THE
TESTIMONY
OF
PAUL, THE DELEGATE,
TO THEM
PHILIPPIANS.
[WRITTEN FROM ROME, A.D. 65.]
I.—PAUL (Latin:Paulos; little), and Timotheos, slaves of Yeshua The Anointed, to all the holy ones in The Anointed Yeshua, who are in Philippi, with the overseers and servants: Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Yeshua The Anointed.
3.–I thank my God upon every remembrance of you; always in all my prayers for you all, giving thanks with joy for your participation in The Good News, from the first day until now: having this very confidence, that he who has begun a good work among you, will continue to complete it until the day of Yeshua The Anointed. It is right for me to think this concerning you all, because I have you in my heart, both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of The Good News. You are all partakers of favor with me.
8 For God is my witness, how intensely I yearn after you all, with the tender affections (lit: spleen) of Yeshua The Anointed. And this I pray, that your love (agape) may yet abound more and more, with knowledge and with all discernment; that you may test the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and blameless, until the day of The Anointed, filled with the fruit of righteousness, which is through Yeshua The Anointed, to the glory and praise of God.
12.–Now I wish you to know, brethren, that the things which have happened to me, have turned out for the advancement of The Good News. So that my bonds are well known for the cause of The Anointed, through the whole camp of pretorium (that is the governor’s hall) guard, and in all the other places. 14 And most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord and made confident by my bonds, have become much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some, preach The Anointed even from envy and strife; and some also from good will. The former preach The Anointed out of selfish ambition, and not sincerely; thinking to add affliction to my bonds: the latter, do so from good will; knowing that I am set for the defense of The Good News.
18 What then? Still in every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, The Anointed is preached; even in this I do rejoice; yes, and will rejoice: for I know that this will turn out to be deliverance for me, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Yeshua The Anointed;–that according to my eager expectation and hope, in nothing shall I be ashamed; but that with all boldness, as at all times, so now also, The Anointed will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me to live is The Anointed, and to die is gain. But whether to live in the flesh would be to my advantage; or what to choose, I do not know: for I am in a hard pressed between the two, having a strong desire to depart and be with The Anointed, which is by far the better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. And being firmly persuaded of this, I know that I shall live and abide some time with you all, for the advancement of the joy of your faith; and that your rejoicing concerning me in The Anointed Yeshua may super abound, through my coming again to you.
27 Only behave in a manner worthy of The Good News of The Anointed; that whether I shall come and see you, or, being absent, I shall hear of you, that you are standing firm in one mind, with one spirit striving together for the faith of The Good News; and not terrified in any thing by your adversaries: which is to them a demonstration of destruction; but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it is graciously given, on the behalf of The Anointed, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the very same conflict, which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Chapter 2
II.–Therefore, if there is any encouragement in The Anointed; if any comfort of love (agape); if any fellowship of the Spirit; if any tender mercy (lit:spleen, or for us emotions) and compassion, fulfill my joy, that you be like-minded; having the very same love (agape), being of one mind, intent on the one purpose.
3 Let nothing be done through a partisan and factious spirit, or empty conceit: but, in humbleness of mind, consider each other better than yourselves: not aiming at his own interests, but at the interests of the others. Now let this attitude be in you, which was also in The Anointed Yeshua; who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with divine majesty a thing to be grasped: but emptied himself, taking upon him the form of a slave, being made in the likeness of men: and, being found in the condition of a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. And for this reason, God has exceedingly exalted him, and bestowed on him a name, which is above every name: that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow; of those in heaven, and upon the earth, and under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua The Anointed is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, since you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence; work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling: for it is God who works in you, both to will and to perform, on account of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing; that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God, unblemished, in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of The Anointed, that I have not run for nothing, nor have labored for nothing.
17.–Yes, and even if I am made a drink-offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I have joy and rejoice with you all. And for the same cause have joy and rejoice with me.
