Philippians 1 (NMV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, along with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the good news from the first day until now.
6 I am confident of this: that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart. You are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news.
8 For God is my witness how deeply I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And I pray this: that your love would keep growing more and more in knowledge and in all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the good news,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ.
14 Most of the brothers and sisters, confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the good news.
17 The others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19 because I know that this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
20 It is my eager expectation and confident hope that I will not be ashamed in anything, but that now, as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 Now if I continue living in the body, this will mean fruitful work for me. Yet I don't know which I should choose.
23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better,
24 but to remain in the body is more necessary for your sake.
25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that because of me your confidence in Christ Jesus may overflow when I come to you again.
27 Just one thing: live your lives in a manner worthy of the good news of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the good news,
28 not being intimidated in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and this is from God.
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.