1:12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, 5 that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel: 6 1:13 The 7 whole imperial guard 8 and everyone else knows 9 that I am in prison 10 for the sake of Christ, 1:14 and most of the brothers and sisters, 11 having confidence in the Lord 12 because of my imprisonment, now more than ever 13 dare to speak the word 14 fearlessly.
1:15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 1:16 The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel. 1:17 The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment. 15 1:18 What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.
Yes, 16 and I will continue to rejoice, 1:19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance 17 through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 1:20 My confident hope 18 is that I will in no way be ashamed 19 but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. 20 1:21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 1:22 Now if I am to go on living in the body, 21 this will mean productive work 22 for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer: 23 1:23 I feel torn between the two, 24 because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, 1:24 but it is more vital for your sake that I remain 25 in the body. 26 1:25 And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress 27 and joy in the faith, 28 1:26 so that what you can be proud of may increase 29 because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you. 30
1:27 Only conduct yourselves 31 in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that 32 you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 33 1:28 and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is 34 a sign of their 35 destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which 36 is from God. 1:29 For it has been granted to you 37 not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, 1:30 since you are encountering 38 the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing. 39