PHP 1:3-11

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4always in my every petition on behalf of all of you, making the petition with joy,

5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now —

6having been persuaded of this very thing: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7It is right for me to think this of all of you, because I have you in my heart — both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel — as all of you are co-partakers of grace with me.

8For God is my witness how I long for all of you with the deep affections of Christ Jesus.

9And this I pray: that your love may abound still more and more in full knowledge and all perception,

10so that you may distinguish what is excellent, so that you may be pure and without offense until the day of Christ,

11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

In the world it was spoken into

In Philippi, a Roman colony with strong Greco-Roman civic values, Paul’s letter would resonate with listeners familiar with patronage and communal bonds. The term (partnership) carried weight in both Roman and Jewish contexts, signifying a shared investment in a common cause—here, the gospel. Roman patronage systems emphasized reciprocal loyalty, and Paul’s gratitude reflects this ethos, acknowledging their ongoing support. The phrase (having been persuaded) conveys Paul’s settled confidence, rooted in divine faithfulness, a concept familiar to Jewish listeners who trusted in God’s covenant promises. The mention of (heart) evokes deep emotional connection, a term used in Greco-Roman literature to describe familial or intimate affection. Paul’s prayer for their discernment aligns with Stoic ideals of moral excellence, while his focus on righteousness through Christ Jesus reflects Jewish eschatological hope. The Philippians, a mixed community of Jews and Gentiles, would hear this as both a reaffirmation of their shared mission and a call to deepen their communal and spiritual bonds.

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How other translations render this

PHP 1:3

KJV: I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
BSB: I thank my God every time I remember you.
Koinōnos: I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

PHP 1:4

KJV: Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
BSB: In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
Koinōnos: always in my every petition on behalf of all of you, making the petition with joy,

PHP 1:5

KJV: For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
BSB: because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Koinōnos: because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now —

PHP 1:6

KJV: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
BSB: being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: having been persuaded of this very thing: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

PHP 1:7

KJV: Even 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.
BSB: It 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.
Koinōnos: It is right for me to think this of all of you, because I have you in my heart — both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel — as all of you are co-partakers of grace with me.

PHP 1:8

KJV: For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
BSB: God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: For God is my witness how I long for all of you with the deep affections of Christ Jesus.

PHP 1:9

KJV: And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
BSB: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Koinōnos: And this I pray: that your love may abound still more and more in full knowledge and all perception,

PHP 1:10

KJV: That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
BSB: so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Koinōnos: so that you may distinguish what is excellent, so that you may be pure and without offense until the day of Christ,

PHP 1:11

KJV: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
BSB: filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Koinōnos: filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

PHP 1:5

partnership:The word translated 'partnership' here implies a deep, shared involvement and common participation, often with mutual benefit and responsibility, rather than just a casual association.

PHP 1:6

having been persuaded of:The phrase translated 'having been persuaded of' suggests a settled conviction or firm belief that has come about through a process of being convinced, rather than a simple assumption.

PHP 1:8

in:The word translated 'in' when referring to 'the heart of Christ Jesus' literally refers to the inward parts or vital organs, which were considered the seat of deep emotions and affections in ancient thought.

PHP 1:10

being excellent,:The phrase translated 'being excellent' carries the sense of discerning and approving what is truly superior or distinguishing between things to choose the best, not merely being good.