Clear Gloss Bible: Philippians

A phrase-based interlinear translation

Nigel Chapman

§1.

Introduction

A little amateur translation like this is primarily for fun.  However, I’ve never seen a phrase-by-phrase gloss of any large section of the New Testament, and have often thought it might demystify the process of translation.  Taking phrases in order doesn’t always suit Greek sentence structure (e.g. Phil 1:15), but that’s not an insurmountable problem on the whole.

More interestingly, it’s an chance to try and translate for readers with no assumed Christian background.  This is a different task to translating within a Christian tradition that knows or expects further commentary or exposition.  To give one example, when Paul says “I have been put here,” in prison, “for the defence of the gospel” (NRSV, 1:16), and that his churches are encouraged and emboldened by this (1:12–14), and that it’s all working out for his “deliverance” (lit. salvation, 1:19), this seems an odd state of affairs.  Why wouldn’t being free have served all of those purposes better?  The translator is in a position to know that if Paul is tried and exonerated in Rome, then his gospel may effectively be declared legal – which it presently isn’t, as only Jewish citizens have exemptions from the formal requirements of emperor worship.  This understanding can be conveyed largely by translating deliverance as acquittal.  A first-time reader won’t have any way to make these connections, so it’s better if the translator make it clear than to leave the reader guessing.

§2.

Philippians 1:1-11

Greetings and Thanks

1
Παῦλος καὶ Τιμόθεος
Paul and Timothy,
δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
servants1 of Jesus Christ,
πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις
to all those set apart2
ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ
in him
τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Φιλίπποις
who are in Philippi,
σὺν ἐπισκόποις καὶ διακόνοις·
and the church overseers and servers.3
2
χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη
Grace and peace to you,
ἀπὸ Θεοῦ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν
from God our Father
καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3
Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ μου4
/ I thank my God
ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν,
every time I remember you,
4
πάντοτε
always,
ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου
in all of my prayers
ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν
for you all,
μετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος,
praying joyfully
5
ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν
because of your common cause
εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον
in our message
ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας
from day one
ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν
until now.
6
πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι
I’m sure
ὁ ἐναρξάμενος
he who started
ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν
a good work among you
ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι
will keep going ‘til he completes it on
ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ·5
Jesus Christ’s day.

Paul’s Longing and Prayers

7
καθώς ἐστιν δίκαιον
It’s right
ἐμοὶ τοῦτο φρονεῖν ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν,
that I think of you all like this
διὰ τὸ ἔχειν με
because you have me
ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς,
in your hearts,
ἔν τε τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου
and in my chains
καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει
and in the defence and confirmation
τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
of our message,
συνκοινωνούς μου τῆς χάριτος πάντας ὑμᾶς ὄντας.
you all share the same gift as I.
8
μάρτυς γάρ μου ὁ Θεός,6
God sees
ὡς ἐπιποθῶ πάντας ὑμᾶς
how I long for you all
ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
with Christ’s heart.
9
καὶ τοῦτο προσεύχομαι,
I pray
ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν
your love
ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ
may grow continuously
ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει,
in understanding and constant insight,
10
εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τὰ διαφέροντα,
so you can appreciate what’s best,
ἵνα ἦτε εἰλικρινεῖς7 καὶ ἀπρόσκοποι
and can be faultless and blameless
εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ,
in Christ’s day,
11
πεπληρωμένοι καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης8
filled up with the fruit of rightness,
τὸν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
which comes through Jesus Christ
εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον Θεοῦ.
for God’s glory and praise.

1 δοῦλοι, also slaves
2 trad. saints
3 trad. bishops and deacons
4 var. εγω μεν ευχ. τω Θεω κυριω ημων: "And I give thanks to my God our Lord"
5 var. transposed: Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
6 allusion?  Gen 31:50; var. μου μοι, “God is my a witness for me"
7 connotes glass checked for flaws against sunlight
8 allusion?  Prov 3:9, 11:30

§3.

