Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul says he thanks God whenever he remembers the Philippians, praying for them with joy because of their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. He is confident that the God who began a good work in them will bring it to completion, and he speaks of them as partners with him in grace, in his chains, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

I³ thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. ⁸God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Paul prays that their love may abound more and more with knowledge and discernment so that they may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. He wants them filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.