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AN EXEGETICAL SUMMARY OF

PHILIPPIANS

J. Harold Greenlee

Summer Institute of Linguistics

© 1992 by the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.

ISBN: 0-88312-828-4

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 92-80561

Printed in the United States of America

Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.

7500 West Camp Wisdom Road

Dallas, TX 75236

PREFACE

Exegesis is concerned with the interpretation of a text. To exegete the New Testament is to determine what the Greek text means. Translators must be especially careful and thorough in their exegesis of the New Testament so that they can accurately communicate its message in the vocabulary, grammar, and literary devices of another language. The questions that occur to translators as they study the Greek text are asked in this book. Then those questions are answered by summarizing how scholars have exegeted the text. This is information that should be considered by translators as they make their own exegetical decisions regarding the message they will communicate in their translations.

The Semi-Literal Translation

As a basis for discussion, a semi-literal translation of the Greek text is given so that the reasons for problems of interpretation can best be seen. When one Greek word is translated into English by several words, these words are joined by hyphens. When alternate translations of a Greek word are given, these are separated by slashes.

The Lexicon

The meaning of a key word in context is the first question to be answered. Words marked with a raised letter in the semi-literal translation are treated separately under the heading LEXICON. First, the lexicon form of the Greek word is given. Within the parentheses following the Greek word is the location number where, in the author’s judgment, this word is defined in the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw and Nida 1988). Locations in bold type indicate that a translation of that particular verse is included there. If the specific reference is listed in A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, and Danker 1979), the outline location and page number is given. Then English equivalents of the Greek word are given to show how it is translated by commentators who offer their own translations of the whole text and, after a semicolon, by nine major translations. When reference is made to “all translations,” this means all nine translations in the list of abbreviations. Sometimes further comments are made about the meaning of the word or the significance of a verb’s tense, voice, or mood.

The Questions

Under the heading QUESTION, a question is asked that comes from examining the Greek text under consideration. Typical questions concern the identity of an implied actor or object of an event word, the antecedent of a pronominal reference, the connection indicated by a relational word, the meaning of a genitive construction, the meaning of figurative language, the function of a rhetorical question, the identification of an ambiguity, and the presence of implied information which is needed to understand the passage correctly. The question is answered with a summary of what commentators have said. If there are contrasting differences of opinion, the different interpretations are numbered and the commentaries which support each are listed. No attempt has been made to select which interpretation is best.

In listing support for various statements of interpretation, the author is often faced with the difficult task of matching the different terminologies used in commentaries with the terminology he has adopted. Sometimes he can only infer the position of a commentary from incidental remarks. This book, then, includes the author’s interpretation of the views taken in the various commentaries. General statements are followed by specific statements which indicate the author’s understanding of the pertinent relationships, actors, events, and objects implied by that interpretation.

The Use of This Book

This book does not replace the commentaries which it summarizes. Commentaries contain much more information about the meaning of words and passages. They often contain arguments for the interpretations which are taken, and they may have important discussions about the discourse features of the text. In addition, they have information about the historical, geographical, and cultural setting. Translators will want to refer to at least three commentaries as they exegete a passage. However, since no one commentary contains all the answers translators need, this book will be a valuable supplement. It makes available more sources of exegetical help than most translators have access to. Even if they had all the books available, few would have the time to search through all of them for the answers.

When many commentaries are studied, it soon becomes apparent that they frequently disagree in their interpretations. That is the reason why so many answers in this book are divided into two or more interpretations. The reader’s initial reaction may be that all these different interpretations complicate exegesis rather than help it. However, before translating a problem passage, a translator needs to know exactly where there is a problem and what the exegetical options are.

Acknowledgments

This volume has been thoroughly reviewed by Richard C. Blight. He has studied the questions and answers and has made a significant contribution in determining their final forms. Bob Sterner helped with the preliminary research for the first chapter.

ABBREVIATIONS

COMMENTARIES AND LEXICONS

Alf     Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. Vol. 3. London: Rivingtons, 1856.

BAGD     Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Translated and adapted from the 5th ed., 1958 by William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich, 2d English ed. revised and augmented by F. Wilbur Gingrich and Frederick W. Danker. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979.

Bg     Bengel, John Albert. Gnomon of the New Testament. Vol. 4, 7th ed. Translated by James Bryce. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1877.

