---
title: "Philippians 1 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/philippians/1/
description: "The apostle's affection for the Philippians. Philippians 1 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Philippians 1

Philippians 1 is chapter 1 of 4 in the Letter to the Philippians. Here are all 30 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The apostle's affection for the Philippians.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Philippians 1 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
2. Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you,
4. always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy,
5. because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now.
6. I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus.
7. So then, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, and because, in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.
8. For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you.
9. And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding,
10. so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ:
11. filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God.
12. Now, brothers, I want you to know that the things concerning me happened for the advancement of the Gospel,
13. in such a way that my chains have become manifest in Christ in every place of judgment and in all other such places.
14. And many from among the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident through my chains, are now much bolder in speaking the Word of God without fear.
15. Certainly, some do so even because of envy and contention; and others, too, do so because of a good will to preach Christ.
16. Some act out of charity, knowing that I have been appointed for the defense of the Gospel.
17. But others, out of contention, announce Christ insincerely, claiming that their difficulties lift them up to my chains.
18. But what does it matter? As long as, by every means, whether under pretext or in truthfulness, Christ is announced. And about this, I rejoice, and moreover, I will continue to rejoice.
19. For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20. by means of my own expectation and hope. For in nothing shall I be confounded. Instead, with all confidence, now just as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22. And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose.
23. For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,
24. but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake.
25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and that I shall continue to remain with all of you, for your advancement and for your joy in the faith,
26. so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again.
27. Only let your behavior be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I return and see you, or whether, being absent, I hear about you, still you may stand firm with one spirit, with one mind, laboring together for the faith of the Gospel.
28. And in nothing be terrified by the adversaries. For what is to them an occasion of perdition, is to you an occasion of salvation, and this is from God.
29. For this has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him,
30. engaging in the same struggle, of a kind which you also have seen in me, and which you now have heard from me.

## Philippians 1 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Paulus et Timotheus, servi Jesu Christi, omnibus sanctis in Christo Jesu, qui sunt Philippis, cum episcopis et diaconibus.
2. Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo.
3. Gratias ago Deo meo in omni memoria vestri,
4. semper in cunctis orationibus meis pro omnibus vobis, cum gaudio deprecationem faciens,
5. super communicatione vestra in Evangelio Christi a prima die usque nunc.
6. Confidens hoc ipsum, quia qui cœpit in vobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in diem Christi Jesu:
7. sicut est mihi justum hoc sentire pro omnibus vobis: eo quod habeam vos in corde, et in vinculis meis, et in defensione, et confirmatione Evangelii, socios gaudii mei omnes vos esse.
8. Testis enim mihi est Deus, quomodo cupiam omnes vos in visceribus Jesu Christi.
9. Et hoc oro, ut caritas vestra magis ac magis abundet in scientia, et in omni sensu:
10. ut probetis potiora, ut sitis sinceri, et sine offensa in diem Christi,
11. repleti fructu justitiæ per Jesum Christum, in gloriam et laudem Dei.
12. Scire autem vos volo fratres, quia quæ circa me sunt, magis ad profectum venerunt Evangelii:
13. ita ut vincula mea manifesta fierent in Christo in omni prætorio, et in ceteris omnibus,
14. et plures e fratribus in Domino confidentes vinculis meis, abundantius auderent sine timore verbum Dei loqui.
15. Quidam quidem et propter invidiam et contentionem: quidam autem et propter bonam voluntatem Christum prædicant:
16. quidam ex caritate, scientes quoniam in defensionem Evangelii positus sum.
17. Quidam autem ex contentione Christum annuntiant non sincere, existimantes pressuram se suscitare vinculis meis.
18. Quid enim? Dum omni modo sive per occasionem, sive per veritatem, Christus annuntietur: et in hoc gaudeo, sed et gaudebo.
19. Scio enim quia hoc mihi proveniet ad salutem, per vestram orationem, et subministrationem Spiritus Jesu Christi,
20. secundum exspectationem et spem meam, quia in nullo confundar: sed in omni fiducia sicut semper, et nunc magnificabitur Christus in corpore meo, sive per vitam, sive per mortem.
21. Mihi enim vivere Christus est, et mori lucrum.
22. Quod si vivere in carne, hic mihi fructus operis est, et quid eligam ignoro.
23. Coarctor autem e duobus: desiderium habens dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, multo magis melius:
24. permanere autem in carne, necessarium propter vos.
25. Et hoc confidens scio quia manebo, et permanebo omnibus vobis ad profectum vestrum, et gaudium fidei:
26. ut gratulatio vestra abundet in Christo Jesu in me, per meum adventum iterum ad vos.
27. Tantum digne Evangelio Christi conversamini: ut sive cum venero, et videro vos, sive absens audiam de vobis, quia statis in uno spiritu unanimes, collaborantes fidei Evangelii:
28. et in nullo terreamini ab adversariis: quæ illis est causa perditionis, vobis autem salutis, et hoc a Deo:
29. quia vobis donatum est pro Christo, non solum ut in eum credatis, sed ut etiam pro illo patiamini:
30. idem certamen habentes, quale et vidistis in me, et nunc audistis de me.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 2636: Prayer of Intercession ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1010: Dying in Christ Jesus ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1698: Life in Christ ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1011: Dying in Christ Jesus ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1021: The Particular Judgment ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1025: Heaven ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1005: Dying in Christ Jesus ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1692: Life in Christ ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## The saints

- “I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.” — St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans, 4, c. 107 (On this theme: verse 21)
- “O Jesus, I love You so much. Your love is my life.” — St. Gemma Galgani, Diary, 1900 (On this theme: verse 21)
- “Give me, good Lord, a longing to be with Thee, not for the avoiding of the calamities of this wretched world, nor so much for the attaining of the joys of heaven, as even for a very love of Thee.” — St. Thomas More, Prayer written in the Tower, 1534 (On this theme: verse 23)
- “Lord, if I am still necessary to thy people, I do not refuse the toil: thy will be done.” — St. Martin of Tours, Sulpicius Severus, Epistle 3, 397 (On this theme: verse 23)

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 22: His meaning is, that although his dying immediately for Christ would be his gain, by putting him presently in possession of heaven; yet he is doubtful what he should choose, because by staying longer in the flesh, he should be more beneficial to the souls of his neighbours.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Fri, Oct 30, 2026: Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time — First Reading, Philippians 1:1-11
- Sat, Oct 31, 2026: Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time — First Reading, Philippians 1:18b-26
- Sun, Dec 5, 2027 (computed): Second Sunday of Advent — Second Reading, Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
- Fri, Nov 3, 2028 (computed): Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time — First Reading, Philippians 1:1-11

1 more date through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).