Philippians 1:12–26

12
Γινώσκειν δὲ ὑμᾶς βούλομαι,
But I want you to know,
ἀδελφοί,
brothers,1
ὅτι τὰ κατ’ ἐμὲ
that my situation
μᾶλλον εἰς προκοπὴν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐλήλυθεν
is actually promoting our message.
13
ὥστε τοὺς δεσμούς μου
My chains
φανεροὺς ἐν Χριστῷ γενέσθαι
are seen to be for Christ
ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ
among the whole Roman guard2
καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πᾶσιν
and to everyone else,
14
καὶ τοὺς πλείονας τῶν ἀδελφῶν
and most of the brothers,
ἐν Κυρίῳ πεποιθότας
growing confident in the Lord
τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου
because of them,
περισσοτέρως τολμᾶν
are emboldened
ἀφόβως τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ λαλεῖν.
to speak God’s word fearlessly.
15
Τινὲς μὲν καὶ διὰ φθόνον καὶ ἔριν
Some by envy and rivalry –
τινὲς δὲ καὶ δι’ εὐδοκίαν
others by goodwill –
τὸν Χριστὸν κηρύσσουσιν·
are preaching Christ.
16
οἱ μὲν ἐξ ἀγάπης
Those motivated by love
εἰδότες ὅτι
know that
εἰς ἀπολογίαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου κεῖμαι,
I’m in here to get our message cleared.
17
οἱ δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας
But those motivated by rivalry,
τὸν Χριστὸν καταγγέλλουσιν, οὐχ ἁγνῶς,
they preach Christ insincerely,
οἰόμενοι θλῖψιν ἐγείρειν
thinking they can stir up trouble
τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου.
by my imprisonment.
18
τί γάρ;
So what, though?
πλὴν ὅτι παντὶ τρόπῳ,
As long as in every place,
εἴτε προφάσει εἴτε ἀληθείᾳ,
be it in pretence or in truth,
Χριστὸς καταγγέλλεται,
Christ is being preached,
καὶ ἐν τούτῳ χαίρω·
then I’m happy about it,
ἀλλὰ καὶ χαρήσομαι·
will celebrate it even,
19
οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι τοῦτό
because I know that this
μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν
will lead to my acquital
διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν δεήσεως
through your prayers,
καὶ ἐπιχορηγίας
and the support
τοῦ Πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
of Jesus Christ’s spirit.
20
κατὰ τὴν ἀποκαραδοκίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα μου
My anticipation and my hope
ὅτι ἐν οὐδενὶ αἰσχυνθήσομαι,
is that in nothing will I be ashamed
ἀλλ’ ἐν πάσῃ παρρησίᾳ ὡς πάντοτε
but always speak freely in everything,
καὶ νῦν μεγαλυνθήσεται Χριστὸς
and Christ will be greatly honoured
ἐν τῷ σώματί μου,
in my body
εἴτε διὰ ζωῆς εἴτε διὰ θανάτου.
whether through life or death.
21
Ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸς
For life is Christ to me,
καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος.
and death is profit.
22
εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί,
But if life goes on
τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου,
this will mean fruitful labour
καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω.
and I don’t know which to like the best.
23
συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο
I am torn between the two,
τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι
desiring to cast off
καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι,
and be with Christ,
πολλῷ γὰρ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον·
which is so much better.
24
τὸ δὲ ἐπιμένειν τῇ σαρκὶ
But staying alive
ἀναγκαιότερον δι’ ὑμᾶς
is my obligation to you,
25
καὶ τοῦτο πεποιθὼς οἶδα,
and I’m confident
ὅτι μενῶ
that I’ll remain.
καὶ παραμενῶ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν
I will continue with you all
εἰς τὴν ὑμῶν προκοπὴν
for your progress
καὶ χαρὰν τῆς πίστεως,
and joyous faith,
26
ἵνα τὸ καύχημα ὑμῶν
so that your exulting
περισσεύῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ
in Jesus Christ may swell in my heart
διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς παρουσίας πάλιν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
when I come to you again.

1 brothers usually includes sisters.
2 πραιτώριον.  A governor’s residence or the imperial guard.  The right translation depends on whether Paul is thought to be writing from Rome.

§4.