Ea     Eadie, John. A Commentary on the the Greek Text of the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Reprinted from 1884 edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979.

EBC     Kent, Homer A., Jr. Philippians. In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 11. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.

EGT     Kennedy, H. A. A. The Epistle to the Philippians. In The Expositor’s Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, vol. 3. New York: Doran, n.d.

El     Ellicott, C. J. A Critical and Grammatical Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistles to the Philippians, Colossians, and to Philemon. 2d ed. London: Parker, Son, and Bourn, 1861.

GEL     Louw, Johannes P. and Eugene A. Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988.

GNC     Bruce, F. F. Philippians. A Good News Commentary, edited by W. Ward Gasque. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1983.

HNTC     Beare, F. W. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Philippians. Harper’s New Testament Commentary, edited by Henry Chadwick. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1959.

ICC     Vincent, Marvin R. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Philippians and to Philemon. The International Critical Commentary, edited by Samuel R. Driver, Alfred Plummer, and Charles A. Briggs. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1897.

Lg     Braune, Karl. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. In Lange’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Vol. 11. Edited with additions by Hoiratio B. Hackett, the additions indicated by the abbreviation Lg(H). Reprinted from the 1870 edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1960.

Ln     Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Philippians. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1937.

Lt     Lightfoot, J. B. Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. 7th ed. London: MacMillan, 1883.

MNTC     Michael, J. Hugh. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. The Moffatt New Testament Commentary, edited by James Moffatt. London: Hodder and Stroughton, 1928.

Mou     Moule, H. C. G. Philippian Studies Reprinted from 1927 edition. Fort Washington, Penn.: Christian Literature Crusade, 1957.

My     Meyer, Heinrich August Wilhelm. Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Epistles to the Philippians and Colossians, and to Philemon. Translated from the 4th. ed. n.d. by John C. Moore. Revised and edited by William P. Dickson, the additions indicated by the abbreviation My(D). Meyer’s Commentary on the New Testament. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1885.

NIC     Muller, Jac. J. The Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and to Philemon. The New International Commentary on the New Testament, edited by F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955.

NOT     Greenlee, J. Harold. “Saint Paul—Perfect But Not Perfected; Philippians 3:12.” In Notes on Translation, vol. 4, no. 4. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1990.

NTC     Hendriksen, Wiliam. Exposition of Philippians. New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1962.

Pl     Plummer, Alfred. A Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. London: Robert Scott, 1919.

TH     Loh, I-Jin and Eugene A. Nida. A Translator’s Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. New York: United Bible Societies, 1977.

TNTC     Martin, Ralph P. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, edited by R. V. G. Tasker. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959.

WBC     Hawthorne, Gerald F. Philippians. Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 43, edited by Ralph P. Martin. Waco, Texas: Word, 1983.

WC     Jones, Maurice. The Epistle to the Philippians. Westminster Commentaries, edited by Walter Lock. London: Methuen and Co., 1918.

WEC     Silva, Moisés. Philippians. The Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary, edited by Kenneth Barker. Chicago: Moody, 1988.

GREEK TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS

GNT     Aland, Kurt, Matthew Black, Carlos Martini, Bruce Metzger, and Allen Wikgren. The Greek New Testament. 3d ed. (corrected). London, New York: United Bible Societies, 1983.

KJV     The Holy Bible. Authorized (or King James) Version. 1611.

NAB     The New American Bible. Camden, New Jersey: Thomas Nelson, 1971.

NASB     The New American Standard Bible. Nashville, Tennessee: Holman, 1977.

NIV     The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.

NJB     The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1985.

NRSV     The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

REB     The Revised English Bible. Oxford: Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, 1989.

TEV     Holy Bible: Today’s English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1976.

TNT     The Translator’s New Testament. London: British and Foreign Bible Society, 1973.

GRAMMATICAL TERMS

act.     active

fut.     future

impera.     imperative

indic.     indicative

infin.     infinitive

mid.     middle

opt.     optative

pass.     passive

perf.     perfect

pres.     present

subj.     subjunctive

EXEGETICAL SUMMARY OF PHILIPPIANS

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:1–26 [Lt]. The topic is: Paul’s circumstances and the progress of the gospel in Rome.

