4:17 They court you eagerly, 1 but for no good purpose; 2 they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. 3 4:18 However, it is good 4 to be sought eagerly 5 for a good purpose 6 at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 4:19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! 7
1:1 From Paul 8 and Timothy, slaves 9 of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, 10 with the overseers 11 and deacons.
2:11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
1 tn Or “They are zealous for you.”
2 tn Or “but not commendably” (BDAG 505 s.v. καλῶς 2).
3 tn Or “so that you would be zealous.”
4 tn Or “commendable.”
5 tn Or “to be zealous.”
6 tn Grk “But it is always good to be zealous in good.”
7 tn Grk “My children, for whom I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you.” The relative clauses in English do not pick up the emotional force of Paul’s language here (note “tone of voice” in v. 20, indicating that he is passionately concerned for them); hence, the translation has been altered slightly to capture the connotative power of Paul’s plea.
8 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
9 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.
10 map For location see JP1-C1; JP2-C1; JP3-C1; JP4-C1.
11 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.