Philippians 2:12

Lights in the World

2:12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, ¹ 

Philippians 2:16

2:16 by holding on to ²  the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

Philippians 2:25

2:25 But for now ³  I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, ⁴  coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger ⁵  and minister ⁶  to me in my need. ⁷ 

Philippians 2:27

2:27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. ⁸  But God showed mercy to him – and not to him only, but also to me – so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

Philippians 3:13

3:13 Brothers and sisters, ⁹  I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: ¹⁰  Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

Philippians 4:3

4:3 Yes, I say also to you, true companion, ¹¹  help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry ¹²  along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

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¹ tn Grk “with fear and trembling.” The Greek words φόβος and τρόμος both imply fear in a negative sense (L&N 25.251 and 16.6 respectively) while the former can also refer to respect and awe for deity (L&N 53.59). Paul’s use of the terms in other contexts refers to “awe and reverence in the presence of God” (P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 284; see discussion on 282-84). The translation “awe and reverence” was chosen to portray the attitude the believer should have toward God as they consider their behavior in light of God working through Jesus Christ (2:6-11) and in the believer’s life (2:13) to accomplish their salvation.

² tn Or “holding out, holding forth.”

³ tn Grk “But.” The temporal notion (“for now”) is implied in the epistolary aorist (“I have considered”), for Epaphroditus was dispatched with this letter to the Philippians.

⁴ tn Grk “my brother” instead of “For he is my brother.” Verse 25 constitutes one sentence in Greek, with “my brother…” functioning appositionally to “Epaphroditus.”

sn The reason why Paul refers to Epaphroditus as his brother, coworker, fellow soldier, etc., is because he wants to build up Epaphroditus in the eyes of the Philippians, since Paul is sending him back instead of Timothy. This accent on Epaphroditus’ character and service is implied in the translation “For he is…”

⁵ tn Grk “apostle.”

⁶ tn The Greek word translated “minister” here is λειτουργός (leitourgo").

⁷ tn Grk “servant of my need.”

⁸ tn Grk “For he became ill to the point of death.”

⁹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

¹⁰ tn Grk “But this one thing (I do).”

¹¹ tn Or “faithful fellow worker.” This is more likely a descriptive noun, although some scholars interpret the word σύζυγος (suzugos) here as a proper name (“Syzygos”), L&N 42.45.

¹² tn Grk “in the gospel,” a metonymy in which the gospel itself is substituted for the ministry of making the gospel known.