1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21. that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard1:13 Or whole palace and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.1:19 Or vindication; or salvation 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,1:27 Or in one spirit striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Nkyea
1Nwoma yi firi Paulo ne Timoteo a wɔyɛ Kristo Yesu nkoa nkyɛn,
Yɛde kɔma Yesu Kristo mu ahotefoɔ ne ahwɛfoɔ ne asomafoɔ a wɔwɔ Filipi no nyinaa:
2Adom ne asomdwoeɛ a ɛfiri yɛn Agya Onyankopɔn ne Awurade Yesu Kristo nka mo.
Paulo Mpaeɛbɔ
3Ɛberɛ biara a mekae mo no, meda Onyankopɔn ase. 4Saa ara nso na da biara mede anigyeɛ bɔ mpaeɛ ma mo, 5ɛfiri sɛ, ɛfiri da a ɛdi ɛkan de bɛsi sɛsɛɛ no, moaboa me wɔ asɛmpaka no adwumayɛ mu. 6Yei enti, megye di yie sɛ, Onyankopɔn a ɔhyɛɛ aseɛ yɛɛ saa adwuma pa yi wɔ mo mu no bɛkɔ so de akɔsi da a Yesu Kristo bɛba no.
7Sɛdeɛ mo ho adwene pa wɔ me tirim no enti, sɛ daa mekae mo a, na ne kwan so ara ne no. Ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ meda mpɔkyerɛ mu, anaasɛ mede me ho na mereka Asɛmpa no a, mo nyinaa ne me nya Onyankopɔn adom. 8Onyankopɔn ankasa di me adanseɛ sɛ mʼani agyina mo wɔ Yesu Kristo ɔdɔ mu.
9Me mpaeɛ a mebɔ ma mo ne sɛ, ɔdɔ a mode dodɔ mo ho mo ho no mu bɛyɛ den, na mobɛnyini wɔ nimdeɛ ne nteaseɛ mu, 10sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a mobɛhunu deɛ ɛyɛ na da a Kristo bɛba no, moayɛ kronn a obi nka asɛm bi ntia mo. 11Nneɛma pa a Yesu Kristo no nko bɛtumi de ama mo no bɛhyɛ mo abrabɔ ma de ahyɛ Onyankopɔn animuonyam, akamfo no.
12Anuanom, mepɛ sɛ mote aseɛ sɛ nneɛma a aba me so nyinaa aboa ama Asɛmpa no atrɛ. 13Ɛno enti, awɛmfoɔ a wɔwɔ ahemfie ha ne afoforɔ a wɔka wɔn ho no nyinaa nim sɛ, ɛsiane sɛ meyɛ Kristo ɔsomfoɔ no enti na meda afiase. 14Afiase a meda no ahyɛ anuanom bebree nkuran wɔ Awurade mu ma wɔtumi ka Onyankopɔn asɛm no wɔ akokoɔduru so a wɔnsuro hwee.
15Ɛyɛ nokorɛ sɛ wɔn mu binom nam nitan ne ntɔkwapɛ so ka Kristo ho asɛm foforɔ, na afoforɔ nso de adwene pa na ɛka ne ho asɛm. 16Wɔn a wɔde adwene pa ka asɛm no firi ɔdɔ mu na ɛka, ɛfiri sɛ, wɔnim sɛ Onyankopɔn asɛm enti na meda afiase. 17Afoforɔ a wɔnam nitan ne ntɔkwapɛ so ka asɛm no nso dwene sɛ wɔnam saa kwan yi so bɛma mʼahohiahia aboro so wɔ mʼafiase nna yi mu. 18Yei enti, na ayɛ ɛdeɛn? Ɛyɛ me anigyesɛm. Deɛ ɛhia ara ne sɛ, sɛ wɔfiri adwene pa anaa adwemmɔne mu no, Kristo ho asɛm ara na wɔka.
Na yei enti mʼani gye na mɛkɔ so ama mʼani agye, 19ɛfiri sɛ, menim sɛ mo mpaeɛbɔ ne adom a ɛfiri Yesu Kristo Honhom mmoa mu no enti, wɔbɛgyaa me. 20Mepɛ ne mʼanidasoɔ titire ne sɛ, mmerɛ nyinaa mede nsi ne anem bɛyɛ mʼadwuma; mpo saa ɛberɛ yi, sɛ mete ase o, sɛ mewu o, mede me onipadua nyinaa bɛhyɛ Kristo animuonyam. 21Me deɛ, Kristo enti na mete ase; na mpo, owuo yɛ me mfasoɔ. 22Nanso sɛ mete ase a, mɛtumi ayɛ adwuma a ɛho wɔ mfasoɔ ama Kristo. Ɛno enti, menhunu mu deɛ memfa, asetena anaasɛ owuo. 23Yei adi me aniani. Pɛ na mepɛ sɛ metu firi ewiase ne Kristo kɔtena, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛno mmom na ɛyɛ; 24nanso mo enti, sɛ mete ase nso a, anka ɛyɛ. 25Menim sɛ me ho hia wɔ asase yi so ha; ɛno enti, megye di sɛ mɛtena ha kakra na maboa mo ama moanyini wɔ gyidie mu anya anigyeɛ. 26Mʼasetena yi bɛma mo ani agye na sɛ mesane bɛsra mo bio a, mobɛnya biribi agyina so ahyɛ Kristo animuonyam sɛ ɔbɔɔ me ho ban.
27Seesei, adeɛ a ɛho hia me ne sɛ, biribiara a ɛbɛto mo no, momma mo abrabɔ mfata Kristo Asɛmpa no nko ara, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, sɛ yɛhyia o, sɛ yɛanhyia o, mɛte mo ho asɛm pa sɛ mogyina pintinn na mokura botaeɛ korɔ ne gyidie korɔ wɔ Asɛmpa no ho. 28Monnsuro mo atamfoɔ. Biribiara a mobɛyɛ no, momfa akokoɔduru nnyina pintinn. Na yei bɛdi adanseɛ sɛ wɔbɛdi nkoguo na moadi nkonim, ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn ka mo ho. 29Na mo deɛ, ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔadom mo sɛ monni Kristo akyi nko, na mmom, sɛ mobɛhunu amane nso. 30Afei mobɛtumi ne me abom ako ɔko a mereko no. Saa ɔko yi na ɛberɛ a atwam no, mekoeɛ no, na megu so reko sɛdeɛ mote no no.
