A New Translation of Paul’s Letter to the Churches of The

Philippians

Based on the Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 with references to the Papyrus fragments of the Chester Beatty collections, c. 3^rd Century A.D. and the Sinaitic Manuscript of the 4^th Century.

Some notes on this translation:

Thou vs. You: Many people today have a hard time understanding the Elizabethan usage of thou, thee, thy, etc. For this reason, we have chosen to avoid this archaic language. At the same time, we need to be able to fulfill the purpose of those words, which was to distinguish between a singular you and a plural you. Following the example of other translations, we have used all capital letters to indicate plural (more than one person addressed), and small letters to indicate singular (one person addressed).

Words in italics: Following the example of other translations, we have used italics for words that are not in the original text, but which are essential to the sense of the original when translated into English. Unlike other translations, however, we have NOT added words which alter the meaning of the original.

Words in (parentheses): These are not part of the biblical text, but are notes of explanation from the translator.

Philippians 1

1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace to YOU and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God on every mention of YOU,

4 always in every supplication of mine for all of YOU making supplication with joy,

5 for YOUR fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in YOU will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 and it is righteous for me to be thinking this about all of YOU, because YOU have me in YOUR heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and establishing of the gospel, all of YOU are partakers of grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I am longing for all of YOU in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

9 And this I pray, that YOUR love may abound yet more and more in true knowledge and all discernment;

10 so that YOU may put to the test (literally, “be making proof of”) the things that are different; that YOU may be sincere and without offence to the day of Christ;

11 having been filled with fruit of righteousness, which is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 But I would like YOU to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have turned out instead into the furtherance of the gospel;

13 so that my bonds became manifest in Christ among the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest;

14 and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God fearlessly.

15 Some indeed preach even through envy and strife; and some also through good will are preaching Christ:

16 the one preaches out of love, having known that I am set here for the defense of the gospel;

17 but some proclaim Christ out of contentiousness, not purely, supposing to raise up tribulation for me in my bonds.

18 What for? Except that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this, I am rejoicing, and I will continue to rejoice.

19 For I have known that for me this will result in salvation, through YOUR supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 according to my eager expectation and hope, that in nothing will I be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, now also 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 to live in the flesh, this to me is fruit from my work, and what I will choose, I am not making known.

23 But I am being held between the two, having the desire to be released and be together with Christ; for it is very much better:

24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for YOU.

25 And having been confident of this, I have known that I shall remain, and shall remain with YOU all, for YOUR progress and joy in the faith;

26 that YOUR boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with YOU again.

27 Only behave worthily of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I have come and seen YOU or been absent, I may hear of about YOU, that YOU are standing in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 and being frightened in nothing by the adversaries: which is evidence of destruction for them, but of YOUR salvation, and this is from God;

29 because to YOU it was given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:

30 having the very same struggle which YOU saw in me, and now are hearing in me.

Philippians 2

1 If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

2 make my joy full, that YOU be of the same mind, having the same love, together in soul, of one mind;

3 doing nothing through contentiousness nor through egotism, but in lowliness of mind considering others better than selves;

4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider it stealing (literally “snatching”) to be equal to God,

7 but emptied himself, having taken the form of a slave, having come to be in the likeness of men;

8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient until death, yes, the death of the cross.

9 Through which also God highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those underground,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as YOU 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 works in YOU both the will and the work, for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and arguments:

15 that YOU may become blameless and pure (literally “unblended,” that is, not mixed with anything that isn’t of God), unblemished children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom YOU are shining as lights in the world,

16 holding on to the word of life; that I may boast in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

17 But if I am also offered upon the sacrifice and service of YOUR faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with YOU all:

18 but in just the same way YOU also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to YOU, that I also may be of good cheer, when I have known about YOUR situation.

20 For I have no one likeminded to him, who will genuinely care about YOUR situation.

21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Christ Jesus.

22 But YOU know the proof of him, that like a child with a father, he served with me in the gospel.

23 Him therefore I am hoping to send, just as soon as I see how things will go with me:

24 but I have been confident in the Lord that I also will come shortly.

25 But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and YOUR apostle and minister to my need;

26 since he longed to see YOU all, and was depressed, because YOU heard that he was sick:

27 for indeed he was sick near death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sadness upon sadness.

28 I have sent him therefore more quickly, that, having seen him again, YOU might rejoice, and I may be less sad.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such ones in honor:

30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to fill YOUR deficit of service toward me. (That is, to provide the service they could not because they were so far away)

Philippians 3

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To be writing the same things to you, to me indeed is not troublesome, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the cutting (refers to those who would try to force circumcision on the Gentiles):

3 for we are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God, and boasting in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in flesh:

4 though I could have confidence in the flesh: if any other thinks to have confidence in the flesh, I could more:

5 circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; according to the law, a Pharisee;

6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as concerning the righteousness which is in the law, having come to be blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, these have I considered loss for Christ.

8 But indeed, therefore I in fact consider all things to be loss for the superiority of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and consider them pieces of trash, that I might gain Christ,

9 and be found in him, not having my righteousness from the law, but through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God by faith:

10 from knowing him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;

11 if somehow I might attain to the first resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already received, or have already been perfected: but I am pursuing, if so be that I might get hold, as also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not consider myself to have taken hold yet: but one thing, indeed forgetting the things which are behind, stretching myself out toward the things before,

14 I pursue the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be of this mind. And if in anything YOU are otherwise minded, this also will God reveal to YOU;

16 anyway, to the extent we have attained, by that same line let us walk.

17 Brethren, become imitators together of me, and look at those who walk according as YOU have our example.

18 For many walk, of whom I told YOU often, and now also tell YOU weeping, who 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 citizenship is in heaven; from where we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 who will refashion our body of lowliness, conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is also able to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 4

1 So then, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord, beloved.

2 I encourage Euodia, and I encourage Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 Yes, I beseech you also, true yokefellow, hold yourself with these women, who labored  together with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.

5 Let YOUR reasonableness be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Do not be anxious over anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let YOUR requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard YOUR hearts and YOUR minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are important (literally “serious”), whatever things are righteous, whatever things are pure, whatever things are loveable, whatever things are well-spoken of, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.

9 Also the things which YOU learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things: and the God of peace will be with YOU.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last YOU have renewed your thought for me; although YOU were thinking, but YOU were without opportunity.

11 Not that I am speaking about want: for I have learned to be self-sufficient in whatever state I am.

12 And I have known how to be impoverished (literally “made lowly”), I have known also how to be in abundance: in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both of how to be filled and to be hungry, of how both to abound and to be in want.

13 I have strength for all things in him who empowers me.

14 Besides, YOU did well having shared with me in tribulation.

15 And YOU YOURSELVES have also known, YOU Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except YOU alone;

16 for also in Thessalonica YOU sent once and again to my need.

17 Not that I am seeking for the gift; but I am seeking for the fruit to increase to YOUR account.

18 But I have all things, and abound: I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things from YOU, an odor of a sweet smelling sacrifice, acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

19 And my God will fill YOUR every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

20 Now to our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me greet YOU.

22 All the saints greet YOU, especially they that are of Caesar's household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with YOUR spirit.