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:1–11 [EBC, HNTC, ICC, NTC, TH, WBC, WC, WEC; NASB, TEV]. The topic is: the introduction [EBC, HNTC, TH, WBC, WC; TEV], prologue [ICC], opening [WEC], thanksgiving [NASB], Paul as a joyful servant [NTC], the intimate relationship of Christians to Christ [Mou].

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:1–2 [Alf, EBC, EGT, HNTC, ICC, Lg, Ln, Lt, MNTC, NTC, Pl, TH, TNTC, WBC, WC, WEC; GNT, NAB, NIV, NJB]. All characterize this unit as Paul’s address and greeting. It follows the convention of ancient usage: X to Y: greetings [HNTC, MNTC, NTC, Pl, TH, TNTC, WBC], expressed in Christian terms [TNTC, WEC]. The senders are first identified in the nominative case, then the recipients in the dative case, and words of greeting follow in the nominative case [Ln].

Chapter 1

1:1

Paul and Timothy,

QUESTION—What part does Timothy have in writing the letter?

Although Timothy is spoken of as a joint writer [My] or joint sender [NIC, TH; TNT, WEC], all commentators agree that Paul is the sole author of the letter. Many support this by noting that Paul uses the first person singular throughout the rest of the letter and refers to Timothy in the third person [Alf, EBC, El, GNC, ICC, Lt, MNTC, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, WBC, WC]. Reasons for including Timothy’s name here are: Timothy was present with Paul [Alf, EBC, GNC, ICC, NTC, Pl, TNTC, WEC] and possibly wrote the letter at Paul’s dictation [EBC, GNC, ICC, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, WC]; Timothy was well known to the Philippians, having been in their city at least twice [Alf, Ea, EBC, EGT, El, GNC, ICC, Lt, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, TNTC]; he had helped found the church in Philippi, and had now discussed the situation with Paul and had some responsibility for the letter [WC, WEC]; he cared for them deeply [Ea, Lt, NTC]; he was about to be sent to Philippi [EGT, ICC, Lt, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH], and wanted to be included in the greeting [ICC]. By mentioning Timothy, Paul indicates that Timothy concurs with the contents of the letter [Ln, MNTC, My, NTC, WEC].

slaves^{ a} of-Christ Jesus,

LEXICON—a. δοῦλος (LN 87.76) (BAGD 1.c. p. 205): ‘slave’ [BAGD, LN, HNTC, Ln, Mou, WBC], ‘bond-servant’ [El, ICC, Pl; NASB], ‘servant’ [Ea, NTC, WEC; all translations except NASB].

QUESTION—How restricted is the designation of δοῦλοι ‘slaves’ and how are the nouns related in the genitive construction δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ‘slaves of Christ Jesus’?

1.     ‘Slave’ describes the relationship that all Christians have with Christ [Ea, EBC, El, GNC, HNTC, Ln, NTC, Pl, WBC]. The relationship focuses on ownership [Ea, El, Ln, Pl]: we belong to Christ; or on obeying and serving a master [EBC, GNC, HNTC, NTC, WBC]: we serve Christ.

2.     ‘Slave’ is here used as a title for a restricted number of Christians who have been given a special task by Christ [EGT, ICC, Lg, MNTC, Mou, My, NIC, TH]: Paul and Timothy, slaves who work for their master Christ. This phrase is like ‘servants of the Lord’ in the Old Testament, a title of honor for the prophets [EGT, ICC, MNTC, TH]. The relationships under interpretation 1 are also included [Mou, NIC, TH].

QUESTION—Why does Paul not call himself an ‘apostle’ here, as in most of his letters to the churches?

It is because this is a more personal letter [Bg, Ea, EBC, EGT, El, ICC, Lg, Ln, Lt, MNTC, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, WEC], and the Philippians did not need to be reminded of his position [Alf, Ea, GNC, ICC, Lg, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, WC].

to-all the saints^{ a} in^{ b} Christ Jesus the-(ones) being in Philippi,^{ c}

LEXICON—a. ἅγιος (LN 11.27): ‘saints’ [BAGD, Ea, El, HNTC, Ln, Lt, NTC; KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV], ‘God’s people’ [LN, WBC; REB, TEV, TNT], ‘holy ones’ [Mou; NAB], ‘God’s holy people’ [NJB], ‘who are holy’ [WEC], ‘church’ [EGT].

