so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,

<t /><p class="bodytext">From Paul<n id="1" /> and Timothy, slaves<n id="2" /> of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,<n id="3" /> with the overseers<n id="4" /> and deacons.

complete my joy and be of the same mind,<n id="1" /> by having the same love, being united in spirit,<n id="2" /> and having one purpose.

by holding on to<n id="1" /> the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

<p class="bodytext">But for now<n id="1" /> I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother,<n id="2" /> coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger<n id="3" /> and minister<n id="4" /> to me in my need.<n id="5" />

For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.

I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment,<n id="1" /> whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.

<t /><p class="bodytext">I thank my God every time I remember you.<n id="1" />

because of your participation<n id="1" /> in the gospel from the first day until now.<n id="2" />

For<n id="1" /> it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart,<n id="2" /> since both in my imprisonment<n id="3" /> and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God&#8217;s grace<n id="4" /> together with me.

For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition<n id="1" /> or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

<n id="1" /><p class="poetry">who though he existed in the form of God<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">did not regard equality with Godp> <p class="poetry">as something to be grasped,p>

<p class="poetry">He humbled himself,p> <p class="poetry">by becoming obedient to the point of deathp> <p class="poetry">&#8211; even death on a cross!p>

<p class="poetry">and every tongue confessp> <p class="poetry">that Jesus Christ is Lordp> <p class="poetry">to the glory of God the Father.p>

Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.

<p class="bodytext">Beware of the dogs,<n id="1" /> beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!<n id="2" />

In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.

and so, somehow,<n id="1" /> to attain to the resurrection from the dead.p>