Proverbs 4:18

4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, ¹ 

growing brighter and brighter ²  until full day. ³ 

Isaiah 58:8

58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; ⁴ 

your restoration will quickly arrive; ⁵ 

your godly behavior ⁶  will go before you,

and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard. ⁷ 

Isaiah 60:1-3

Zion’s Future Splendor

60:1 “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!

The splendor ⁸  of the Lord shines on you!

60:2 For, look, darkness covers the earth

and deep darkness covers ⁹  the nations,

but the Lord shines on you;

his splendor ¹⁰  appears over you.

60:3 Nations come to your light,

kings to your bright light.

Romans 13:11-14

Motivation to Godly Conduct

13:11 And do this ¹¹  because we know ¹²  the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. 13:12 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. 13:13 Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy. 13:14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires. ¹³ 

Ephesians 5:8

5:8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are ¹⁴  light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –

Philippians 2:15-16

2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world ¹⁵  2:16 by holding on to ¹⁶  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 2:1

Christian Unity and Christ’s Humility

2:1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, ¹⁷  any affection or mercy, ¹⁸ 

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, ¹⁹ 

Philippians 1:6-8

1:6 For I am sure of this very thing, ²⁰  that the one ²¹  who began a good work in ²²  you will perfect it ²³  until the day of Christ Jesus. 1:7 For ²⁴  it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, ²⁵  since both in my imprisonment ²⁶  and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace ²⁷  together with me. 1:8 For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul ²⁸  and Timothy, slaves ²⁹  of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, ³⁰  with the overseers ³¹  and deacons.

Philippians 2:9

2:9 As a result God exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

Philippians 2:1

Christian Unity and Christ’s Humility

2:1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, ³²  any affection or mercy, ³³ 

Philippians 1:5-7

1:5 because of your participation ³⁴  in the gospel from the first day until now. ³⁵  1:6 For I am sure of this very thing, ³⁶  that the one ³⁷  who began a good work in ³⁸  you will perfect it ³⁹  until the day of Christ Jesus. 1:7 For ⁴⁰  it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, ⁴¹  since both in my imprisonment ⁴²  and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace ⁴³  together with me.

[4:18]  ¹ tn Heb “like light of brightness.” This construction is an attributive genitive: “bright light.” The word “light” (אוֹר, ’or) refers to the early morning light or the dawn (BDB 21 s.v.). The point of the simile is that the course of life that the righteous follow is like the clear, bright morning light. It is illumined, clear, easy to follow, and healthy and safe – the opposite of what darkness represents.

[4:18]  ² tn The construction uses the Qal active participle of הָלַךְ (halakh) in a metaphorical sense to add the idea of continuance or continually to the participle הוֹלֵךְ (holekh). Here the path was growing light, but the added participle signifies continually.

[4:18]  ³ tn Heb “until the day is established.” This expression refers to the coming of the full day or the time of high noon.

[58:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.”

[58:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”

[58:8]  ⁶ tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.

[58:8]  ⁷ sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.

[60:1]  ⁸ tn Or “glory” (so most English versions).

[60:2]  ⁹ tn The verb “covers” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[60:2]  ¹⁰ tn Or “glory” (so most English versions); TEV “the brightness of his presence.”

[13:11]  ¹¹ tn Grk “and this,” probably referring to the command to love (13:8-10); hence, “do” is implied from the previous verses.

[13:11]  ¹² tn The participle εἰδότες (eidotes) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.

[13:14]  ¹³ tn Grk “make no provision for the flesh unto desires.”

[5:8]  ¹⁴ tn The verb “you are” is implied in the Greek text, but is supplied in the English translation to make it clear.

[2:15]  ¹⁵ tn Or “as stars in the universe.”

[2:16]  ¹⁶ tn Or “holding out, holding forth.”

[2:1]  ¹⁷ tn Or “spiritual fellowship” if πνεύματος (pneumato") is an attributive genitive; or “fellowship brought about by the Spirit” if πνεύματος is a genitive of source or production.

