In conclusion1, my friends, be joyful in your union with the Lord. I don’t mind repeating what I have written before, and you will be safer if I do so. Watch out for those who do evil things, those dogs, those who insist on cutting the body. It is we, not they, who have received the true circumcision, for we worship God by means of his Spirit and rejoice in our life in union with Christ Jesus. We do not put any trust in external ceremonies. I could, of course, put my trust in such things. If any of you think you can trust in external ceremonies, I have even more reason to feel that way. I was circumcised when I was a week old. I am an Israelite by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin, a pure-blooded Hebrew. As far as keeping the Jewish Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee, and I was so zealous that I persecuted the church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the Law, I was without fault. But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ’s sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life. I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above. All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you. However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.
Keep on imitating me2, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you. I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ’s death on the cross. They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world. We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.
So then3, my friends, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me, and how proud I am of you!—this, dear friends, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord. Euodia and Syntyche, please, I beg you, try to agree as sisters in the Lord. And you too, my faithful partner, I want you to help these women; for they have worked hard with me to spread the gospel, together with Clement and all my other fellow workers, whose names are in God’s book of the living. May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
In conclusion4, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. In my life in union with the Lord it is a great joy to me that after so long a time you once more had the chance of showing that you care for me. I don’t mean that you had stopped caring for me—you just had no chance to show it. And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. But it was very good of you to help me in my troubles. You Philippians know very well that when I left Macedonia in the early days of preaching the Good News, you were the only church to help me; you were the only ones who shared my profits and losses. More than once when I needed help in Thessalonica, you sent it to me. It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see profit added to your account. Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me—and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him. And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs. To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen. Greetings to each one of God’s people who belong to Christ Jesus. The believers here with me send you their greetings. All God’s people here send greetings, especially those who belong to the Emperor’s palace. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Phil 3:1-4:23
Did you notice how easily this passage divides if we pay attention to the discourse markers? Note the occurrence each time of the element “Dear Friends“. This passage is after all epistolary by nature; an epistle or letter writing form. In lay person’s terms, this is Paul’s letter to his friends in Philippi. Put yourself in his position and notice carefully how he has sectioned the pieces with “dear ones” or “dear friends“. Each time these words appear, they mark the break between one section and another. Note how each time Paul refers to his dear friends, a new section begins with a new section which breaks the segment and opens a new paragraph on a different topic. I have marked these elements with a superscripted number for you.
Here they are summarised for you along with the variations across the versions:
- Τὸ λοιπόν:- In conclusion, finally, for the rest, and now, now then, so then, it remains, for the rest, that’s about it, whatever happens, Dear . . .
- Συμμιμηταί μου:- Imitate me, follow me. follow my example, stick with me, be like me, pattern your lives after me, imitate my walk with God, Dear . . .
- Ωστε:- Therefore, so, so then, so that, so as, wherefore, Dear . . .
- Τὸ λοιπόν:- In conclusion, finally, for the rest, summing it all up, and now one final thing, Dear . . .
The four sections that I have picked out above mark the larger sections, each of which can be divided still further. I will section each one further as we come to them. You can see below that there is no consistency across the versions in terms of how Philippians Chapters Three and Four are divided. Have a careful look at how each of these published versions of the Bible below have handled the division of the text and you will no longer think you might divide it incorrectly. Take note that I have even given you two different different divisions from published versions of the NLT. The publisher is the one who adds the Titles to the pericope (smaller titled sections) not the translator(s).
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 3:1-21 | The Goal Of Life |
Phil 4:1-9 | Think Of Excellence |
Phil 4:10-23 | God’s Provision |
New International Version (NIV)
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 3:1-11 | No Confidence In The Flesh |
Phil 3:12-4:1 | Pressing Toward The Goal |
Phil 4:2-9 | Exhortations |
Phil 4:10-20 | Thanks For The Gifts |
Phil 4:21-23 | Final Greetings |
New Living Translation 1 (NLT)
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 3:1-11 | Righteousness Through Faith In Christ |
Phil 3:12-21 | Straining Toward The Goal |
Phil 4:1 | [This verse is left hanging] |
Phil 4:2-9 | Exhortation, Encouragement, Prayer |
Phil 4:10-20 | God’s Provision |
Phil 4:21-23 | Final Close |
New Living Translation 2 (NLT)
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 3:1-11 | The Priceless Gain Of Knowing Christ |
Phil 3:12-4:1 | Pressing Toward The Goal |
Phil 4:2-9 | Paul’s Final Thoughts |
Phil 4:10-20 | Paul’s Thanks For Their Gifts |
Phil 4:21-23 | Paul’s Final Greetings |
Today’s English Version (TEV)
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 3:1-11 | The True Righteousness |
Phil 3:12-21 | Running Toward The Goal |
Phil 4:1-9 | Instructions |
Phil 4:10-20 | Thanks For The Gift |
Phil 4:21-23 | Final Greetings |
The Message (MSG)
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 3:1-11 | To Know Him Personally |
Phil 3:12-4:1 | Focused On The Goal |
Phil 4:2-10 | Pray About Everything |
Phil 4:11-23 | Content Whatever The Circumstances |
J B Phillips’ Translation
Verse References | Title |
---|---|
Phil 2:19-3:1 | The Mission Of Timothy And Epaphroditus |
Phil 3:2-3 | The Circumcision Party Are Enemies of Faith |
Phil 3:4-14 | More Of A Jewish Faith Tham Those But Christ Changed Me |
Phil 3:15-4:1 | Being Spiritually Mature |
Phil 4:2-9 | Be United, Joyful And At Peace |
Phil 4:10-20 | The Memory of Your Generosity Brings Joy |
Phil 4:21-23 | Farewell Messages |
I stand by the four major divisions I used to divide these two chapters of Philippians, following the big picture (Discourse) markers Paul used. But if you cast your mind back to any of the proposition analysis passages I have dealt with, you will see that the Greek text can be divided into smaller units. In the field of linguistics we talk of splitters and joiners, all based on the differences and similarities we see when dividing the text. In short, there are those who like to join verses together grouped around common ideas or similarities. Conversely, there are those who like to split passages into smaller sections based on the differences they see.
I am sure you have got the idea by now that you can’t make a mistake in dividing the text. As it was in the days of Judges, “every person did what was right in their own eyes”. Perhaps this might encourage you to take a risk and have another attempt at dividing this remaining portion of Philippians.
- You can’t go wrong.
- Just call it the ‘Your Name Version’.
You try giving each one a title.I will however deal with some of the interesting anomalies among the varied verse divisions in the versions above as we come to them. You might like to give a Title to each of the four subdivisions I have created in the text above. I have deliberately not given them titles as yet.
You Will Not Be Rewarded For Your Similarities With Other People, But For Your Differences.
If you seek harmony learn to focus on your similarities rather than your differences.
Ian Vail
The differences between can, should, will, and DID are as vast as the distance between stars!
God will not rewrite the Bible for this easily offended generation! His Word remains the same always!
Bruce Grayden