Philippians 1:27–2:4

27
Μόνον ἀξίως
Only be worthy
τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ Χριστοῦ
of Christ’s gospel
πολιτεύεσθε,
in the way you act,
ἵνα εἴτε ἐλθὼν
so that whether I come
καὶ ἰδὼν ὑμᾶς
and see you
ἴτε ἀπὼν
or am absent,
ἀκούω τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν,
I hear of you
ὅτι στήκετε ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι,
that you stand firm in one spirit,
μιᾷ ψυχῇ συναθλοῦντες
striving as a single soul
τῇ πίστει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου,
in the gospel’s faithfulness,
28
καὶ μὴ πτυρόμενοι ἐν μηδενὶ
not frightened in any way
ὑπὸ τῶν ἀντικειμένων,
by your opponents
ἥτις ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς ἔνδειξις ἀπωλείας,
which to them is evidence of destruction
ὑμῶν δὲ σωτηρίας,
but of your deliverance
καὶ τοῦτο ἀπὸ Θεοῦ·
and this from God.
29
ὅτι ὑμῖν ἐχαρίσθη
For it has been given to you,
τὸ ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ,
in regard to Christ,
οὐ μόνον τὸ εἰς αὐτὸν πιστεύειν
not only to believe in him
ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ πάσχειν,
but also to suffer for him,
30
τὸν αὐτὸν ἀγῶνα ἔχοντες
having the same struggle
οἷον εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοὶ
you saw that I had,
καὶ νῦν ἀκούετε ἐν ἐμοί.
and you hear that I have now.
2:1
Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις
If there is then any consolation
ἐν Χριστῷ,
in Christ
εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης
or loving encouragement,
εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος,
any Spirit-communion
εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
or heartfelt compassion,
2
πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαρὰν
then fill up my joy
ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε,
so that you have the same mind
τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες
and the same love,
σύνψυχοι
being of one accord
τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες,
and one intention,
3
μηδὲν κατ’ ἐριθείαν
doing nothing with selfish contention
μηδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν,
nor hollow pride,
ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ
but in humility
ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι
holding one another
ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν,
higher than yourselves.
4
μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστοι σκοποῦντες,
Don’t look to your individual interests,
ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστοι.
but rather to those of each other.

§5.

Philippians 2:5-2:18

5
τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν
Have this mind inside you
ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ,
that was also in Christ Jesus,
6
ὃς ἐν μορφῇ Θεοῦ
who, though in God’s form
ὑπάρχων
he existed
οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο
didn’t take advantage
τὸ εἶναι ἴσα Θεῷ,
of being one with God,
7
ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν
but he emptied himself
μορφὴν δούλου λαβών,
taking the form of a servant,
ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων
and in human likeness
γενόμενος·
appearing
καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
and being found in human form,
8
ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν
he humbled himself
γενόμενος ὑπήκοος
becoming subject
μέχρι θανάτου,
even to death,
θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.
to death on a cross.
9
διὸ καὶ ὁ Θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν,
Therefore God also exalted him,
καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ
and gave him
τὸ ὄνομα
the name
τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα,
above every name
10
ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ
that at Jesus’ name
πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ
every knee shall bow
ἐπουρανίων
in heaven
καὶ ἐπιγείων
and on earth
καὶ καταχθονίων,
and under the earth
11
καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα
and very tongue
ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι
shall confess:
ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ
LORD JESUS CHRIST
εἰς δόξαν
to the glory
Θεοῦ Πατρός.
of Father God.
12
Ὥστε,
Therefore
ἀγαπητοί μου,
my beloved,
καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε,
just as you have always obeyed
μὴ ὡς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ μου μόνον
not only in my appearing
ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον
but much more now
ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου
in my being away,
μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου
with fear and trembling
τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε·
work through your salvation.
13
Θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν
It is God
ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν
who works in you
καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν
to plan and effect
ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
according to his good will.
14
πάντα ποιεῖτε
Do everything
χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν,
without murmuring and arguing,
15
ἵνα γένησθε
so that you may be
ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι,
blameless and innocent
τέκνα Θεοῦ ἄμωμα
God’s unblemished children
μέσον
amid
γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης,
a crooked and perverse generation
ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε
in which you shine
ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,
like stars in the universe,
16
λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες,
holding out the word of life
εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ
so I may boast
εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ,
in Christ’s day
ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον
that I neither ran in vain
οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
nor worked in vain.
17
Ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ
But even if
σπένδομαι
I am poured out as a sacrifice,
ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ
upon the sacrifices
τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν,
of your faithfulness,
χαίρω
I rejoice
καὶ συνχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν·
– I rejoice with all of you,
18
τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς
And you must also
χαίρετε
be glad
καὶ συνχαίρετέ μοι.
and celebrate with me.

