Paul's Letter to the Philippians

A letter to be read as a letter.

This version presents Paul's letter to the Philippians without chapters, verses or editorial subtitles.

The spaces between the passages do not create new divisions. They only let the reading breathe, allowing each small movement of thought to be understood before moving on.

Not dividing in order to explain. Only making room to understand.

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to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

To you, grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you.

In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of the partnership you have given to the gospel, from the first day until now.

I am convinced that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right that I feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart, because, whether in the chains that bind me, or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share with me in the grace of God.

God is my witness of how I long for all of you, with the deep affection of Christ Jesus.

This is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all perception, so that you may discern what is best, in order to be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness, fruit that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has, on the contrary, served to advance the gospel.

As a result, it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in prison for Christ.

And most of the brothers, motivated in the Lord by my imprisonment, are proclaiming the word with greater determination and fearlessness.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others do it out of goodwill.

These do it out of love, knowing that I am here for the defense of the gospel.

Those preach Christ out of selfish ambition, without sincerity, thinking they can cause me suffering while I am in prison.

But what does it matter?

What matters is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is being preached, and because of this I rejoice.

Indeed, I will continue to rejoice, for I know that what has happened to me will result in my deliverance, thanks to your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

I eagerly wait and hope that I will in no way be ashamed.

On the contrary, with all the determination I have always had, now too Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death;

because for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I continue living in the body, I will have fruit from my labor. And I no longer know what to choose!

I am pressed from both sides: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better; yet, it is more necessary, because of you, that I remain in the body.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that, through my presence, your exultation in Christ Jesus may overflow once more because of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves as citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you, or only hear about you in my absence, I may know that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel, without in any way being frightened by those who oppose you.

For them this is a sign of destruction, but for you, of salvation, and that from God;

for to you it has been granted the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but also of suffering for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw me face and now hear that I still face.

If because we are in Christ we have any motivation, any encouragement of love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any deep affection and compassion, complete my joy, having the same way of thinking, the same love, one spirit and one attitude.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly consider others superior to yourselves.

Let each one look out, not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, although being God, did not consider that being equal with God was something to be held on to;

but emptied himself, becoming a servant, becoming like men.

And, being found in human form, he humbled himself and was obedient to death, even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest position and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, put into action your salvation with fear and trembling,

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do, according to his good pleasure.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become pure and blameless, children of God without fault in the midst of a corrupt and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe, holding firmly to the word of life.

Then, on the day of Christ I will be proud that I did not run or labor in vain.

Yet, even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the service that comes from your faith, the sacrifice and the service, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

You too be glad, and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged when I receive news of you.

I have no one like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare, for everyone looks out for their own interests and not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because he served with me in the work of the gospel like a son beside his father.

So, it is he whom I hope to send, as soon as I am certain about my situation; trusting in the Lord that I too will soon be able to come.

Yet, I think it will be necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, the messenger you sent to take care of my needs.

For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard that he was sick.

Indeed, he was sick and almost died.

But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

So I will send him soon, so that, when you see him again, you may be glad and I may have less sorrow.

And I ask that you receive him in the Lord with great joy and honor men like him, because he almost died for the sake of the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!

Writing the same things to you again is not tiresome for me and is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for the “dogs,” watch out for those who do evil, watch out for the false circumcision!

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself had reasons for such confidence.

If anyone thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day of life, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a true Hebrew; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness that is in the Law, blameless.

But what was gain to me, I came to consider as loss, because of Christ.

More than that, I consider everything as loss, compared to the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I lost all things.

I consider them as dung so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness that comes from the Law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith.

I want to know Christ, the power of his resurrection and the participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death so that, somehow, I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this or have been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of it, because for this also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brothers, I do not think that I myself have taken hold of it, but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal, to win the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

All of us who have reached maturity should see things this way, and, if in some respect you think differently, God will make that clear to you also.

Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Brothers, join together in following my example, and observe those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

For, as I have told you many times, and now say again with tears, there are many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and they take pride in what is shameful; they think only of earthly things.

Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, from where we eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

By the power that enables him to bring all things under his control, he will transform our humbled bodies, making them like his glorious body.

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, you who are my joy and my crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, beloved!

What I plead with Euodia and also with Syntyche is that they live in harmony in the Lord.

Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, to help them; for they struggled at my side in the cause of the gospel, with Clement and my other fellow workers. Their names are in the book of life.

Rejoice always in the Lord.

Again I will say: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to everyone.

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petitions, and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is anything excellent or worthy of praise, think about these things.

Put into practice everything you have learned, received, heard and seen in me.

And the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord, because at last you have renewed your concern for me.

Indeed, you were already concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to adapt to any and every circumstance.

I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of living content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, having much, or being in need.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Even so, you did well to share in my troubles.

As you know, Philippians, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you;

for, when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help not only once, but twice, when I was in need.

Not that I am looking for gifts, but for what can be credited to your account.

I have received everything, and what I have is more than enough.

I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

They are a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

My God will supply all your needs, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me send greetings.

All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Amen.

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About this reading

The spaces between the paragraphs are not meant to establish a new division of the letter.

They are only visual pauses, designed to favor a slower and more understandable reading.

The goal is not to interpret the text before the reader, but to remove interference and allow the letter itself to be heard more clearly.