Matthew 5:16

5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:1

The Beatitudes

5:1 When ¹  he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. ²  After he sat down his disciples came to him.

Colossians 1:25

1:25 I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship ³  from God – given to me for you – in order to complete ⁴  the word of God,

Philippians 4:8

4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, ⁵  whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

Philippians 4:1

Christian Practices

4:1 So then, my brothers and sisters, ⁶  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

Philippians 1:5-8

1:5 because of your participation ⁷  in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁸  1:6 For I am sure of this very thing, ⁹  that the one ¹⁰  who began a good work in ¹¹  you will perfect it ¹²  until the day of Christ Jesus. 1:7 For ¹³  it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, ¹⁴  since both in my imprisonment ¹⁵  and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace ¹⁶  together with me. 1:8 For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

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, ¹⁷ 

Philippians 3:1

True and False Righteousness

3:1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, ¹⁸  rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Philippians 3:16

3:16 Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard ¹⁹  that we have already attained. ²⁰ 

[5:1]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[5:1]  ² tn Or “up a mountain” (εἰς τὸ ὄρος, eis to oro").

[1:25]  ³ tn BDAG 697 s.v. οἰκονομία 1.b renders the term here as “divine office.”

[1:25]  ⁴ tn See BDAG 828 s.v. πληρόω 3. The idea here seems to be that the apostle wants to “complete the word of God” in that he wants to preach it to every person in the known world (cf. Rom 15:19). See P. T. O’Brien, Colossians, Philemon (WBC), 82.

[4:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

[4:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

[1:5]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn Or “among.”

[1:6]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Grk “Just as.” The sense here is probably, “So I give thanks (v. 3) just as it is right for me…”

[1:7]  ¹⁴ tn Or possibly “because you have me in your heart.”

[1:7]  ¹⁵ 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]  ¹⁶ tn The word “God’s” is supplied from the context (v. 2) to clarify the meaning.

[2:12]  ¹⁷ 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.

[3:1]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

[3:16]  ¹⁹ tc Although κανόνι (kanoni, “standard, rule”) is found in most witnesses, though in various locations in this verse (א² D² Ψ 075 Ï), it is almost surely a motivated reading, for it clarifies the cryptic τῷ αὐτῷ (tw autw, “the same”). Both the fact that the word floats, and that there are other variants which accomplish greater clarity by other means, strongly suggests the secondary nature of any of the longer readings here. Further, the shortest text has excellent and early support in Ì^16,46 א* A B I^vid 6 33 1739 co, rendering it decidedly the preferred reading. The translation adds “standard” because of English requirements, not because of textual basis.

[3:16]  ²⁰ tn Grk “Nevertheless, to what we have attained, to the same hold fast.”