The Philippians were the first among the Macedonians
converted to the faith. They had a great veneration for St.
Paul and supplied his wants when he was a prisoner in Rome,
sending to him by Epaphroditus, by whom he sent this
Epistle; in which he recommends charity, unity and humility
and warns them against false teachers, whom he calls dogs
and enemies of the cross of Christ. He also returns thanks
for their benefactions. It was written about twenty-nine
years after our Lord's Ascension.
Philippians Chapter 1
The apostle's affection for the Philippians.
1:1. Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ: to all
the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the
bishops and deacons.
1:2. Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and
from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3. I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you:
1:4. Always in all my prayers making supplication for you
all with joy:
1:5. For your communication in the gospel of Christ, from
the first day unto now.
1:6. Being confident of this very thing: that he who hath
begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of
Christ Jesus.
1:7. As it is meet for me to think this for you all, for
that I have you in my heart; and that, in my bands and in
the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are
partakers of my joy.
1:8. For God is my witness how I long after you all in the
bowels of Jesus Christ.
1:9. And this I pray: That your charity may more and more
abound in knowledge and in all understanding:
1:10. That you may approve the better things: that you may
be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ:
1:11. Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus
Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
1:12. Now, brethren, I desire you should know that the
things which have happened to me have fallen out rather to
the furtherance of the gospel:
1:13. So that my bands are made manifest in Christ, in all
the court and in all other places.
1:14. And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing
confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word
of God without fear.
1:15. Some indeed, even out of envy and contention: but
some also for good will preach Christ.
1:16. Some out of charity, knowing that I am set for the
defence of the gospel.
1:17. And some out of contention preach Christ not
sincerely: supposing that they raise affliction to my
bands.
1:18. But what then? So that by all means, whether by
occasion or by truth, Christ be preached: in this also I
rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
1:19. For I know that this shall fall out to me unto
salvation, through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ,
1:20. According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing
I shall be confounded: but with all confidence, as always,
so now also, shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether
it be by life or by death.
1:21. For to me, to live is Christ: and to die is gain.
1:22. And if to live in the flesh: this is to me the fruit
of labour. And what I shall choose I know not.
This is to me, etc... His meaning is, that although his
dying immediately for Christ would be his gain, by putting
him presently in possession of heaven; yet he is doubtful
what he should choose, because by staying longer in the
flesh, he should be more beneficial to the souls of his
neighbours.
1:23. But I am straitened between two: having a desire to
be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the
better.
1:24. But to abide still in the flesh is needful for you.
1:25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide
and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of
faith:
1:26. That your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for
me, by my coming to you again.
1:27. Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of
Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent,
may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with
one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel.
1:28. And in nothing be ye terrified by the adversaries:
which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of
salvation, and this from God.
1:29. For unto you it is given for Christ, not only to
believe in him, but also to suffer for him:
1:30. Having the same conflict as that which you have seen
in me and now have heard of me.
Philippians Chapter 2
He recommends them to unity and humility, and to work out
their salvation with fear and trembling.
2:1. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if
any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if
any bowels of commiseration:
2:2. Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the
same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.
2:3. Let nothing be done through contention: neither by
vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better
than themselves:
2:4. Each one not considering the things that are his own,
but those that are other men's.
2:5. For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus:
2:6. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God:
2:7. But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,
being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a
man.
Emptied himself, exinanivit... made himself as of no
account.
2:8. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even
to the death of the cross.
2:9. For which cause, God also hath exalted him and hath
given him a name which is above all names:
2:10. That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:
2:11. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord
Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
2:12. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only but much more now in my
absence) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.
With fear, etc... This is against the false faith, and
presumptuous security of modern sectaries.
2:13. For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to
accomplish, according to his good will.
2:14. And do ye all things without murmurings and
hesitations:
2:15. That you may be blameless and sincere children of
God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the
world.
2:16. Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day
of Christ: because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in
vain.
2:17. Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and
service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you
all.
2:18. And for the selfsame thing, do you also rejoice and
congratulate with me.
2:19. And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you
shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know
the things concerning you.
2:20. For I have no man so of the same mind, who with
sincere affection is solicitous for you.
2:21. For all seek the things that are their own not the
things that are Jesus Christ's.
2:22. Now know ye the proof of him: that as a son with the
father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.
2:23. Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately: so
soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
2:24. And I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come
to you shortly.
2:25. But I have thought it necessary to send to you
Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer and fellow
soldier, but your apostle: and he that hath ministered to
my wants.
2:26. For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for
that you had heard that he was sick.
2:27. For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death: but God had
mercy on him. And not only on him, but on me also, lest I
should have sorrow upon sorrow.
2:28. Therefore, I sent him the more speedily: that seeing
him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.
2:29. Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord: and
treat with honour such as he is.
2:30. Because for the work of Christ he came to the point
of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfil that
which on your part was wanting towards my service.