b.     ἐν with dative object (LN 89.119) (BAGD I.5.d. p. 259): ‘in’ [BAGD, LN, Ea, HNTC, Ln, NTC; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV], ‘incorporate in’ [WBC; REB], ‘in union with’ [LN; TEV], ‘through their union with’ [WEC], ‘(who) belong to’ [TNT], ‘in connection with’ [Ln].

c.     pres. act. participle of εἰμί (LN 85.1): ‘to be (at/in)’ [Ea, LN, HNTC, Ln, WBC; KJV, NASB, NRSV], ‘to live (at)’ [REB]. ‘Being in’ is translated ‘at’ [ICC; NAB, NIV, NJB], ‘in’ [WEC; TEV, TNT].

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by ἐν ‘in’?

1.     It indicates an intimate personal relation or spiritual union with Christ [BAGD, Ea, EBC, EGT, El, HNTC, ICC, Ln, MNTC, Mou, NTC, Pl, TH, WBC; REB, TEV]: saints who are in union with Christ.

2.     It indicates ownership [TNT]: saints who belong to Christ.

with^{ a} (the) bishops^{ b} and/even deacons:^{ c}

LEXICON—a. σύν with dative object (LN 89.107) (BAGD 4.b. p. 782): ‘with’ [Ea, HNTC, Mou, WBC; KJV, NAB, NRSV], ‘including’ [WEC; NASB, REB, TEV, TNT], ‘together with’ [BAGD, El, LN, Ln, NTC; NIV, NJB], ‘along with’ [My].

b.     ἐπίσκοπος (LN 53.71) (BAGD 2. p. 299): ‘bishop’ [BAGD, Ea, El, HNTC, Mou; KJV, NAB, NRSV, REB, TNT], ‘overseer’ [ICC, Ln, Mou, My, NTC, WBC, WEC; NASB, NIV], ‘presiding elder’ [Ea; NJB], ‘church leader’ [LN; TEV], ‘superintendent’ [BAGD, ICC, Mou], ‘guardian’ [BAGD].

c.     διάκονος (LN 53.67) (BAGD 1.c. p. 205): ‘deacon’ [BAGD, Ea, El, LN, HNTC, Ln, Mou, My, NTC, WBC, WEC; all translations except TEV], ‘minister’ [ICC], ‘(church) helper’ [TEV], ‘(one) who serves’ [ICC, WBC], ‘worker’ [Mou].

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by σύν ‘with’?

The officers are mentioned in conjunction with the general members of the church [Alf, Ea, ICC, Ln, NTC, WBC]: to the church members and officers. This does not imply that the church officers are not saints or that they are not in Christ [TH]. Some think that special mention is made of the officers so as to include them in the greeting [GNC, My, Pl; NASB, REB, TEV, TNT]: to the saints, including the bishops and deacons; or it makes a special point to direct the greeting to them [El, NIC]: to the saints, especially to the bishops and deacons among them. Some suggestions for the reason for making special mention of the officers are that they would be the ones to whom the letter would be delivered and they would then have it read in church [EBC], Paul was endorsing their authority and they were responsible to see that Paul’s instructions were carried out [EBC], Paul wanted to express his special appreciation to them because they were the ones that had been responsible for gathering money and sending it to Paul [EBC, EGT, El, Ln, Lt, MNTC, My, Pl, TH].

QUESTION—To whom do the terms ἐπισκόποις ‘bishops’ and διακόνοις ‘deacons’ refer?

They refer to two classes of office bearers [all commentaries except WBC]: to the bishops and the deacons. WBC favors the possibility that ‘bishop’ refers to the office and ‘deacon’ refers to the function of that office: to the overseers who serve. Some commentators think that ἐπίσκοπος ‘bishop’ (used here) and πρεσβύτερος ‘elder’ (used elsewhere) were differing terms for the same office and function at the early stage of church history [Ea, EBC, EGT, El, GNC, HNTC, Ln, Lt, MNTC, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, WBC]. One states that the bishops dealt with internal matters while the deacons dealt with external matters [Bg].

1:2

Grace^{ a} to-you and peace^{ b}

LEXICON—a. χάρις (LN 88.66) (BAGD 2.c. p. 877): ‘grace’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, WBC, WEC; all translations], ‘favor’ [BAGD, Mou, Pl], ‘kindness’ [LN].

b.     εἰρήνη (LN 22.42): ‘peace’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; all translations], ‘tranquility’ [LN].

