Epistle to the Philippians

I HAVE GREATLY REJOICED WITH YOU IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: because you have followed the example of true love [as displayed by God], and have accompanied, as was fitting for you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord; and because the strong root of your faith, spoken of in days long gone by, endures even until now, and brings forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sins suffered even unto death, [but] “whom God raised from the dead, having loosed the bands of the grave.” “In whom, though now you see Him not, you believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;” into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that “by grace you are saved, not by works,” but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.

THEREFORE: "prepare yourselves," serve the Lord with fear and truth, as those who have abandoned the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and have "believed in Him who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him, all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Every spirit serves Him. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. God will require His blood from those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him from the dead will also raise us, if we do His will, follow His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, and false witness; "not returning evil for evil, or reviling for reviling," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but remembering what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that you be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you; be merciful, that you may obtain mercy; with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you again;" and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

THESE THINGS: brothers and sisters, I write to you concerning righteousness, not because I assume anything for myself, but because you have invited me to do so. For neither I, nor anyone else, can match the wisdom of the blessed and glorified Paul. He, when he was among you, accurately and steadfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. And when he was absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you study carefully, you will find to be a means of building you up in the faith that has been given to you, and which, being followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Jesus, and our neighbor, "is the mother of us all." For if anyone is inwardly possessed of these graces, they have fulfilled the command of righteousness, since they who have love are far from all sin.

"But the love of money is the root of all evils." Therefore, knowing that "as we brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out," let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness; and let us first teach ourselves to walk in the commandments of the Lord. Next, teach your wives to live in the faith given to them, and in love and purity, tenderly loving their own husbands in all truth, and loving everyone equally in all chastity; and to raise their children in the knowledge and fear of God. Teach the widows to be discreet regarding the faith of the Lord, praying continually for all, avoiding all slandering, evil-speaking, false-witnessing, love of money, and every kind of evil; knowing that they are the altar of God, that He clearly perceives all things, and that nothing is hidden from Him, neither reasonings, nor reflections, nor any of the secret things of the heart.

KNOWING: then, that "God is not mocked," we ought to live worthy of His commandment and glory. Similarly, the deacons should be blameless before His righteousness, as they are the servants of God and Christ, not of men. They must not be slanderers, double-tongued, or lovers of money, but must be temperate in all things, compassionate, industrious, and live according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all. If we please Him in this present world, we shall also receive the future world, as He has promised us that He will raise us from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, "we shall also reign together with Him," provided we believe. Similarly, let the young men be blameless in all things, being especially careful to preserve purity and restraining themselves from every kind of evil. For it is good for them to be cut off from the lusts that are in the world, since "every lust wars against the spirit," and "neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God," nor those who do things inconsistent and unbecoming. Therefore, it is necessary to abstain from all these things, being subject to the presbyters and deacons, as unto God and Christ. The virgins must also walk with a blameless and pure conscience.

AND LET THE PRESBYTERS BE COMPASSIONATE AND MERCIFUL TO EVERYONE: bringing back those who wander, visiting all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor, but always "providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man;" abstaining from all wrath, favoritism, and unjust judgment; keeping far from all covetousness, not quickly believing an evil report against anyone, not severe in judgment, as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin. If then we ask the Lord to forgive us, we ought also to forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and "we must all appear at the judgment seat of Christ, and must each one give an account of himself." Let us then serve Him in fear, and with all reverence, just as He Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles who preached the Gospel to us, and the prophets who announced beforehand the coming of the Lord have similarly taught us. Let us be zealous in the pursuit of what is good, keeping ourselves from causes of offense, from false brethren, and from those who in hypocrisy bear the name of the Lord, and lead vain people into error.

"For whoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is antichrist; and whoever does not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil; and whoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and says that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgment, he is the first-born of Satan. Therefore, forsaking the vanity of many and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning; watching unto prayer, and persevering in fasting; beseeching in our supplications the all-seeing God not to lead us into temptation, as the Lord has said: 'The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.'"

LET US THEN CONTINUALLY PERSEVERE IN OUR HOPE AND THE EARNEST OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: which is Jesus Christ, “who bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” “who did no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth,” but endured all things for us, that we might live in Him. Let us then be imitators of His patience; and if we suffer for His name’s sake, let us glorify Him. For He has set us this example in Himself, and we have believed that this is true.

I URGE YOU ALL: therefore, to obey the word of righteousness and to practice all patience, as you have seen demonstrated before your eyes, not only in the case of the blessed Ignatius, Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the apostles. Do this with the assurance that all these have not run in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and that they are now in their rightful place in the presence of the Lord, with whom they also suffered. For they did not love this present world, but loved Him who died for us and for our sakes was raised again by God from the dead.

STAND FIRM: therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being steadfast and unchanging in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, united in the truth, showing the meekness of the Lord in your interactions with one another, and despising no one. When you can do good, do not delay, because “alms deliver from death.” Be subject to one another, “having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles,” that you may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you. But woe to the one by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed! Teach, therefore, sobriety to all, and demonstrate it also in your own conduct.

I AM GREATLY GRIEVED FOR VALENS: who was once a presbyter among you, because he so little understands the position that was given to him in the Church. I urge you, therefore, to abstain from covetousness, and to be chaste and truthful. "Abstain from every form of evil." For if a person cannot control themselves in such matters, how can they instruct others in them? If a person does not keep themselves from covetousness, they will be defiled by idolatry and will be judged as one of the heathen. But who among us is ignorant of the judgment of the Lord? "Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world?" as Paul teaches. But I have neither seen nor heard of any such thing among you, among whom the blessed Paul labored, and who are commended at the beginning of his Epistle. For he boasts of you in all those Churches that alone then knew the Lord; but we [of Smyrna] had not yet known Him. I am deeply grieved, therefore, brothers, for him (Valens) and his wife; to whom may the Lord grant true repentance! And be moderate in regard to this matter, and "do not count them as enemies," but call them back as suffering and straying members, so that you may save your whole body. For by doing so, you will edify yourselves.

FOR I TRUST THAT YOU ARE WELL VERSED IN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES: and that nothing is hidden from you; but to me this privilege is not yet granted. It is declared then in these Scriptures, “Be angry, and sin not,” and, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Happy is he who remembers this, which I believe to be the case with you. But may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Son of God, and our everlasting High Priest, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who “raised Him from the dead.” Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings, and rulers, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest to all, and that you may be perfect in Him.

BOTH YOU AND IGNATIUS WROTE TO ME: saying that if anyone went to Syria, they should carry your letter with them. I will handle this request if I find a suitable opportunity, either personally or through someone else acting on my behalf, so that your desire may be fulfilled. The Epistles of Ignatius that he wrote to us, along with all the rest that we have, we have sent to you, as you asked. They are attached to this letter, and through them you may greatly benefit; for they discuss faith and patience, and all things that lead to edification in our Lord. If you have obtained any more certain information about Ignatius himself, and those who were with him, please share it with us.

I HAVE WRITTEN THESE THINGS TO YOU THROUGH CRESCENS: whom I have recommended to you until now, and I continue to recommend. For he has acted blamelessly among us, and I believe also among you. Moreover, you will hold his sister in esteem when she comes to you. Be safe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with you all. Amen.