1 ¹² I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 1 ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; 1 ¹⁴ and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.

1 ¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 1 ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel; 1 ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 1 ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.

1 ¹⁹ Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 1 ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. 1 ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 1 ²² If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 1 ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 1 ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 1 ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 1 ²⁶ so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

1 ²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 1 ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear omen to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 1 ²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 1 ³⁰ engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.