(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
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Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and servants:
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and 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 on all the remembrance of you,
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always, in every supplication of mine for you all, with joy making the supplication,
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for your contribution to the good news from the first day until now,
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having been confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will complete [it] until [the] day of Jesus Christ,
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according as it is righteous for me to think this in behalf of you all, because of my having you in the heart, both in my bonds, and [in] the defense and confirmation of the good news, all of you being fellow-partakers with me of grace.
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For God is my witness, how I long for you all with [the] yearnings of Jesus Christ,
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and this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge, and all discernment,
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for your proving the things that differ, that you may be pure and offenseless—to [the] Day of Christ,
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being filled with the fruit of righteousness, that [is] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel
(James 1:2–12)
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And I intend you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me, rather have come to an advancement of the good news,
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so that my bonds have become evident in Christ in the whole Praetorium, and to all the other places,
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and the greater part of the brothers in the LORD, having confidence by my bonds, are more abundantly bold to fearlessly speak the word.
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Certain, indeed, even through envy and contention, and certain also through goodwill, preach the Christ;
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one, indeed, of rivalry proclaims the Christ, not purely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds,
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and the other out of love, having known that I am set for defense of the good news:
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what then? In every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed—and I rejoice in this, indeed, and will rejoice.
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For I have known that this will turn out to me for salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus,
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according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will be ashamed in nothing, and in all freedom, as always, also Christ will now be magnified in my body, whether through life or through 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 if to live in the flesh [is] to me a fruit of work, then what will I choose? I do not know;
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for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,
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and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account,
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and being persuaded of this, I have known that I will remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith,
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that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my coming again to you.
Worthy of the Gospel
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Only conduct yourselves worthily of the good news of the Christ, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news,
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and not be terrified in anything by those opposing, which is indeed a token of destruction to them, and to you of salvation, and that from God;
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because to you it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on behalf of Him;
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having the same conflict, such as you saw in me, and now hear of in me.
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