Philippians Chapter 3
He warneth them against false teachers. He counts all other
things loss, that he may gain Christ.
3:1. As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To
write the same things to you, to me indeed is not
wearisome, but to you is necessary.
3:2. Beware of dogs: beware of evil workers: beware of the
concision.
3:3. For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God
and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the
flesh.
3:4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If
any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I
more:
3:5. Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews.
According to the law, a Pharisee:
3:6. According to zeal, persecuting the church of God:
According to the justice that is in the law, conversing
without blame.
3:7. But the things that were gain to me, the same I have
counted loss for Christ.
3:8. Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss for the
excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things and count them but as
dung, that I may gain Christ.
3:9. And may be found in him, not having my justice, which
is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ
Jesus, which is of God: justice in faith.
3:10. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made
conformable to his death,
3:11. If by any means I may attain to the resurrection
which is from the dead.
3:12. Not as though I had already attained, or were already
perfect: but I follow after, if I may by any means
apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.
3:13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended.
But one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind
and stretching forth myself to those that are before,
3:14. I press towards the mark, to the prize of the
supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.
3:15. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus
minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, this
also God will reveal to you,
3:16. Nevertheless, whereunto we are come, that we be of
the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.
3:17. Be ye followers of me, brethren: and observe them who
walk so as you have our model.
3:18. For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now
tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of
Christ:
3:19. Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly:
and whose glory is in their shame: who mind earthly things.
3:20. But our conversation is in heaven: from whence also
we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
3:21. Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to
the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby
also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
Philippians Chapter 4
He exhorts them to perseverance in all good and
acknowledges their charitable contributions to him.
4:1. Therefore my dearly beloved brethren and most desired,
my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly
beloved.
4:2. I beg of Evodia and I beseech Syntyche to be of one
mind in the Lord.
4:3. And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help
those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with
Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names
are in the book of life.
4:4. Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice.
4:5. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is
nigh.
4:6. Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be
made known to God.
4:7. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all
understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
4:8. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy,
whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any
virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things.
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, etc...
Here the apostle enumerates general precepts of morality,
which they ought to practise. Whatsoever things are true...
in words, in promises, in lawful oaths, etc., he commands
rectitude of mind, and sincerity of heart. Whatsoever
modest... by these words he prescribes gravity in manners,
modesty in dress, and decency in conversation. Whatsoever
just... That is, in dealing with others, in buying or
selling, in trade or business, to be fair and honest.
Whatsoever holy... by these words may be understood, that
those who are in a religious state professed, or in holy
orders, should lead a life of sanctity and chastity,
according to the vows they make; but these words being also
applied to those in the world, indicate the virtuous life
they are bound by the divine commandments to follow.
Whatsoever lovely... that is, to practise those good
offices in society, that procure us the esteem and good
will of our neighbours. Whatsoever of good fame... That is,
that by our conduct and behaviour we should edify our
neighbours, and give them good example by our actions. If
there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline... that
those in error, by seeing the morality and good discipline
of the true religion, may be converted. And finally, the
apostle commands, not only the Philippians, but all
Christians, to think on these things... that is, to make it
their study and concern that the peace of God might be with
them.
4:9. The things which you have both learned and received
and heard and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace
shall be with you.
4:10. Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly that now at
length your thought for me hath flourished again, as you
did also think; but you were busied.
4:11. I speak not as it were for want. For I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith.
4:12. I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to
abound (every where and in all things I am instructed):
both to be full and to be hungry: both to abound and to
suffer need.
4:13. I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me.
4:14. Nevertheless, you have done well in communicating to
my tribulation.
4:15. And you also know, O Philippians, that in the
beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no
church communicated with me as concerning giving and
receiving, but you only.
4:16. For unto Thessalonica also you sent once and again
for my use.
4:17. Not that I seek the gift: but I seek the fruit that
may abound to your account.
4:18. But I have all and abound: I am filled, having
received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, an odour of
sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
4:19. And may my God supply all your want, according to his
riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
4:20. Now to God and our Father be glory, world without
end. Amen.
4:21. Salute ye every saint in Christ Jesus.
4:22. The brethren who are with me salute you. All the
saints salute you: especially they that are of Caesar's
household.
4:23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Amen.
The text in this file was taken with permission from Catholic Software's Douay Bible program, a complete multimedia Bible for the PC. The complete product description follows:
Douay Bible ME: A multimedia Bible. Text and footnotes are from the 1899 version of the Douay-Rheims Bible. Supports unlimited cut and paste as well as searches. It also has a concordance, topical index, and maps. These features make it powerful and easy to use. Music and color photography make it a visual and auditory feast. However, if your computer doesn't support multimedia, you can suppress these features at installation time. Available for DOS, Windows, or Windows 95. $85.00. Order from: Catholic Software, P.O. Box 1914, Murray, KY 42071. Phone: 1-502-753-8198.
