## Thanksgiving 

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Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 

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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 

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always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 

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because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. 

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_For I am_ confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 

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For it is only right for me to think this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are fellow partakers with me in this grace. 

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For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 

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And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in full knowledge and all discernment, 

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so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault until the day of Christ, 

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

## The Progress of the Gospel 

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Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 

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so that my chains in Christ have become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 

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and that most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord because of my chains, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 

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Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 

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the latter _do it_ out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 

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the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me affliction in my chains. 

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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, 

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for I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

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according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but _that_ with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be magnified in my body, whether by life or by 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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But if _I am_ to live _on_ in the flesh, this _will mean_ fruitful labor for me; and I do not know what I will choose. 

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But I am hard-pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for _that_ is very much better, 

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yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 

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And convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 

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so that your reason for boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me, through my coming to you again. 

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Only live your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about your circumstances, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind contending together for the faith of the gospel, 

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in no way alarmed by _your_ opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that _too_, from God. 

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For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 

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having the same struggle which you saw in me, and now hear _to be_ in me.