And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
Phil 1:12-30
I don’t know if you have had time to consider where you would break the remaining portion of Chapter 1 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. I have given you some input below but if you want to pass straight to what I have done for you then feel free. No charge! However if you want the opportunity to test yourself on this exercise then apply yourself to the block above and determine where you would divide the segments. In which case don’t read any further until you have done your work.
A-ah, no peeking.
Just do it. Take your courage in your two hands and do it. Come on, you can do it. No one else is looking.
If you want some encouragement, even help, then keep reading.
I decided that I would do something I have never done before. I undertook a survey of the printed translations I have in my library and around the house to see how they were divided. I also discovered when I looked at the various versions in E-Sword that pericope division with titles were all standardised to the same division points and the same title given. It didn’t reflect a particular published Bible in that version but rather ‘E-Sword’ adjusted all versions to fit the one standard choice of division of the pericope along with the standardised titles. Where you see two rows of divisions for one Translation in the list below it simply indicates I had two printed Bibles for that translation which differed.
The results overall were fascinating, totally unexpected and of huge encouragement to you, my dear reader.
Various Pericope Titles Compared
- AMP – 12-30 No division / No Title
- CEV – 12-30 What Life Means to Paul
- GNB – 12-30 To Live is Christ
- Jerusalem Bible – 12-26 Paul’s Own Circumstances 27-30 Fight for the Faith
- KJV – 12-26 Paul’s Boldness in Prison 27-30 The Example of Christ
- MSG – 12-30 They Can’t Imprison the Message
- NASB – 12-20 The Gospel is Preached 21-30 To Live is Christ
- NIV – 12-30 Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
- NLT – 12-17 Advance of the Gospel 18-30 To Live is Christ
- 12-19 Paul’s Joy that Christ is Preached 20-26 Paul’s Life for Christ 27-30 Live as Citizens of Heaven
- Passion Bible – 12-30 Paul’s Imprisonment
- RSV – 12-30 No division / No Title – > 30
- 12-26 Paul’s Boldness in Prison 27-30 The Example of Christ
- Scofield – 12-30 Joy Triumphing Over Suffering
- Weymouth – 12-14 Happy Effects 15-17 Various Motives 18-20 Paul Rejoices 21-26 Paul’s Conflict 27-30 Exhortation
The Happy Effects of His Imprisonment | Various Motives for Preaching Christ | Paul Rejoices that Christ is Preached | Paul’s Conflict of Feelings as to Life and Death | An Exhortation to Noble Conduct |
You can gather from what I have given you above that I am prone to spontaneously go off in a new direction, or undertake the investigation of a side-track on a whim or the sniff of a possibility. Your input to me by way of questions, queries or confusion can spark such adventures. So be encouraged to interact with me. In past Gems, readers have opened up new ways of looking at the biblical text purely as result of their self-titled “dumb questions” or ponderings. Try it. You might end up thinking your question was well worth asking.
What lies below I trust is now inviting enough to tempt you to try to come up with titles of your own. Doing an exercise like that hones your skills of summarising Paul’s thoughts into titles.
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. (Phil 1:12-17)
But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. (Phil 1:18)
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. (Phil 1:19-26)
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. (Phil 1:27-30)
Phil 1:12-30
I have divided the portion of Philippians Chapter 1:12-30 in focus but have not added titles. Why don’t you take a stab at titling the subsections. Your title will be as good as mine and certainIy better than some found in the published Bibles. I will choose the most popular of any you send to me. From that point on, starting with the next Gem we will begin our in-depth investigation of what Paul wrote.
One who lacks courage to start has already finished.
Anon
When you stop making progress, you’ll start making excuses. When you stop making excuses, you’ll start making progress.
Gery Ong
Christians should be among the most creative of all people; we have the most creative Father of all, and should follow in Daddy’s footsteps.
Anon
Your greatest obstacle to personal growth isn’t ignorance; it’s the illusion of knowledge. It’s in believing you’ve ‘arrived.’
Bob Gass