[2:1]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “and any affection and mercy.” The Greek idea, however, is best expressed by “or” in English.

[2:12]  ¹⁹ 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.

[1:6]  ²⁰ tn Grk “since I am sure of this very thing.” The verse begins with an adverbial participle that is dependent on the main verb in v. 3 (“I thank”). Paul here gives one reason for his thankfulness.

[1:6]  ²¹ tn The referent is clearly God from the overall context of the paragraph and the mention of “the day of Christ Jesus” at the end, which would be redundant if Christ were referred to here.

[1:6]  ²² tn Or “among.”

[1:6]  ²³ tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[1:7]  ²⁴ tn Grk “Just as.” The sense here is probably, “So I give thanks (v. 3) just as it is right for me…”

[1:7]  ²⁵ tn Or possibly “because you have me in your heart.”

[1:7]  ²⁶ tn Grk “in my bonds.” The meaning “imprisonment” derives from a figurative extension of the literal meaning (“bonds,” “fetters,” “chains”), L&N 37.115.

[1:7]  ²⁷ tn The word “God’s” is supplied from the context (v. 2) to clarify the meaning.

[1:1]  ²⁸ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[1:1]  ²⁹ tn Traditionally, “servants” or “bondservants.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

[1:1]  ³⁰ map For location see JP1 C1; JP2 C1; JP3 C1; JP4 C1.

[1:1]  ³¹ sn The overseers (or “church leaders,” L&N 53.71) is another term for the same official position of leadership as the “elder.” This is seen in the interchange of the two terms in Titus 1:6-7 and in Acts 20:17, 28, as well as in the parallels between Titus 1:6-7 and 1 Tim 3:1-7.

[2:1]  ³² tn Or “spiritual fellowship” if πνεύματος (pneumato") is an attributive genitive; or “fellowship brought about by the Spirit” if πνεύματος is a genitive of source or production.

[2:1]  ³³ tn Grk “and any affection and mercy.” The Greek idea, however, is best expressed by “or” in English.

[1:5]  ³⁴ sn Your participation (Grk “fellowship”) could refer to Paul rejoicing because of the Philippian converts’ “fellowship” in the gospel along with him, but it is more likely that this refers to their active “participation” with him in the gospel by means of the financial support they sent to Paul on more than one occasion, discussed later in this letter (4:10-19, esp. 4:15-16).

[1:5]  ³⁵ tn Several alternatives for translating vv. 3-5 are possible: (1) “I thank my God every time I remember you, yes, always in my every prayer for all of you. I pray with joy because of your participation…” (see NAB; also M. Silva, Philippians [BECNT], 43-44; G. D. Fee, Philippians [NICNT], 76-80); (2) “I thank my God because of your every remembrance of me. Always in my every prayer for all of you I pray with joy. [I am grateful] for your participation…” (see Moffatt; also P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 58-61). Option (1) is quite similar to the translation above, but sees v. 4a as more or less parenthetical. Option (2) is significantly different in that Paul thanks God because the Philippians remember him rather than when he remembers them.

[1:6]  ³⁶ tn Grk “since I am sure of this very thing.” The verse begins with an adverbial participle that is dependent on the main verb in v. 3 (“I thank”). Paul here gives one reason for his thankfulness.

[1:6]  ³⁷ tn The referent is clearly God from the overall context of the paragraph and the mention of “the day of Christ Jesus” at the end, which would be redundant if Christ were referred to here.

[1:6]  ³⁸ tn Or “among.”

[1:6]  ³⁹ tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[1:7]  ⁴⁰ tn Grk “Just as.” The sense here is probably, “So I give thanks (v. 3) just as it is right for me…”

[1:7]  ⁴¹ tn Or possibly “because you have me in your heart.”

[1:7]  ⁴² tn Grk “in my bonds.” The meaning “imprisonment” derives from a figurative extension of the literal meaning (“bonds,” “fetters,” “chains”), L&N 37.115.

[1:7]  ⁴³ tn The word “God’s” is supplied from the context (v. 2) to clarify the meaning.