QUESTION—Why are ‘grace’ and ‘peace’ used in this greeting?

Paul transforms the customary Greek and Hebrew letter salutations into a distinctly Christian greeting by the use of ‘grace’ and ‘peace’ [EBC, EGT, El, GNC, ICC, MNTC, NIC, Pl, TNTC, WBC, WC, WEC].

QUESTION—What is the meaning of ‘peace’ here?

1.     It encompasses all temporal and spiritual welfare and health [GNC, MNTC, WC].

2.     It is a wholeness and harmony brought about by reconciliation with God [EGT, ICC, NTC, Pl, TH, TNTC, WBC].

3.     It is an inner assurance and tranquility [EBC, Mou, NIC]. It is caused by the fact of reconciliation with God [Mou, NIC].

from^{ a} God our Father and (the) Lord Jesus Christ.

LEXICON—a. ἀπό with genitive object (LN 90.15) (BAGD V.4. p. 88): ‘from’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; all translations except TEV], not explicit [TEV].

QUESTION—What verb is implied here?

Implicit is the idea that grace and peace are given by God the Father and the Lord Jesus. Paul’s wish or prayer is that these blessings will be given to the Philippians [TEV]: may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:3–26 [Lg, Pl; NAB]. This unit is viewed as historical and personal [Pl] and as Paul’s example [NAB], Paul’s situation and work [Lg].

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:3–11 [Alf, Lg, Lt, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, WBC, WC; GNT, NAB, NIV, NJB]. The topic is: thanksgiving and prayer for the Philippians [Lt, Mou, NIC, NTC, Pl, WBC, WC; NIV, NJB], Paul’s prayer for the Philippians [TH; GNT, TEV], gratitude and hope [NAB], Paul’s thankfulness and joy (and confidence [My]) over the church [Lg, My].

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:3–8 [EBC, EGT, HNTC, Ln, NIC, WEC]. The topic is: thanksgiving [EBC, WEC], Paul’s thankfulness and love for the Philippians and his confidence in them [EGT], Paul’s prayer for the Philippians [HNTC, Ln].

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:3–7 [MNTC, TNTC, WC]. The topic is: thanksgiving [WC], Paul’s thankfulness and confidence in the Philippians [MNTC, TNTC].

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:3–5 [ICC, WEC]. The topic is: thanksgiving [ICC].

1:3

I-thank^{ a} my God at/because-of^{ b} all^{ c} the remembrance/mention^{ d} of-you,

LEXICON—a. pres. act. indic. of εὐχαριστέω (LN 33.349) (BAGD 2. p. 328): ‘to thank’ [Ea, LN, ICC, Ln, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; all translations except NAB], ‘to give thanks’ [BAGD, HNTC; NAB].

b.     ἐπί with dative object (LN 67.33; 89.27) (BAGD II.2. p. 288): ‘at’ [Alf, BAGD], ‘at the time of’ [BAGD, LN], ‘on’ [Ea, El, Pl], ‘upon’ [Ln; KJV], ‘when’ [LN], ‘in’ [Alf, ICC, Mou, My, NTC; NASB], ‘during’ [BAGD], ‘because of’ [LN], ‘for’ [WEC]. The phrase ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν ‘at all the remembrance of you’ is translated ‘every time I make mention of you’ [HNTC], ‘every time I mention you’ [WBC], ‘every time I remember you’ [WEC; NIV, NRSV], ‘every time I think of you’ [NAB, REB, TEV], ‘whenever I think of you’ [NJB, TNT].

c.     πᾶς (LN 59.23) (BAGD 1.c.β. p. 632): ‘all’ [LN, ICC, Ln, Mou, NTC, Pl, WEC; NASB], ‘whole’ [Alf, Ea, EBC, El, My], ‘every’ [BAGD, WEC; KJV] ,

d.     μνεία (LN 29.18) (BAGD 2. p. 524): ‘remembrance’ [Alf, Ea, El, ICC, Ln, Mou, My, NTC, Pl, WEC; KJV, NASB], ‘mention’ [BAGD, HNTC, WBC].

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by ἐπί ‘at/because of’?

