Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today we begin reading the first of
four epistles that St. Paul wrote while imprisoned
in Rome. His epistle to the Philippians, chapters
1 through 4. Chapter 1 Jesus Christ. I thank
my God upon every remembrance of you, always
in every prayer of mine, making requests for
you all with joy, for your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident
of this very thing, that he who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of
Jesus Christ. Just as it is right for me to think
this of you all, because I have you in my heart,
inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense
and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers
with me of grace. For God is my witness, how
greatly I long for you all with the affection
of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love
may abound still more and more in knowledge and
all discernment, that you may approve the things
that are excellent, that you may be sincere and
without offense. till the day of Christ, being
filled with the fruits of righteousness, which
are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise
of God. But I want you to know, brethren, that
the things which happened to me have actually
turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
so that it has become evident to the whole palace
guard and to all the rest that my chains are
in Christ. And most of the brethren in the Lord,
having become confident by my chains, are much
more bold to speak the word without fear. Some
indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife,
and some also from goodwill. The former preach
Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction to my chains, but
the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed
for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only
that in every way, whether in pretense or in
truth, Christ is preached, and in this I rejoice,
yes, and will rejoice. For I know that this will
turn out for my deliverance through your prayer
and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
according to my earnest expectation and hope
that in nothing I shall be ashamed. But with
all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will
be magnified in my body, whether by life or by
death. For to me to live is Christ and to die
is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this
will mean fruit from my labor. Yet what I shall
choose I cannot tell you. For I am hard pressed
between the two, having a desire to depart and
be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless,
to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
And being confident of this, I know that I shall
remain and continue with you all for your progress
and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me
may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming
to you again. Only let your conduct be worthy
of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come
and see you or am absent, Chapter 2. Let each
of you look out not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others. Let this
mind be in you. which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, did not consider
it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself
of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men, and being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. Therefore God also has
highly exalted him and given him the name which
is above every name. that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of those in heaven and
of those on earth and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, 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 do for his good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing,
that you may become blameless and harmless, children
of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world, holding fast the word
of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ that I have not run in vain or labored
in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as
a drink offering on the sacrifice and service
of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you
all. for the same reason you also be glad and
rejoice with me but i trust in the lord jesus
to send timothy to you shortly that i also may
be encouraged when i know your state for i have
no one like -minded who will sincerely care for
your state for all seek their own not the things
which are of christ jesus but you know his proven
character that as a son with his father he served
with me in the gospel Therefore I hope to send
them at once, as soon as I see how it goes with
me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall
also come shortly. Yet I considered it necessary
to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow
worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger
and the one who ministered to my need, since
he was longing for you all and was distressed
because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed
he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy
on him, and not only on him, but on me also,
lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore
I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see
him again you may rejoice, and I may be less
sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord
with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem.
Because for the work of Christ he came close
to death, not regarding his life, to supply what
was lacking in your service toward me. Rejoice
in the Lord. For me to write the same things
to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware
of the mutilation. For we are the circumcision,
who worship God in the Spirit. Rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though
I also might have confidence in the flesh, if
anyone else thinks he may have confidence in
the flesh, I more so. Circumcised the eighth
day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin.
A Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law,
a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the
church, concerning the righteousness which is
in the law, blameless. But what things were gained
to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed, I also count all things loss for
the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and count them as rubbish, that I
may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having
my own righteousness, which is from the law,
but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by 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. Not that I have
already attained or am already perfected, but
I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me, Brethren,
I do not count myself to have apprehended, but
one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things
which are ahead. I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature,
have this mind. And if in anything you think
otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already
attained, let us walk by the same rule. let us
be of the same mind brethren join in following
my example and know those who so walk as you
have us for a pattern for many walk of whom i
have told you often and now tell you even weeping
that they are the enemies of the cross of christ
whose end is destruction whose god is their belly
and whose glory is in their shame who set their
mind on earthly things for our citizenship is
in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform
our lowly body that it may be conformed to his
glorious body, according to the working by which
he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
Chapter 4 Therefore, my beloved, and longed -for
brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in
the Lord, beloved. I implore you, Odia, and I
implore Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the
Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help
these women who labored with me in the gospel,
with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow
workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,
rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for 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 your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever things are
noble, 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 there is anything praiseworthy, meditate
on these things. The things which you learned
and received and heard and saw in me, these do.
and the god of peace will be with you but i rejoiced
in the lord greatly that now at last your care
for me has flourished again though you surely
did care but you lacked opportunity not that
i speak in regard to need for i have learned
in whatever state i am to be content i know how
to be abased and i know how to abound everywhere
and in all things i have learned both to be full
and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer
need I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me. Nevertheless, you have done well that you
shared in my distress. Now you Philippians, know
also that in the beginning of the gospel, when
I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with
me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
For even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and
again for my necessities. Not that I seek the
gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your
account. Indeed, I have all and abound. I am
full, having received from Epaphroditus the things
sent from you, a sweet -smelling aroma, an acceptable
sacrifice, well -pleasing to God. And my God
shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and
Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet
every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who
are with me greet you. All the saints greet you.
but especially those who are of Caesar's household.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all. Ameen. I hope you enjoyed today's reading
as much as I did and I look forward to seeing
you again tomorrow to continue on our journey.
God bless you and have a great day.