(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
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Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
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Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)
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I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you,
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always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy,
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because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now.
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I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus.
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So then, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, and because, in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.
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For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you.
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And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding,
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so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ:
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filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel
(James 1:2–12)
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Now, brothers, I want you to know that the things concerning me happened for the advancement of the Gospel,
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in such a way that my chains have become manifest in Christ in every place of judgment and in all other such places.
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And many from among the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident through my chains, are now much bolder in speaking the Word of God without fear.
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Certainly, some do so even because of envy and contention; and others, too, do so because of a good will to preach Christ.
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Some act out of charity, knowing that I have been appointed for the defense of the Gospel.
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But others, out of contention, announce Christ insincerely, claiming that their difficulties lift them up to my chains.
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But what does it matter? As long as, by every means, whether under pretext or in truthfulness, Christ is announced. And about this, I rejoice, and moreover, I will continue to rejoice.(a)
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For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
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by means of my own expectation and hope. For in nothing shall I be confounded. Instead, with all confidence, now just as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
To Live Is Christ
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For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose.(b)
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For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,
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but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake.
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And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and that I shall continue to remain with all of you, for your advancement and for your joy in the faith,
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so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again.
Worthy of the Gospel
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Only let your behavior be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I return and see you, or whether, being absent, I hear about you, still you may stand firm with one spirit, with one mind, laboring together for the faith of the Gospel.
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And in nothing be terrified by the adversaries. For what is to them an occasion of perdition, is to you an occasion of salvation, and this is from God.
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For this has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him,
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engaging in the same struggle, of a kind which you also have seen in me, and which you now have heard from me.
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