1.     It indicates the time at which he thanks God [Bg, Blm, Ln, HNTC, MNTC, NIC, TH, TNTC, WBC, WEC; NAB, NIV, NJB, REB, TEV, TNT]: I thank my God when I remember/mention you. This implies that what he remembers about them is a reason for thanking God.

2.     It indicates the reason he thanks God [Ea, EBC, EGT, El, Lg, Mou]: I thank my God because of what I remember about you.

3.     It indicates what accompanies his thanksgiving [Alf, My]: I thank my God while remembering you.

QUESTION—What is the meaning of μνείᾳ ‘remembrance/mention’?

1.     It means ‘remembrance’ [Alf, Bg, Blm, Ea, EBC, EGT, El, GNC, ICC, Lg, Ln, Lt, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, TNTC, WEC; all translations]: I thank my God when/because I remember you.

2.     It means ‘mention’ [BAGD, HNTC, MNTC, WBC]: I thank my God when I mention you to him.

QUESTION—To what does πάσῃ ‘all’ refer?

1.     It refers to the time of remembrance/mention [Blm, GNC, HNTC; all translations except KJV, NASB]: I thank my God every time I remember/mention you.

2.     It refers to the content of what is remembered [Alf, Bg, Ea, EBC, EGT, El, ICC, Lg, Ln, Lt, Mou, My, NTC, Pl; KJV, NASB]: I thank my God when/because of all that I remember about you. Some commentators take it to mean that he is thankful for all that he remembers, that is, for everything that he remembers about them [Bg, Lt, Ln, NIC, NTC]. Others take this to mean, not every single thing he remembers, but what he remembers as a whole [Alf, EBC, EGT, El, ICC, Lg, Mou, My, Pl].

QUESTION—How are the event word and the persons related in the genitive construction τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν ‘the remembrance/mention of you’?

Many commentators mention the possibility of taking ‘you’ to be the actor of the event (‘you remembered me’), but in fact all commentators and translations take ‘you’ to be the recipient of the event: I remember/mention you.

1:4

always^{ a} in every prayer^{ b} of-mine

LEXICON—a. πάντοτε (LN 67.88): ‘always’ [Alf, BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, WBC, WEC; KJV, NASB, NIV, NJB, REB], ‘at all times’ [BAGD, LN, My], ‘on all/every occasion(s)’ [LN, ICC, Pl], ‘constantly’ [NAB, NRSV], not specific [TEV, TNT].

b.     δέησις (LN 33.171) (BAGD p. 172): ‘prayer’ [Alf, BAGD, LN, WBC, WEC; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV], ‘supplication’ [Ea, HNTC, ICC, NTC, Pl, TH], ‘petition’ [Ln, Mou], ‘request’ [LN, Mou, My]. The phrase ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου ‘in every prayer of mine’ is translated ‘every time I pray’ [NJB, TEV], ‘whenever I pray’ [REB, TNT]. Δέησις ‘prayer’ is more specific than προσευχή, the general term for prayer or worship; δέησις implies petition or entreaty for the meeting of some present or future need [BAGD, Bg, EGT, ICC, Ln, Mou, NIC, NTC, Pl, WBC]. However, one commentator thinks that δέησις here is synonymous with προσευχή [WEC].

QUESTION—What is this phrase connected with?

1.     It is connected with the following phrase, ‘with joy making prayer’ [El, ICC, Lg, Ln, WBC, WC; all translations except NAB]: in every prayer of mine, I always pray with joy; or, every time I pray, I pray with joy.

2.     It is connected with the preceding verse [Lt, MNTC, My; NAB].

2.1     It gives the time of the thanksgiving [Lt, MNTC, My]: I thank my God always in every prayer of mine for you all.

2.2     It is a comment on the phrase ‘in all my remembrance of you’ [NAB]: I thank my God when I think of you (and I always think of you whenever I pray).

for^{ a} all of-you

LEXICON—a. ὑπέρ with genitive object (LN 90.36): ‘for’ [Alf, BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, Ln, WBC; all translations except NAB], ‘on/in behalf of’ [BAGD, LN, NTC, WEC; NAB], ‘for the sake of’ [BAGD].

QUESTION—What is this phrase connected with?

1.     It is connected with the verb ‘I thank’ of the preceding verse [Lt, Pl]: I thank God for you all.

2.     It is connected with the preceding reference to prayer ‘in every prayer of mine’ [Bg, El, Ln, MNTC, My, NTC, WEC; KJV, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB, TEV]: in every prayer of mine for all of you.

