[1:12] I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel.
[1:13] As a result, the whole palace guard and all the others here know that I am in prison because I am a servant of Christ.
[1:14] And my being in prison has given most of the believers more confidence in the Lord, so that they grow bolder all the time to preach the message fearlessly.
[1:15] Of course some of them preach Christ because they are jealous and quarrelsome, but others from genuine good will.
[1:16] These do so from love, because they know that God has given me the work of defending the gospel.
[1:17] The others do not proclaim Christ sincerely, but from a spirit of selfish ambition; they think that they will make more trouble for me while I am in prison.
[1:18] It does not matter! I am happy about it—just so Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy,
[1:19] because I know that by means of your prayers and the help which comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ I shall be set free.
[1:20] My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
[1:21] For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more.
[1:22] But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose.
[1:23] I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing;
[1:24] but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive.
[1:25] I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith,
[1:26] so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
[1:27] Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel.
[1:28] Don't be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory.
[1:29] For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him.
[1:30] Now you can take part with me in the battle. It is the same battle you saw me fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one I am fighting still.