Philippians
Chapter 1
1 1 Paul and Timothy, slaves 2 of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers:
基督耶稣的仆人保禄和弟茂德，致书给斐理伯的众位在基督耶稣内的圣徒、监督及执事；
2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3
愿恩宠与平安由天主我们的父和主耶稣基督赐与你们！
3 4 I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
我一想起你们，就感谢我的天主；
4 praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
我每次祈祷，总怀着喜悦为你们众位祈祷，
5 because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.
因为你们从最初的一天直到现在，就协助了宣传福音的工作；
6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. 5
我深信，在你们内开始这美好工作的那位，必予以完成，直到耶稣基督的日子。
7 It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
我这样想念你们众人，是理当的，因为我在心内常怀念你们，不论我带锁链，或辩护或确证福音时，你们常参与了我受的恩宠。
8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
天主为我作证：我是怎样以基督耶稣的情怀爱你们众人。
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception,
我所祈求的是：愿你们的爱德日渐增长，满渥真知识和各种识见，
10 to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
使你们能辨别卓绝之事，为叫你们直到基督的日子，常是洁净无瑕的，
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
赖耶稣基督满结义德的果实，为光荣赞美天主。
12 6 I want you to know, brothers, that my situation has turned out rather to advance the gospel,
弟兄们！我愿意告诉你们，我的环境对于福音的进展反而更有了益处，
13 so that my imprisonment has become well known in Christ throughout the whole praetorium 7 and to all the rest,
以致御营全军和其余众人都明明知道，我带锁链是为基督的缘故；
14 8 and so that the majority of the brothers, having taken encouragement in the Lord from my imprisonment, dare more than ever to proclaim the word fearlessly.
并且大多数的弟兄，因见我带锁链，就依靠主，更敢讲论天主的道理，一点也不害怕。
15 Of course, some preach Christ from envy and rivalry, others from good will.
有些人宣讲基督，固然是出于嫉妒和竞争，有些人却是出于善意；
16 The latter act out of love, aware that I am here for the defense of the gospel;
这些出于爱的人，知道我是被立为护卫福音的；
17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not from pure motives, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment.
那些出于私见宣传基督的人，目的不纯正，想要给我的锁链更增添烦恼。
18 What difference does it make, as long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed? And in that I rejoice. 9 Indeed I shall continue to rejoice,
那有什么妨碍呢？无论如何，或是假意，或是诚心，终究是宣传了基督。为此，如今我喜欢，将来我仍然要喜欢，
19 10 for I know that this will result in deliverance for me 11 through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
因为我知道，赖你们的祈祷和耶稣基督的圣神的辅助，这事必有利于我的得救。
20 My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
按照我所热切期待希望的，我在任何事上必不会蒙羞，所以现在和从前一样，我反而放心大胆，我或生或死，总要叫基督在我身上受颂扬。
21 For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
因为在我看来，生活原是基督，死亡乃是利益。
22 If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose.
但如果生活在肉身内，我还能获得工作的效果：我现在选择那一样，我自己也不知道。
23 I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, (for) that is far better.
我正夹在两者之间：我渴望求解脱而与基督同在一起：这实在是再好没有了；
24 Yet that I remain (in) the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
但存留在肉身内，对你们却十分重要。
25 And this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
我确信不疑：我知道我必要存留，且必要为你们众人存留于世，为使你们在信德上，得到进展和喜乐，
26 so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again.
并使你们因着我再来到你们中，同我在基督耶稣内更加欢跃。
27 12 Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear news of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind struggling together for the faith of the gospel,
你们生活度日只应合乎基督的福音，好叫我或来看望你们，或不在时，听到关于你们的事，而知道你们仍保持同一的精神，一心一意为福音的信仰共同奋斗，
28 not intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is proof to them of destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing.
一点也不为敌人所吓住：这样证明了他们必将丧亡，你们必将得救，因为这是出于天主，
29 For to you has been granted, for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.
因为，为了基督的缘故，赐给你们的恩赐，不但是为相信他，而且也是为为他受苦：
30 Yours is the same struggle as you saw in me and now hear about me. 13
就是要遭受你们曾在我身上所见的，及如今由我所听到的同样的决斗。
Footnotes（注解）
1 [1-2] See the note on Romans 1:1-7, concerning the greeting.
