of our lord Iesu Christ be with you all Amen.
Sent from Rome by Epaphroditus.