The Epistle to the Philippians

© 2005 William R. Finck Jr.

For a full audio and written commentary on this epistle see The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians - Audio and Written Bible Commentary or for a simple index: Paul's Epistle to the Philippians - Podcast Index

I1 Paul, and Timotheos, bondmen of Christ Yahshua, to all the saints among the number of Christ Yahshua who are in Philippos, along with the supervisors and ministers: 2 Favor to you, and peace from Yahweh our Father and Prince Yahshua Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every mention of you, 4 always in my every supplication, making supplication with joy on behalf of you all 5 for your partnership in the good message; from the first day until now 6 being persuaded of this very thing: that he who begins a good work among you will discharge it until the day of Christ Yahshua. 7 Just as it is righteous for me to think this concerning all of you, because for you to have me in heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the good message, you are all joint-partakers of my favor. 8 For my witness is Yahweh, that I yearn for you all in the affections of Christ Yahshua. 9 And this I pray, that your love would still more and more abound in knowledge and in all understanding, 10 for you to examine those things that differ, in order that you would be pure and not stumbling unto the day of Christ, 11 being filled with fruit of righteousness which is through Yahshua Christ, for the honor and praise of Yahweh.

12 Now I wish you to know, brethren, that those things concerning me have gone still more to the advancement of the good message, 13 so that my bonds in Christ have become manifest to the whole Praetorium and to all the rest; 14 and most of the brethren among the number of the Prince, trusting in my bonds, venture more exceedingly to speak the word of Yahweh fearlessly. 15 Some indeed even because of envy and strife, but some also by approval are proclaiming the Christ. 16 Surely these out of love, knowing that I am set for a defense of the good message, 17 but those out of contention are declaring the Christ not purely, supposing to stir up tribulation in my bonds. 18 What then? That in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is declared, and in this I rejoice. And surely I will rejoice. 19 For I know that this for me will result in preservation, through your supplication and the additional fortune of the Spirit of Yahshua Christ 20 in accordance with my eager expectation and hope, seeing that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all freespokenness - as always - even now Christ shall be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For me to live anointed and to die is gain. 22 But if to live in flesh, this for me a fruit of labor, then I know not which I prefer. 23 I am afflicted by the two, having the desire for which to depart, and to be with Christ, very much the better; 24 but to continue in the flesh is of more necessity for your sake. 25 And persuaded of this, I know that I shall abide and remain with you all for your advancement and joy of the faith 26 that your boast may be abundant in Christ Yahshua in respect of me, because of my presence again with you. 27 Only conduct yourselves worthily of the good message of the Anointed, in order that whether coming and seeing you, or being away, I hear of the things concerning you, that you stand in one spirit, in one soul together striving in the faith of the good message. 28 And in nothing being frightened by the opposition, which to them is an indication of destruction, but of your preservation, and this from Yahweh. 29 Because to you it has been offered concerning Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also in behalf of Him to suffer, 30 having that same struggle like you have seen with me, and now you hear of with me.

II1 If then there is any encouragement among the Anointed, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions, 2 you would fulfill my joy: that you would be like-minded, having the same love, in unity having one understanding, 3 nothing according to contention, nothing according to empty pride, but with humility esteeming one another above yourselves. 4 Each not considering the things of yourselves, but each also the things of each of the others. 5 You must understand that this is in you which is also in Christ Yahshua, 6 who being in the form of Yahweh, regarded it not robbery, that to be equal to Yahweh 7 yet He made Himself of no account, taking a bondman’s form, coming in the likeness of men. And in figure being found as a man, 8 He humbled Himself, being obedient even to death, and the death of the cross. 9 On which account Yahweh also exalted Him highly and granted to Him that name which is above every name, 10 that in the name of Yahshua every knee would bow, of those in heavenly places and of those upon the earth and of those beneath the earth, 11 and every tongue would fully acknowledge that Yahshua Christ is Prince, in honor of Yahweh the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not while in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling you achieve your own preservation. 13 For it is Yahweh who is operating in you, both to desire and to work for that approval. 14 Do all things apart from murmuring and disputing, 15 that you would be perfect and with unmixed blood, blameless children of Yahweh in the midst of a race crooked and perverted - among whom you appear as luminaries in the Society, 16 upholding the Word of Life for a boast with me in the day of Christ, that not in vain have I run nor in vain have I labored. 17 But if I also am offered upon the sacrifice and administration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all. 18 And in that same thing you also rejoice, and rejoice with me. 19 Now I have hope in Prince Yahshua, to send Timotheos to you soon, that I also would be of good spirits, knowing the things concerning you. 20 For I have no one else of equal spirit who will genuinely care for the things concerning you. 21 They are all seeking after the things of themselves, not the things of Yahshua Christ. 22 But you know his tried character, that like a child to a father, with me he has slaved for the good message. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I look to the things concerning me. 24 Though I am persuaded in the Prince that also I myself will come soon. 25 Now, I have deemed necessary to send to you Epaphroditos, my brother and colleague and fellow soldier, but your ambassador and administrator of my need, 26 since indeed he was longing after you all, and very troubled because you heard that he was sick, 27 (and he was sick approaching death, but Yahweh had mercy on him, and not him only - but me also, that I would not have grief upon grief), 28 so more earnestly I have sent him, in order that seeing him again, you would rejoice, and I would even more be without grief. 29 Therefore accept him among the number of the Prince with all joy, and hold such a man in honor, 30 because on account of the work of the Anointed, he approached even as far as death, disregarding life, in order that he would supply your deficiency of administration for me.