§6.

Philippians 2:19–30 – Arrangements

19 Ἐλπίζω δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν.  20 οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον, ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει· 21 οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.  22 τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ γινώσκετε, ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον.  23 Τοῦτον μὲν οὖν ἐλπίζω πέμψαι ὡς ἂν ἀφίδω τὰ περὶ ἐμὲ ἐξαυτῆς· 24 πέποιθα δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ταχέως ἐλεύσομαι.  25 ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συνστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, 26 ἐπειδὴ ἐπιποθῶν ἦν πάντας ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀδημονῶν, διότι ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἠσθένησεν.  27 καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ· ἀλλὰ ὁ Θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν, οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ.  28 σπουδαιοτέρως οὖν ἔπεμψα αὐτὸν, ἵνα ἰδόντες αὐτὸν πάλιν χαρῆτε κἀγὼ ἀλυπότερος ὦ.  29 προσδέχεσθε οὖν αὐτὸν ἐν Κυρίῳ μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς, καὶ τοὺς τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε, 30 ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ, ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας.

§7.

Philippians 3:1–4:3 – Current Issues

1 Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί μου, χαίρετε ἐν Κυρίῳ.  τὰ αὐτὰ γράφειν ὑμῖν ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐκ ὀκνηρόν, ὑμῖν δὲ ἀσφαλές.

2 Βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας, βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας, βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν.  3 ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν ἡ περιτομή, οἱ Πνεύματι Θεοῦ λατρεύοντες καὶ καυχώμενοι ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐν σαρκὶ πεποιθότες, 4 καίπερ ἐγὼ ἔχων πεποίθησιν καὶ ἐν σαρκί.  Εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἄλλος πεποιθέναι ἐν σαρκί, ἐγὼ μᾶλλον· 5 περιτομῇ ὀκταήμερος, ἐκ γένους Ἰσραήλ, φυλῆς Βενιαμείν, Ἑβραῖος ἐξ Ἑβραίων, κατὰ νόμον Φαρισαῖος, 6 κατὰ ζῆλος διώκων τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος.  7 Ἀλλὰ ἅτινα ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν.  8 ἀλλὰ μὲν οὖν γε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι διὰ τὸ ὑπερέχον τῆς γνώσεως Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου μου, δι’ ὃν τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω 9 καὶ εὑρεθῶ ἐν αὐτῷ, μὴ ἔχων ἐμὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ νόμου, ἀλλὰ τὴν διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, τὴν ἐκ Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην ἐπὶ τῇ πίστει, 10 τοῦ γνῶναι αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ κοινωνίαν παθημάτων αὐτοῦ, συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ, 11 εἴ πως καταντήσω εἰς τὴν ἐξανάστασιν τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν.  12 οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω, ἐφ’ ᾧ καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.  13 ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὔπω λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι· ἓν δέ, τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος, 14 κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.  15 Ὅσοι οὖν τέλειοι, τοῦτο φρονῶμεν· καὶ εἴ τι ἑτέρως φρονεῖτε, καὶ τοῦτο ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῖν ἀποκαλύψει· 16 πλὴν εἰς ὃ ἐφθάσαμεν, τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν.  17 Συνμιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί, καὶ σκοπεῖτε τοὺς οὕτως περιπατοῦντας καθὼς ἔχετε τύπον ἡμᾶς.  18 πολλοὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦσιν οὓς πολλάκις ἔλεγον ὑμῖν, νῦν δὲ καὶ κλαίων λέγω, τοὺς ἐχθροὺς τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 19 ὧν τὸ τέλος ἀπώλεια, ὧν ὁ θεὸς ἡ κοιλία καὶ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν, οἱ τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες.  20 ἡμῶν γὰρ τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὑπάρχει, ἐξ οὗ καὶ Σωτῆρα ἀπεκδεχόμεθα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, 21 ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ, κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα.