2 [1] Slaves: Paul usually refers to himself at the start of a letter as an apostle. Here he substitutes a term suggesting the unconditional obligation of himself and Timothy to the service of Christ, probably because, in view of the good relationship with the Philippians, he wishes to stress his status as a co-servant rather than emphasize his apostolic authority. Reference to Timothy is a courtesy: Paul alone writes the letter, as the singular verb throughout shows (Philippians 1:3-26), and the reference (Philippians 2:19-24) to Timothy in the third person. Overseers: the Greek t, erm episkopos literally means "one who oversees" or "one who supervises," but since the second century it has come to designate the "bishop," the official who heads a local church. In New Testament times this office had not yet developed into the form that it later assumed, though it seems to be well on the way to such development in the Pastorals; see 1 Tim 3:2 and Titus 1:7, where it is translated bishop. At Philippi, however (and at Ephesus, according to Acts 20:28), there was more than one episkopos, and the precise function of these officials is uncertain. In order to distinguish this office from the later stages into which it developed, the term is here translated as overseers. Ministers: the Greek term diakonoi is used frequently in the New Testament to designate "servants," "attendants," or "ministers." Paul refers to himself and to other apostles as "ministers of God" (2 Cor 6:4) or "ministers of Christ" (2 Cor 11:23). In the Pastorals (1 Tim 3:8, 12) the diakonos has become an established official in the local church; hence the term is there translated as deacon. The diakonoi at Philippi seem to represent an earlier stage of development of the office; we are uncertain about their precise functions. Hence the term is here translated as ministers. See Romans 16:1, where Phoebe is described as a diakonos (minister) of the church of Cenchreae. 1, 2: The gifts come from Christ the Lord, not simply through him from the Father; compare the christology in Philippians 2:6-11.
3 [2] The gifts come from Christ the Lord, not simply through him from the Father; compare the christology in Philippians 2:6-11.
4 [3-11] As in Romans 1:8-15 and all the Pauline letters except Galatians, a thanksgiving follows, including a direct prayer for the Philippians (Philippians 1:9-11); see the note on Romans 1:8. On their partnership for the gospel (Philippians 1:5), cf Philippians 1:29-30; 4:10-20. Their devotion to the faith and to Paul made them his pride and joy (Philippians 4:1). The characteristics thus manifested are evidence of the community's continuing preparation for the Lord's parousia (Philippians 1:6, 10). Paul's especially warm relationship with the Philippians is suggested here (Philippians 1:7-8) as elsewhere in the letter. The eschatology serves to underscore a concern for ethical growth (Eph 1:9-11), which appears throughout the letter.
5 [6] The day of Christ Jesus: the parousia or triumphant return of Christ, when those loyal to him will be with him and share in his eternal glory; cf Philippians 1:10; 2:16; 3:20-21; 1 Thes 4:17; 5:10; 2 Thes 1:10; 1 Cor 1:8.
6 [12-26] The body of the letter begins with an account of Paul's present situation, i.e., his imprisonment (Philippians 1:12-13; see Introduction), and then goes on with advice for the Philippians (Philippians 1:27-2:18). The advance of the gospel (Philippians 1:12) and the progress of the Philippians in the faith (Philippians 1:25) frame what is said.
7 [13] Praetorium: either the praetorian guard in the city where Paul was imprisoned or the governor's official residence in a Roman province (cf Mark 15:16; Acts 23:35). See Introduction on possible sites.
8 [14-18] Although Paul is imprisoned, Christians there nonetheless go on preaching Christ. But they do so with varied motives, some with personal hostility toward Paul, others out of personal ambition.
9 [18] Rejoice: a major theme in the letter; see Introduction.
10 [19-25] Paul earnestly debates his prospects of martyrdom or continued missionary labor. While he may long to depart this life and thus be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), his overall and final expectation is that he will be delivered from this imprisonment and continue in the service of the Philippians and of others (Philippians 1:19, 25; Philippians 2:24). In either case, Christ is central (Philippians 1:20- 21); if to live means Christ for Paul, death means to be united with Christ in a deeper sense.
11 [19] Result in deliverance for me: an echo of Job 13:16, hoping that God will turn suffering to ultimate good and deliverance from evil.
12 [27-30] Ethical admonition begins at this early point in the letter, emphasizing steadfastness and congregational unity in the face of possible suffering. The opponents (Philippians 1:28) are those in Philippi, probably pagans, who oppose the gospel cause. This is proof . . . (Philippians 1:28) may refer to the whole outlook and conduct of the Philippians, turning out for their salvation but to the judgment of the opponents (cf 2 Cor 2:15-16), or possibly the sentence refers to the opinion of the opponents, who hold that the obstinacy of the Christians points to the destruction of such people as defy Roman authority (though in reality, Paul holds, such faithfulness leads to salvation).
13 [30] A reference to Paul's earlier imprisonment in Philippi (Acts 16:19-24; 1 Thes 2:2) and to his present confinement.