Notes on the Epistle of Paul, the Apostle, to the Philippians

By William Kelly

A New Translation

 

I. Paul and Timothy, bondmen of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi with bishops and deacons. 2 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon my whole remembrance of you, 4 always in my every supplication for you all making the supplication with joy 5 for your fellowship with the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very tiling, that he who began in you a good work will complete [it] until [the] day of Jesus Christ; 7 even as it is righteous for me to think this of you all, because ye have me in your heart; and both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye are all fellow-partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in [the] bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and all intelligence; 10 that ye may approve the things that are excellent; 1 that ye may be pure and without offence against [the] day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruit of righteousness that [is] by Jesus Christ unto God's praise and glory.

12 But I wish you to know, brethren, that my affairs have turned out rather for furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that my bonds have been manifest in Christ in the whole of the prætorium and to all the rest; 14 and that the most of the brethren in [the] Lord, being confident by my bonds, more abundantly dare to speak the word fearlessly. 15 Some, indeed, also for envy and strife, but some also for goodwill, preach the Christ; 16 these, indeed, out of love, knowing that I am set for defence of the gospel; 17 but these out of contention announce the Christ, not purely, thinking to stir up tribulation for my bonds. 18 What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is announced, and in this I rejoice, yea, and I will rejoice; 19 for I know that this will turn to me for salvation through your supplication and [the] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed; but in all boldness, as always now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die gain; 22 but if to live in flesh, this to me [is] worth while; and what I shall choose I know not. 23 But I am perplexed by the two, having the desire for departing and being with Christ, for it is very far better; 24 but remaining in the flesh is more necessary on your account; 25 and having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and abide with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 that your boast may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again with you. 27 Only conduct yourselves worthily of the gospel of Christ; that, whether coming and seeing you or absent, I may hear of your concerns, that ye stand in one spirit, with one soul striving together with the faith of the gospel; 28 and not frightened in anything by the adversaries, which is to them a shewing forth of destruction, but to you of salvation, and this from God; 29 because to you has been given on behalf of Christ, not only the believing on him, but also the suffering for him; 30 having the same conflict as ye saw in me and now hear of in me.

II. If therefore [there be] any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of [the] Spirit, if any bowels and compassions, 2 fulfil my joy, that ye may mind the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, minding the one thing: 3 nothing in strifefulness, or vainglory, but in lowly-mindedness esteeming one another more excellent than themselves; 4 regarding each not his own things, but each also those of others. 5 For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; 6 who, being2 in God's form, thought it not an object of rapine to be on an equally with God; 7 but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, being come in men's likeness; 8 and being found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave him the name that [is] above every name, 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and eartlly and infernal [beings], 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, unto God [the] Father's glory.

12 So that, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling work out your own salvation; 13 for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmuring and reasonings; 15 that ye may be blameless and sincere, irreproachable children of God amidst a crooked and perverted generation, among whom ye shine as lights 3 in [the] world, 16 holding forth [the] word of life, for a boast to me in Christ's day, that not in vain I ran nor in vain laboured. 17 But if also I am poured out upon the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all; 18 and in the same thing do ye rejoice, and rejoice with me. 19 But I hope in [the] Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, that I also may be cheered knowing about you. 20 For I have none like-minded who will have a genuine care about you; 21 for they all seek their own things, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But the proof of him ye know, that, as a child a father, with me he served in the gospel. 23 Him therefore I hope to send as soon as I shall see my concerns. 24 But I trust in [the] Lord that I also myself' shall come soon, 25 But I thought it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-labourer and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and minister to my wants; 26 since he was longing after you all and uneasy, because ye heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick near to death; but God pitied him, and not h\m only, but me also, that I should not have sorrow upon Borrow. 28 The more diligently therefore I sent him, that seeing him again ye may rejoice and I be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in [the] Lord with all joy, and hold such in honour; 30 because for the work of Christ he was nigh even to death, endangering his life that he might fill up the remainder of your ministrations toward me.

Ill. For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in [the] Lord. To write these things to you [is] not irksome to me, but safe for you. 2 See to dogs, see to the evil workers, see to the concision; 3 for we are the circumcision that worship God in Spirit and boast in Christ Jesus, and have no trust in flesh. 4 Though I have a trusting even in flesh; if any other seem to trust in flesh, I more: 5 in circumcision of eight days, of [the] race of Israel, of [the] tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, according to law a Pharisee, 6 according to zeal persecuting the church, according to righteousness that [is] in law 4 blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss on account of Christ. 8 But moreover also I count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on whose account I lost all things and count them to be refuse that I may win Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having my righteousness that [is] of law, but that [which is] by faith of Christ, the righteousness of God on faith; 10 to know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being con- formed to his death, 11 if by any means I may arrive at the resurrection that [is] from [the] dead. 12 Not that I already received [it] or am already perfected; but I pursue if I may also lay hold, for that also I have been laid hold of by Christ. 13 Brethren, I do not reckon myself to have laid hold; 14 but one tiling — forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before, I pursue goalward unto the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus. 15 As many therefore as [are] perfect, let us mind this. And if in anything ye are differently minded, this also will God reveal to you. 16 Nevertheless unto what we have attained, walk by the same [, mind the same]. 17 Be joint-imitators of me, brethren, and mark those so walking as ye have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is] the belly, and they glory in their shame, who mind the things of earth, 20 For our commonwealth 5 has its being in [the] heavens, from whence also we await [as] Saviour [the] Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who shall transform our body of humiliation, conformed to his body of glory according to the working of his ability also to subject all things to him.

IV. So that, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand in [the] Lord, beloved.

2 Evodia I exhort, and Syntyche I exhort, to mind the same thing in [the] Lord; 3 yea, I beseech thee also, genuine yokefellow, help them, seeing that they shared my conflicts in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-labourers, whose names are in [the] book of life.

4 Rejoice in [the] Lord always: again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your mildness be known to all men. The Lord [is] near. 6 Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, that surpasseth every understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever noble, whatsoever just, whatsoever pure, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good report, if there [is] any virtue, and if any praise, these things consider. 9 Those things which ye also learned, and received, and heard, and saw in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in [the] Lord greatly that now at length ye flourished again in thinking for my interest, while yet also ye did think but had no opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to want; for I learned in the circumstances in which I am to find competence. 12 I know also to be abased, I know also to abound. In everything and in all things I am initiated both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to be in want. 13 In all things I am strong in him that empowereth me. 14 Nevertheless ye did well in sharing with my tribulation. 15 But ye also, O Phihppians, know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I came out of Macedonia, no assembly communicated with me for an account of giving and receiving, unless ye alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica both once and twice ye sent for my need. 17 Not that I am seeking the gift, but I am seeking the fruit that aboundeth unto your account. 18 But I have all things and abound; I am full, having received from Epaphroditua the things from you, an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. 19 But my God will fully supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, 20 Now to our God and Father [be] the glory unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that [are] with me salute you. 22 All the saints salute you, but especially those of the household of Cæsar. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen.

 

[1] Or, "prove the things that differ."

[2] Or, "subsisting."

[3] Or, "light-bearers."

[4] Or, " according to legal righteousness."

[5] Or, "conversation."