19 Now I hope in the Lord Yeshua to send Timotheos to you soon, that I also may be of good courage, when I know your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit, who will sincerely take care of you: for they all seek their own interests and not the things of Yeshua The Anointed. But you know his proven worth, that, as a son with a father, so he has served with me in The Good News. Now, I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I shall see how it will go with me. However, I am fully persuaded by the Lord, that I myself shall soon come.
25 Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-laborer, and fellow-soldier; and your delegate, and a servant to my needs. For he longed after you all, and was exceedingly grieved, because you had heard that he had been sick. And, he was sick near to death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I have sent him all the more speedily, that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be more free from sorrow. Receive him, therefore, in the Lord, with all joy, and have great respect for such persons ; because for the work of The Anointed, he drew near to death, jeopardizing his life, that he might fully supply your service towards me.
Chapter 3
III.–Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, for me, is not irksome, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation; for we are the circumcision who worship God in spirit, who glory in The Anointed Yeshua, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though, I have a grounds for confidence in the flesh, if any other thinks he has grounds for confidence;–I have more.–Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Ysrael, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; with respect to the law, a Pharisee; with respect to zeal, persecuting the church; with respect to a righteousness by law, I was blameless.
7 But the things which were gain to me, those I have counted as loss for The Anointed. Yes, on this account also, I count all things loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of The Anointed Yeshua my Lord; (for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do account them mere rubbish (Gk:skubalon what is thrown to the dogs), that I may gain The Anointed, and be found in him, not having my righteousness by law, but that which is through the faith of The Anointed,–the righteousness which is from God on account of this faith;–that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death; if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already laid hold, or have already become complete; but I press on, that I may lay hold on that, for which also I was laid hold on by The Anointed Yeshua. Brethren, I do not count myself to have laid hold of the prize; but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind, and stretching forth towards the things before, I press on toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God by The Anointed Yeshua.
15 Let us, then, as many as would be complete, be so minded; and if in anything you think differently, God will reveal even this to you. Moreover, let us walk in what we have attained. Brethren, be imitators of me, and consider attentively those who walk so, as you have us for an example. (For I have often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that many walk as the enemies of the cross of The Anointed; whose end is destruction, whose God is their appetites, whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.)
20 But our commonwealth (Gk:politeuma ; a community) is in heaven, from where we patiently expect the Savior, the Lord Yeshua The Anointed; who will transform our humbled body into a form like his glorious body, according to the energy of his power, even to subordinate all things to himself.
Chapter 4
IV.–Therefore, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown (Gk:stephanos wreathe), stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I implore Euodia, and I implore Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Now, I ask you also, my faithful colleagues (lit:yoke-fellow), to assist those women who have labored with me in The Good News, with Clement, and my other fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: I say again, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men: the Lord is near. Be anxious about nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through The Anointed Yeshua.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if anything worthy of praise, attentively ponder these things. The things which you have learned, and received, and heard, and seen with me, practice; and the God of peace will be with you.
10 But I rejoice greatly in the Lord, that now at length you have made your care of me to flourish again; for whom, you were concerned, but you did not have an opportunity. Not that I speak from want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know what it is to be low; I know what it is to super abound, and everywhere, and by all means, I am silently taught what it is to be full, and to be hungry; to abound, and to suffer want.
13 I can do all things, through him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well in sympathizing with my affliction. Moreover, you Philippians also know, that in the beginning of my labors in The Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no congregation participated with me, by giving and receiving but you only. Also, when in Thessalonica, you sent once; yes, twice, to relieve my need:–not that I crave the gift; but I crave the fruit, which abounds to your account.
18 But I have received all, and abound; I have been fully supplied, having received by Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God will fully supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory, through The Anointed Yeshua. Now to God, even our Father, be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in The Anointed Yeshua. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the holy ones greet you, but especially those of Caesar’s (Kaisar; of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor) household. The favor of our Lord Yeshua The Anointed be with you all. Amen.