12 I want you to know, my brothers, that my circumstances have turned out for the better for the progress of the gospel. 13 My imprisonment for the cause of Christ has become known throughout the palace as well as in other places. 14 Seeing my circumstances has caused many of the brethren to speak the word of God boldly. 15 There are some who preach Christ for the wrong reasons, but there are others who preach Him from good will. 16 The first group preach Christ insincerely, intending to add to my affliction. 17 But those preaching out of love know that I am defending the gospel. 18 So Christ has been preached in every way and in this I greatly rejoice, 19 for this shall work for my salvation through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 This will come, for I have earnest expectation, hoping that I will not be shamed, but in my boldness Christ will be exalted whether I live or die. 21 As I see it, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh this will be my labor. I am not sure which I should want. 23 Both directions look good to me, since I would be happy to depart and be with Christ which is the better of the two possibilities, 24 but for your sake I ought to remain alive. 25 Having this in mind, I shall continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith. 26 This way your rejoicing may grow in Christ when I come to you again. 27 Only conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I can come and see you, or not, I will hear that you are standing fast together for the cause of the gospel. 28 Do not be alarmed by any who are working against you. Their opposition is a sign of their coming destruction, but God will provide your salvation. 29 To you it has been granted in behalf of Christ to both believe in Him and to suffer for Him, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear to be happening to me.

Philippians 2 - RWB Paraphrase (30 V)
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1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, or loving comfort, any fellowship of the Spirit, or affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being united in one purpose. 3 Do nothing in selfishness or conceit. Instead maintain humility and regard each other as more important than yourself. 4 While looking out for your own interests, be sure to look to the interests of others. 5 Have the same attitude in yourselves as was in Christ Jesus, 6 who has always existed as God, but set this aside, 7 emptying Himself, taking human form as a servant. 8 As a human He humbled Himself, being obedient resulting in death on the cross. 9 This is why God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name which is above every name. 10 At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, both in heaven, on earth and under the earth. 11 Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, especially while I am not with you, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for God is at work in you to accomplish His good pleasure in your will and your work. 14 Do everything without grumbling, 15 thus proving that you are blameless and innocent, and above reproach as God's children in the midst of a crooked and perversed nation where you will shine as lights to the world, 16 holding fast the word of life that I may rejoice in the day of Christ because I have not labored with you in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am offered as a sacrifice and service of your faith, I will rejoice, 18 and I urge you to rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in the LORD to send Timothy to you before long and I will be comforted to learn how things are with you. 20 I know of no man who thinks more like I do and who will genuinely care for you. 21 Everyone seems to be watching out for his own interests rather than those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you already know of his proven worth, how he has served with me in promoting the gospel like a child working with his father. 23 So I hope to send him very soon so that I may know how things are with you, 24 and I trust that the LORD will also let me come to you before long. 25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send my brother, Epaphroditus, who has been my companion in labor, and your messenger, who has ministered to my needs. 26 He has wanted to see you. You may have heard that he was sick. 27 He almost died but God healed him in mercy to him and to me. 28 So I have sent him knowing that you will rejoice to see him and that I may have less concern for you. 29 Receive him in the LORD with all joy, holding him in high regard, 30 because he came close to death as he worked for Christ to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

Philippians 3 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the LORD. I am happy to write to you and hope that what I write will be a safeguard to you. 2 Beware of dogs, that is, those who work evil, like those who teach circumcision, 3 for we are the true circumcision when we worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Jesus Christ, placing no confidence in the flesh. 4 One might say that I, more than others, have confidence in the flesh. 5 I, an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin. I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am a true Hebrew, according to the Law as a Pharisee. 6 I persecuted the church with zeal and a righteousness based on the Law. 7 What I then thought of as gain I now count as loss for the sake of Jesus Christ. 8 I consider knowing Christ Jesus to be of more value than all those former things I have come to count as rubbish. 9 I want to be found depending only in Him so that I may have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ and not in my own righteousness based on the works of the Law. 10 In this way I may know Him and the fellowship of His resurrection and His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 in order that I may be raised from the dead. 12 I do not think of myself as having already obtained it. I am not perfect, but I press on that I may lay hold of it by faith in Jesus Christ. 13 Brethren, I do not think that I have arrived, but this one thing I do. I forget the past and reach forward to what is yet to come. 14 I press on toward the goal, the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 So if you think you have arrived, have this attitude. God will help you change your mind if need be. 16 We do not want to go back on what we have learned. 17 Brethren, please walk with me following Jesus as I taught you. 18 There are many, of whom I will tell you with weeping, that are enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, and their God is their appetite. Having set their minds on earthly things they glory in their shame. 20 For our conversation is in heaven, from which we eagerly await our Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our vile bodies to be like His glorious body, doing this with the power by which He subjects all things to Himself.

Philippians 4 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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1 Therefore my dearly beloved brethren, you are my joy and my crown. Stand firm in the LORD. 2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony in the LORD. 3 I ask you as fellow workers to help those women who labor with me in the gospel. I ask this for Clement and the other fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life. 4 Always rejoice in the LORD. I say it again, rejoice! 5 Be known for your moderation. The LORD is at hand. 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Pray about everything and when you give thanks, make your petitions known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which is beyond our understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. 8 Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there be any virtue and praise, dwell on these things. 9 Practice those things you have learned from me, and the God of peace will be with you.

10 I rejoiced and was encouraged to learn that you have been concerned for me. 11 I do not speak from a position of want, for I have learned to be content whatever my circumstances. 12 I know how to live with want as well as in prosperity. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Even so, what you shared with me has been a blessing. 15 You Philippians know that when I first preached the gospel to you after I left Macedonia, no church communicated with me except you. 16 Even while I was in Thessalonica you sent a gift to me more than once. 17 I would not seek the gift for itself, but you profit when you give. 18 I am amply supplied in all my needs and your gift, sent by Epaphroditus, was a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice and pleasing to God. 19 My God, in Christ Jesus, shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren here send their greetings to you as well. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those in Caesar's household. 23 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4