1 Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐπιπόθητοι, χαρὰ καὶ στέφανός μου, οὕτως στήκετε ἐν Κυρίῳ, ἀγαπητοί.  2 Εὐοδίαν παρακαλῶ καὶ Συντύχην παρακαλῶ τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν Κυρίῳ.  3 ναὶ ἐρωτῶ καὶ σέ, γνήσιε σύνζυγε, συνλαμβάνου αὐταῖς, αἵτινες ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ συνήθλησάν μοι μετὰ καὶ Κλήμεντος καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν συνεργῶν μου, ὧν τὰ ὀνόματα ἐν βίβλῳ ζωῆς.

§8.

Philippians 4:4–23 – Concluding Exhortations

4 Χαίρετε ἐν Κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε.  5 τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις.  ὁ Κύριος ἐγγύς· 6 μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλ’ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν Θεόν.  7 καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.  8 Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε· 9 ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε· καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθ’ ὑμῶν.

10 Ἐχάρην δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ μεγάλως ὅτι ἤδη ποτὲ ἀνεθάλετε τὸ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ φρονεῖν· ἐφ’ ᾧ καὶ ἐφρονεῖτε, ἠκαιρεῖσθε δέ.  11 οὐχ ὅτι καθ’ ὑστέρησιν λέγω· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔμαθον ἐν οἷς εἰμι αὐτάρκης εἶναι.  12 οἶδα καὶ ταπεινοῦσθαι, οἶδα καὶ περισσεύειν· ἐν παντὶ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν μεμύημαι, καὶ χορτάζεσθαι καὶ πεινᾶν, καὶ περισσεύειν καὶ ὑστερεῖσθαι.  13 πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με.  14 πλὴν καλῶς ἐποιήσατε συνκοινωνήσαντές μου τῇ θλίψει.  15 οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς, Φιλιππήσιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας, οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήμψεως εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι, 16 ὅτι καὶ ἐν Θεσσαλονίκῃ καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δὶς εἰς τὴν χρείαν μοι ἐπέμψατε.  17 οὐχ ὅτι ἐπιζητῶ τὸ δόμα, ἀλλὰ ἐπιζητῶ τὸν καρπὸν τὸν πλεονάζοντα εἰς λόγον ὑμῶν.  18 ἀπέχω δὲ πάντα καὶ περισσεύω· πεπλήρωμαι δεξάμενος παρὰ Ἐπαφροδίτου τὰ παρ’ ὑμῶν, ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας, θυσίαν δεκτήν, εὐάρεστον τῷ Θεῷ.  19 ὁ δὲ Θεός μου πληρώσει πᾶσαν χρείαν ὑμῶν κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος αὐτοῦ ἐν δόξῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.  20 τῷ δὲ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρὶ ἡμῶν ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν.

21 Ἀσπάσασθε πάντα ἅγιον ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.  ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ ἀδελφοί.  22 ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι, μάλιστα δὲ οἱ ἐκ τῆς Καίσαρος οἰκίας.

23 Ἡ χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν.

§9.

Manuscripts

The transmission of the letter over time is seldom discussed in translations or commentaries, but for anyone so interested is easily shown with a few internet links.  The following Greek manuscripts of Philippians allow you to check in on it every few hundred years.

The earliest substantial quotes come from Marcion’s lost Apostolikon (c.140 CE).  This was a Gnostic edition of Paul’s letters containing nothing favourable toward Judaism or Jesus’ bodily existence.  It was still popular enough sixty years later that Tertullian made a book-by-book commentary that quoted agreements and differences (Against Marcion, Book V, Chapter XX, c.208 CE).11


1 https://www.earlybible.com/manuscripts/p46-Phi-1.html
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_46
3 https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/e-catena/
4 http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/en/manuscript.aspx?book=42#42-1-11-1
5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_uncial_codices
6 https://csntm.org/Manuscript/View/GA_012
7 https://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W533/
8 https://archive.org/details/novumtestamentum00eras/page/424
9 https://sites.google.com/site/nestle1904/philippians
10 https://www.nestle-aland.com/en/read-na28-online/text/bibeltext/lesen/stelle/60/
11 http://www.tertullian.org/anf/anf03/anf03-35.htm#P8106_2303214