PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

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PAUL

AUL and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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I thank my God on every remembrance of you-always in every supplication of mine for you all, making my supplication with joy-5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day till now being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you, will carry it on till the day of Jesus Christ; as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; both in my bonds and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, I say I have you all in my heart as being joint partakers of my grace. For God is my witness how ardently I love you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

I also pray for this, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding, 10 in order that you may distinguish things that differ, to the end that you may be pure and blameless till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which fruit is by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 But I wish you to know, brethren, that the things which have befallen me have turned out rather to the advancement of the gospel; 13 so that my bonds which are for Christ have become known to be such in all the palace, and in all other

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places; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence in my bonds, are more bold to speak the word without

fear.

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Some, indeed, preach the Christ, because of envy and a contentious disposition, and some because of good-will. 16 These do it from love, because they know that I am set for the defense of the gospel; 17 those preach Christ from a contentious disposition, not sincerely, thinking that they will add affliction to my bonds. 18 What difference does this make? Christ is, nevertheless, preached in every way, whether in pretense or in truth; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice: 19 for I know that this will result in my benefit through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all boldness, as at all times, so even now, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if this, my life in the flesh, would be profitable for my work in the ministry, verily, what I should choose I know not. 23 I am in a strait between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And of this I feel assured, that I shall remain and continue among you all for your advancement and joy in the faith, 26 that your rejoicing in Christ Jesus may become more abundant through me by my being present among you again.

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Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Christ, that, whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel,

and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but, also, to suffer for him, 30 since you have the same conflict that you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

II. If, therefore, there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort arising from love, if any participation of the Spirit, if any affections and mercies, 2 fulfill my joy, that you be of the same mind, having the same love, of one soul, of one mind; 'doing nothing in strife and vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Consider not each one his own gifts, but each one also the gifts of others.

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Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not think it an act of robbery to be equal with God; but he divested himself by taking the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient even to death, the death, indeed, of the cross. 9 For which reason God has highly exalted him, and, also, bestowed on him a name that is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those who are in heaven, and those who are on earth, and those who are under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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12 So, then, my beloved, as you 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, who, of his good pleasure, works in you both the will and the power to perform. 14 Do all things without murmurings and

disputings, 15 that you may be without reproach and harmless, the children of God, without blame, in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as luminaries in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain, nor labor in

vain.

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17 But if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all. 18 In like manner do you also rejoice, and rejoice with me. But I trust in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy shortly to you, that I also may be refreshed by knowing your condition; 20 for I have no one of a kindred spirit who will sincerely care for your condition: 21 for all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his approved character, that as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 Him, therefore, I hope to send immediately, as soon as I know how it may go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

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25 Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother, and companion in labor and fellow-soldier, but your apostle, who also ministered to my want, 26 because he longed after you all, and was much distressed, because you had heard that he was sick. 27 And, indeed, he was sick near to death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. sent him, therefore, the sooner, that, by seeing him again, you might rejoice, and that I might be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him, therefore, in the Lord with all joy, and regard such as worthy of honor; 30 because for the work of the Christ he was near to death, not regarding his life, that he might supply that which was lacking in your service to me.

III. 'Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is to me indeed not burdensome; but you it is safe.

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2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh; though, indeed, I have a ground of confidence in the flesh. If any other thinks he has a ground of confidence in the flesh, I more; circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as it respects law, a Pharisee; as it respects zeal, persecuting the church; as it respects righteousness, which is by law, blameless. But the things which were gain to me, these I counted loss for Christ.

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* Yes, verily, I also count all things to be loss, for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them to be refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness which was by law, but the righteousness which is by faith in 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, by conforming myself to his death, lif, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already attained, or have already reached the goal; but I am pressing forward, that I may lay hold on that for which I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not conclude that I have already laid hold: 14 but one thing I do; forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forward to those that are before, I press toward the goal, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.