Philippians (KJV)

New Testament4 chapters · Paul’s letter to Philippi

The whole Book of Philippians in the King James Version. Start with the most-searched verses — including Philippians 4:13 — then read the letter by chapter: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Looking for a particular phrase? Search all three translations.

Philippians 1 — To Live Is Christ (KJV)

Paul writes with joy from prison, confident that God will finish the work he began (1:6), and torn between living to serve and departing to be with Christ — “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21).

1Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 12But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Read Philippians 1with other translations →

Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ (KJV)

The letter's heart: the call to humility, and the hymn of Christ who emptied himself, obeyed unto death, and was exalted so that “every knee should bow” and “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (2:5-11).

1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. 19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. 25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Read Philippians 2with other translations →

Philippians 3 — Pressing Toward the Mark (KJV)

Paul counts every advantage loss for the sake of knowing Christ, and, forgetting what is behind, presses “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14).

1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Read Philippians 3with other translations →

Philippians 4 — Rejoice, and Be Anxious for Nothing (KJV)

The chapter people come to Philippians for: rejoice always (4:4), be careful — anxious — for nothing (4:6-7), think on whatever is true and lovely (4:8), do all things through Christ (4:13), and trust God to supply every need (4:19).

1Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. 22All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. 23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Read Philippians 4with other translations →

Philippians Overview

A thank-you letter, full of joy. Philippians is one of the warmest of Paul’s letters. He wrote it to the church at Philippi — a Roman colony in Macedonia and the first congregation he founded in Europe (Acts 16) — in part to thank them for a gift they had sent (4:18). Though he is a prisoner, the word that runs through all four chapters is joy.

Author and date.Paul names himself and Timothy in the opening verse (1:1). It is one of his “prison epistles,” written from custody — most likely Rome, around AD 60–62. His imprisonment is not hidden but woven into the letter: he can say “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21) precisely because he does not know which way his case will go.

The four chapters.Chapter 1 is thanksgiving and Paul’s outlook from prison. Chapter 2 holds the letter’s centre — the call to the humility “which was also in Christ Jesus,” who humbled himself to death and was exalted above every name (2:5-11). Chapter 3 is Paul counting every earthly credential as loss for the sake of knowing Christ. Chapter 4 gathers the letter’s best-known lines: rejoice always, be anxious for nothing, and do all things through Christ.

Philippians 4:13 Meaning

13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13 is often quoted as a promise of achievement — printed on athletes’ gear and repeated before big goals. But Paul’s subject in the verses around it is contentment, not conquest. Just before it he writes that he has “learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (4:11) and that he knows “both how to be abased, and… how to abound” (4:12).

So the “all things” he can do is endure any circumstance— plenty or hunger, freedom or a prison cell — because the strength comes from Christ rather than from himself. Read this way, 4:13 is a verse about steadiness under pressure: whatever the day holds, the one who supplies the strength does not change.

Philippians 4:6-7 (Do Not Be Anxious)

6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

“Be careful for nothing” sounds like a call to carelessness, but “careful” is old English for “full of care” — anxious, worried. Modern translations read “do not be anxious about anything.” Paul does not tell the Philippians simply to stop worrying; he gives them something to do instead: bring every concern to God in prayer, ask specifically, and do it with thanksgiving.

Verse 7 is the result of verse 6. When worry is handed over in prayer, “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The word “keep” is a military one — to guard, like a garrison — and it is God’s peace, not the believer’s effort, that stands watch. For more of Scripture on this, see Bible verses about anxiety and Bible verses about peace.

Recommended reading

Study Bibles & devotionals

Go deeper than a single verse. These study Bibles and daily devotionals pair well with the topics here — adding context, commentary, and a rhythm for daily reading.

As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases. Links are sponsored. Browse all topics →

Keep Exploring

Philippians 4:6-7 is one of the Bible’s clearest words on worry and peace. Gather more on the same themes, or browse every subject on the Topics index.

Verses About AnxietyVerses About PeaceBook of CorinthiansAll TopicsSearch the Bible

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Philippians 4:13 mean?

Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It is often quoted as a promise of success in sport, work, or ambition, but Paul's subject in the surrounding verses is contentment. He has just said he has “learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (4:11) and that he knows “both how to be abased, and … how to abound” (4:12). The “all things” he can do is endure any circumstance — plenty or want, freedom or a prison cell — because Christ supplies the strength. It is a verse about steadiness under pressure, not a guarantee of getting what you want.

What does “be careful for nothing” mean in Philippians 4:6?

In the King James Version, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” “Careful” is old English for “full of care,” meaning anxious or worried — modern translations read “do not be anxious about anything.” Paul's instruction is to replace worry with prayer: bring every concern to God, ask specifically, and do it with thanksgiving. Verse 7 gives the result — “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

How many chapters are in the Book of Philippians?

The Book of Philippians has four chapters. Chapter 1 has 30 verses, chapter 2 has 30 verses, chapter 3 has 21 verses, and chapter 4 has 23 verses — 104 verses in all. It is one of the shorter letters of the Apostle Paul and can be read in a single sitting.

Who wrote Philippians and when?

The Apostle Paul wrote Philippians, naming himself and Timothy in the opening verse (1:1). It is one of his “prison epistles,” written while he was in custody — most likely in Rome around AD 60–62. He addresses the church at Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia and the first congregation he founded in Europe (Acts 16). The letter is warm and thankful, written in part to acknowledge a gift the Philippians had sent him (4:18).

What is the main theme of Philippians?

Joy. Despite writing from prison, Paul returns again and again to rejoicing — “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (4:4). Woven through it are humility (the mind of Christ in 2:5-11), contentment in every circumstance (4:11-13), and peace that comes from prayer rather than worry (4:6-7). The letter shows joy that does not depend on comfortable conditions.