Bible verses about "faithful" | AUV

³¹ Therefore, do not worry by asking, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ ³² For these are the things that the [unconverted] Gentiles keep trying to get. But your heavenly Father [already] knows you need these things. ³³ So, you should put the kingdom of God and what He says is right first [in your lives], then all these things [i.e., food, drink and clothing] will be provided for you.

⁴ [Note: The following traits should be understood in the context of love for people]. Love is patient [with people], and is kind [to them]; love does not envy [what people are or have]; love does not boast [of being superior to others], it is not arrogant [in dealing with people]. ⁵ [Love] does not act improperly [toward people]; it does not insist on having its own way [at the expense of others]; it is not easily irritated [by others]; it does not keep track of the wrongs [done by others]. ⁶ [Love] is not glad about the evil [that people do], but is glad about the truth [i.e., the good in their lives]. ⁷ [Love] conceals all [people’s] faults; it believes [the best about] all people; it hopes [for the best in] all people; it endures [ill treatment from] all people.

¹ [This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons. ² May unearned favor and peace be upon you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ I thank my God [in prayer] every time I think of you. ⁴ In my every request for all of you, I make it with joy ⁵ for your sharing [with me] in [carrying on] the work of the Gospel from the first day [I left there] until now. [See 4:14-16]. ⁶ I am confident of this very thing, that God, who began something good among you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’s [return]. ⁷ It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart [i.e., you are dear to me], for you people are sharing in God’s unearned favor with me [Note: Paul here refers to his ministry], both in my imprisonment and in my defense and confirmation of the Gospel [i.e., in my efforts to give proof of the Gospel’s truth]. ⁸ For God is my witness that I long to see you with the [same] affection that Christ Jesus has [for you]. ⁹ And I pray that your love may grow stronger and stronger, [along] with how much you know, and [that you may grow] in your ability to comprehend things. ¹⁰ Then you will be able to approve of [only] what is best and be sincere and without just blame on the day of Christ’s [return], ¹¹ having been full of qualities of righteousness, which come from Jesus Christ and produce honor and praise to God. ¹² Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things that happened to me have resulted in the advancement [of the influence] of the Gospel rather [than hindering it], ¹³ so that my imprisonment for Christ became known throughout the entire headquarters of the governor [i.e., among all his personnel], and to everyone else. ¹⁴ And most of the brothers in the Lord’s [service], through my imprisonment, gained confidence to speak out God’s message with greater courage and without fear. ¹⁵ Some people, indeed, are proclaiming Christ out of envy and strife [i.e., out of rivalry], while others do it from goodwill. ¹⁶ Those who do it out of love [for me] know that I am prepared to defend the Gospel [i.e., before government authorities]. ¹⁷ But the others preach Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, hoping to stir up trouble for me while I am in prison. ¹⁸ So, what [should I think about the situation]? Just this: I am happy and will continue to be happy that, in every way, Christ is being preached, [regardless of] whether it is in pretense or with sincerity. ¹⁹ For I know that, through your requests [in prayer] for me and the help provided by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, this situation will result in my being rescued [i.e., released from imprisonment]. ²⁰ It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not have to be ashamed about anything, but that I will have the courage, [both] now and always, [to so live] that Christ will be exalted [i.e., honored] in my body, whether I live or die. ²¹ For life to me is Christ, and if I die, it would be gain. ²² But if [continuing] to live in my body means accomplishing more work [for Christ], then I do not know which to choose. ²³ So, I am in a dilemma between the two choices. [On the one hand] I have the desire to depart [from this life] and be with Christ [in heaven], which would be far better. ²⁴ Yet [on the other hand], to remain in my body is more necessary for your sakes. ²⁵ So, being convinced of this, I know I will remain [in my body] and continue with all of you for your spiritual progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that, by my being with you again, you will be able to rejoice all the more in [our lives together with] Christ Jesus. ²⁷ So, [whatever happens], live your daily lives in such a way as to be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or remain absent from you, I will hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit [i.e., united in purpose, and] contending with one mind for the faith of the Gospel [i.e., for the body of Christian teaching]. ²⁸ [I also want to hear] that you are not being frightened by those who oppose you, which [opposition] is proof that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved, and this will [all] be done by God. ²⁹ Because God has granted you [the privilege], on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. ³⁰ [So], you are now experiencing the same struggle you [once] saw me going through, and now are hearing that I still am.

¹⁰ Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. [For] look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. [But], you should be faithful [to God] even to the point of dying [for Him], and I will give you the crown of [never ending] life.

¹ Now, [having] faith is being sure of [receiving] what is hoped for, and certain [of the existence] of what is not visible.

¹³ Every temptation that you have experienced is one that commonly happens to people. But God is dependable and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability [to cope with it]; [instead] He will provide, along with the temptation, also a way of escaping [it], so you people will be able to endure it.

⁹ [But] if we confess our sins [to God], He is faithful [to His promise] and righteous [in His judgment], and will forgive us of those sins and cleanse us from all of our wrongdoing.

¹⁰ “The person who is trustworthy in regard to very small matters, [such as material possessions] is also [likely to be] trustworthy in regard to large matters, [such as spiritual values], and the person who does not do what is right in very small matters is also not [likely] to do what is right in large ones.