Revelation 2:4

2:4 But I have this against you: You have departed ¹  from your first love!

Matthew 24:12

24:12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.

Philippians 1:9

1:9 And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight

Philippians 1:2-3

1:2 Grace and peace to you ²  from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Prayer for the Church

1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. ³ 

Philippians 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul ⁴  and Timothy, slaves ⁵  of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, ⁶  with the overseers ⁷  and deacons.

Philippians 1:22

1:22 Now if I am to go on living in the body, ⁸  this will mean productive work ⁹  for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer: ¹⁰ 

[2:4]  ¹ tn The Greek word translated “departed from” (ἀφίημι, afihmi; L&N 15.48) can actually be used of divorce (L&N 34.78), so the imagery here is very strong.

[1:2]  ² tn Grk “Grace to you and peace.”

[1:3]  ³ tn This could also be translated “for your every remembrance of me.” See discussion below.

[1:1]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ map For location see JP1 C1; JP2 C1; JP3 C1; JP4 C1.

[1:1]  ⁷ 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.

[1:22]  ⁸ tn Grk “flesh.”

[1:22]  ⁹ tn Grk “fruit of work”; the genitive ἔργου (ergou) is taken as an attributed genitive in which the head noun, καρπός (karpos), functions attributively (cf. ExSyn 89-91).

[1:22]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “what I shall prefer.” The Greek verb αἱρέω (Jairew) could also mean “choose,” but in this context such a translation is problematic for it suggests that Paul could perhaps choose suicide (cf. L&N 30.86).