III1 For what remains, my brethren, rejoice in the Prince. To write these same things to you is not troublesome for me, and assuring for you. 2 Watch for dogs, watch for evil workers, watch for the concision, 3 for we are the circumcision, who in spirit are serving Yahweh, and boasting in Christ Yahshua, and not trusting in flesh. 4 Though I have also trusted in flesh; if anyone else supposes to have trusted in flesh, I more: 5 a circumcision on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. By law: a Pharisee. 6 By zeal: persecuting the assembly. By righteousness that is in law: being blameless. 7 The things that were gain to me, these I have regarded as loss on account of the Anointed. 8 But then indeed I also regard all things to be loss on account of the prevailing of the knowledge of Christ Yahshua my Prince, on account of whom I have suffered loss of all things - and regard them refuse, that I would gain Christ 9 and would be found in Him, not having my righteousness that is from law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, that righteousness of Yahweh by the faith, 10 to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead. 12 Not that I have already received, or I am already perfected, but I pursue if also I may obtain, on the condition that I also have been obtained by Christ Yahshua.

13 Brethren, I myself do not reckon to have obtained but one thing: forgetting the things past and reaching out to the things ahead. 14 In quest of a goal I give chase for the prize of the calling of Yahweh above, in Christ Yahshua. 15 Therefore as many as are perfect should understand this, and if you understand any differently, this also Yahweh will reveal to you. 16 But for that which we have attained, to walk in that same thing. 17 You should together become imitators of me, brethren, and consider those walking in this manner just as you have us for an example. 18 Many are walking, whom I often told you of, and now even weeping I speak of those enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 of whom the end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and expectation in their disgrace, those minding the things of the earth. 20 Of us the government in the heavens exists, from which also we are anxiously expecting a savior: Prince Yahshua Christ, 21 who will change the form of our body of humiliation, conformed to the body of His honor, in accordance with the operation of which He is able even to subject all things to Himself.

IV1 Therefore, my beloved and longed for brethren, my joy and crown, in this manner you stand fast in the Prince, beloved. 2 I summon Euodia, and I summon Suntucha, to be of the same mind in the Prince. 3 Yea, I ask you also, genuine yoke-fellow, assist them, who with me contended together in the good message, and with Klementos and the rest of my colleagues, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4 Rejoice in the Prince at all times. Again I will say, rejoice. 5 Your moderation must be known to all men. The Prince is near. 6 Be anxious about nothing, but in everything in prayer and in supplication with thanksgiving you must make your requests known to Yahweh, 7 and the peace of Yahweh, which exceeds all understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Yahshua.

8 For what remains, brethren, whatever is true, whatever revered, whatever just, whatever undefiled, whatever dear, whatever auspicious, if any virtue and if any praise, take these things into account, 9 which things you also have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things you do, and Yahweh shall be of peace with you. 10 Now I have rejoiced greatly in the Prince, that some time before this you had rejuvenated your thinking concerning me, although even as you had been thinking, yet you had lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak concerning want, for I have learned that in whatever circumstance I am, to be self-sufficient. 12 And I know abasement, and I know abundance. I have been initiated in everything and in all things, both to be full and to hunger, both to have abundance and to want. 13 For all things I am strong in that which empowers me. 14 Now you have done well having fellowship together in my tribulation. 15 But you, Philippesians, also know that in the beginning of the good message, when I had come out from Makedonia, not one assembly had shared with me one thought of giving and receiving except you only, 16 seeing that also in Thessalonika both once, then twice, you sent for my necessity. 17 Not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit that is abounding to your account. 18 Now I abstain from all things, yet I abound. I am full, receiving from Epaphroditos the things from you, an essence of sweet odor, an acceptable sacrifice well-pleasing to Yahweh. 19 Now my God will fill all of your necessities in accordance with His riches in honor in Christ Yahshua, 20 and to our God and Father is honor for eternity. Truly.

21 Greet every saint among the number of Christ Yahshua. The brethren with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, and most of all, those of the household of Caesar. 23 The favor of our Prince Yahshua Christ is with your Spirits. Truly.