3 I thank my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of {Christ Jesus};^c 7 Just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you being partakers with me of grace.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of {Christ Jesus}.^d 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the {fruit}^e of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word [[of God]]^f without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and strife, but others from goodwill. 16 Some indeed preach Christ from love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel, 17 but others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to {stir up}^g trouble for me in my imprisonment.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death.

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I do not know.

23 {But}^h I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Yet to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

25 And being confident of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus by my coming to you again.

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel. 28 And in no way frightened by your opponents, which is [[indeed]]ⁱ a sign of destruction for them, but {of your}^j salvation, and this 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 having the same struggle which you {saw}^k in me and now hear is in me.