3.     It is connected with the following reference to prayer ‘in joy making the prayer’ [Alf, ICC, Lg, WBC; NAB, TNT]: I pray for all of you with joy.

with^{ a} joy the prayer^{ b} making^{ c},

LEXICON—a. χαρά (LN 25.123) (BAGD 1. p. 875): ‘joy’ [Alf, BAGD, Ea, El, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, WBC, WEC; all translations except NAB, REB]. This noun is translated as the participle ‘rejoicing’ [NAB] and as the adjective ‘joyful’ [REB]. This word occurs first for emphasis [Mou, Pl, WBC].

b.     δέησις (LN 33.171) (BAGD p. 172): ‘prayer’ [Alf, LN, WEC; NASB, REB], ‘request’ [LN, Mou; KJV], ‘supplication’ [Ea, HNTC, ICC, NTC], ‘petition’ [ICC, Ln, Mou], ‘entreaty’ [NIC]. The phrase τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος ‘the prayer making’ is translated ‘I pray’ [WBC; NIV, NJB, TEV, TNT], ‘praying’ [NRSV], ‘as I plead’ [NAB].

c.     pres. mid. participle of ποιέω (LN 90.45) (BAGD II.1. p. 683): ‘to make’ [Alf, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, WEC; KJV], ‘to offer’ [NASB].

QUESTION—What is the significance of the article in the phrase τὴν δέησιν ‘the prayer’?

1.     It refers the reader back to the first mention of δέησις ‘prayer’ [Alf, Bg, Ea, El, Ln, Lt, Mou, My, WEC; NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB, TEV, TNT]: in my prayers I make these prayers with joy.

2.     It indicates that Paul makes a particular petition [Blm, Lg(H)]; the first mention of δέησις ‘prayer’ without the article is more general [ICC; KJV, NAB]: in my prayers I make request for you.

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by the use of the participial phrase τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος ‘making the prayer’?

1.     This indicates the accompanying circumstance of Paul’s thanksgiving [Ln, NTC; NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, REB, TEV, TNT]: I thank God, and I pray for you with joy.

2.     This amplifies the preceding phrase ‘in every prayer of mine’ [Lt]: whenever I pray for you, (and these prayers I offer with joy), etc.

1:5

for^{ a} your partnership^{ b} in^{ c} the gospel^{ d}

LEXICON—a. ἐπί with dative object (LN 89.27): ‘for’ [ICC, NTC, Pl; KJV, NJB], ‘because (of)’ [LN, WBC, WEC; NIV, NRSV, REB, TNT], ‘on account of’ [Ea, Mou], ‘on the basis of’ [LN, Ln], ‘in view of’ [NASB], ‘at’ [NAB].

b.     κοινωνία (LN 34.5) (BAGD 1. p. 439): ‘partnership’ [NIV, NJB], ‘fellowship’ [Alf, Ea, LN, HNTC, Ln, NTC, Pl; KJV], ‘cooperation’ [ICC], ‘participation’ [WEC; NASB], ‘close relationship’ [BAGD], ‘close association’ [LN]. The phrase τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν ‘your partnership’ is translated ‘the way you have all continually helped’ [NAB], ‘the way in which you have helped’ [TEV], ‘the way you have shared’ [TNT], ‘your sharing’ [NRSV], ‘the part you have taken’ [REB], ‘you have been partners’ [WBC].

c.     εἰς with accusative object (LN 90.41) (BAGD 4.c.β. p. 229): ‘in’ [NTC, WBC; KJV, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV], ‘in/to the furtherance of’ [HNTC, Mou], ‘in contributing to the spread of’ [Pl], ‘in promoting’ [ICC], ‘in proclaiming’ [TNT], ‘in the work’ [WEC; REB, TEV], ‘in favor of’ [Ea], ‘to promote’ [NAB].

d.     εὐαγγέλιον (LN 33.217) (BAGD 1.a. p. 318): ‘gospel’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, WBC, WEC; all translations except TNT], ‘good news’ [BAGD, LN; TNT].

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by ἐπί ‘for’?

1.     It gives the reason for Paul’s joy (1:4) [EBC, EGT, GNC, Ln, MNTC, TH, WBC; NAB, NIV, NJB, REB, TEV, TNT]: I pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel. This leaves ‘I thank God’ (1:3) without an explicit object, but it is implied that Paul thanks God for the Philippians themselves [WBC].

2.     It gives the reason for Paul’s thanksgiving (1:3) [Alf, Bg, Ea, El, ICC, Lg, Lt, My, NIC, NTC, Pl, TNTC, WC, WEC]: I thank God because of your partnership in the gospel. One commentator takes 1:4 to be a parenthetical insertion between the thanksgiving of 1:3 and the reason for thanksgiving here [WC], but it natural to take 1:3–4 as the main clause with 1:4b–5 as a subordinate clause so that 1:5 is a reiteration of the initial thought of thanksgiving [WEC].

QUESTION—There are two interrelated questions: Who are the ones who are involved in the ‘partnership/fellowship’ and What is the area of meaning of ‘partnership/fellowship in the gospel’?

1.     Paul is speaking of the Philippians’ partnership with himself in all aspects of the work of propagating the gospel [Ea, EBC, EGT, El, GNC, Lt, MNTC, Mou, NIC, NTC, Pl, TH, TNTC, WBC, WEC; TEV, TNT]: your partnership with me in spreading the gospel. The reference is to financial support [all commentators], sympathy for his work [Ea, Lt, MNTC, NIC, NTC, TH], prayer for the progress of the gospel [Mou, NIC, NTC, WBC], and spreading the gospel themselves [El, GNC, NIC, TH, WBC].

2.     Paul is speaking of the Philippians’ fellowship with each other as they unitedly work for the spread of the gospel [Alf, ICC, My]: your fellowship with each other in the work of the gospel at Philippi.

3.     Paul is speaking of the Philippians’ partnership with all who had been involved in the work at Philippi from the beginning, including Paul, and of all the ways the partnership was manifested [Ln, WC]: your partnership with each other and me in the work of spreading the gospel.

4.     Paul is speaking of the Philippians’ fellowship with Christ through faith and their fellowship with one another in sharing the blessings of the gospel [Blm]: your fellowship with Christ and with other Christians.

from^{ a} the first day^{ b} until^{ c} now,^{ d}

LEXICON—a. ἀπό with genitive object (LN 67.131) (BAGD II.2.b. p. 87): ‘from’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, Lt, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; all translations], ‘since’ [LN].

b.     ἡμέρα (LN 67.178) (BAGD 2. p. 346): ‘day’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, Ln, NTC, WBC; all translations]. The phrase τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ‘the first day’ is translated ‘the time it was first preached among you’ [ICC], ‘the earliest days of your conversion’ [Pl], ‘the beginning of your faith’ [WEC].

c.     ἄχρι with genitive object (LN 67.119) (BAGD 1.a. p. 128): ‘until’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, WBC, WEC; all translations except NAB, NJB], ‘down to’ [Pl], ‘up to’ [NJB]. The phrase ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν ‘until now’ is translated ‘continually’ [NAB].

d.     νῦν (LN 67.38) (BAGD 3.b. p. 546): ‘now’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, WBC; all translations except NAB, NJB], ‘the present’ [ICC, Ln, NTC; NJB], ‘this very moment’ [WEC], ‘the present moment’ [Pl].

QUESTION—What is this phrase connected with?

1.     It is connected with the preceding phrase ‘your partnership in the gospel’ and indicates uninterrupted partnership/fellowship [Alf, Ea, El, GNC, HNTC, ICC, Lg, Ln, Lt, MNTC, Mou, My, NTC, Pl, WEC; all translations]: your partnership in the work of the gospel continually, from the first day until the present.

2.     It is connected with the preceding phrase ‘with joy making the prayer’ [Blm]: I have been making this prayer since the first day of your fellowship in the gospel.

QUESTION—What is meant by ‘the first day’?

It means that the partnership continued from the very beginning of the Philippians’ acquaintance with Paul, when they first believed the gospel he preached [EBC, El, GNC, ICC, Ln, Lt, MNTC, My, NIC, Pl, TH, WEC]: your partnership in the work of the gospel from the time it was first preached among you until the present.

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:6–11 [ICC]. The topic is: commendation and prayer.

DISCOURSE UNIT: 1:6–8 [WEC]. The topic is: an expansion on the preceding thoughts.

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