Philippians 4:2-9 translation
This passage is probably 3 short paragraphs, but I’ll translate them in this same post, since they are short.
My translation:
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to have the same intentions in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, sincere friend (Syzygus?), help these ladies who worked together with me in the gospel and with Clement and my other coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be obvious to all people. The Lord is near! Worry about nothing! Instead, in all circumstances, let your requests be known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving! The peace of God, which surpasses all ways of understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is set apart for God, whatever is pleasing, whatever is appealing, if anything is virtuous and if anything is praiseworthy, let your mind dwell on these things. Also, the things in me which you learned and received and heard and saw, do those things. The God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:2-9)
Greek Text:
Εá½Î¿Î´á½·Î±Î½ παÏακαλῶ καὶ Συντύχην παÏακαλῶ τὸ αá½Ï„ὸ φÏονεῖν á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ. ναὶ á¼Ïωτῶ καὶ σέ, γνήσιε σύζυγε, συλλαμβάνου αá½Ï„αῖς, αἵτινες á¼Î½ Ï„á¿· εá½Î±Î³Î³ÎµÎ»á½·á¿³ συνήθλησάν μοι μετὰ καὶ Κλήμεντος καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν συνεÏγῶν μου, ὧν Ï„á½° ὀνόματα á¼Î½ βίβλῳ ζωῆς. ΧαίÏετε á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ πάντοτε: πάλιν á¼Ïῶ, χαίÏετε. τὸ á¼Ï€Î¹ÎµÎ¹Îºá½²Ï‚ ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθÏώποις. ὠκύÏιος á¼Î³Î³á½»Ï‚. μηδὲν μεÏιμνᾶτε, ἀλλ’ á¼Î½ παντὶ τῇ Ï€Ïοσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εá½Ï‡Î±Ïιστίας Ï„á½° αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωÏιζέσθω Ï€Ïὸς τὸν θεόν. καὶ ἡ εἰÏήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπεÏέχουσα πάντα νοῦν φÏουÏήσει Ï„á½°Ï‚ καÏδίας ὑμῶν καὶ Ï„á½° νοήματα ὑμῶν á¼Î½ ΧÏιστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα á¼ÏƒÏ„ὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα á¼Î³Î½á½±, ὅσα Ï€Ïοσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις á¼€Ïετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε: ἃ καὶ á¼Î¼á½±Î¸ÎµÏ„ε καὶ παÏελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε á¼Î½ á¼Î¼Î¿á½·, ταῦτα Ï€Ïάσσετε: καὶ ὠθεὸς τῆς εἰÏήνης ἔσται μεθ’ ὑμῶν.
Here is another translation for comparison:
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:2-9 ESV)
Philippians 3:17-4:1 translation
My translation:
Brothers and sisters, be imitators of me together and watch out for those who do not live in this manner, since you have us as an example. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. I spoke to you about them many times before, and now tell you again with tears in my eyes. Their outcome is destruction. Their god is their own appetite. Their honor is in their shamefulness. They set their intentions on earthly things. You see, our citizenship is in heaven. From here, we also wait eagerly for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our insignificant body of similar form to a body of his glory by the work through which he is also able to subject all things to himself. For this reason, my brothers and sisters who are loved and longed-for, who are my joy and my crown, stand firm like this in the Lord, dear friends. (Philippians 3:17-4:1)
Greek Text:
Συμμιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί, καὶ σκοπεῖτε τοὺς οὕτω πεÏιπατοῦντας καθὼς ἔχετε τύπον ἡμᾶς. πολλοὶ Î³á½°Ï Ï€ÎµÏιπατοῦσιν οὓς πολλάκις ἔλεγον ὑμῖν, νῦν δὲ καὶ κλαίων λέγω, τοὺς á¼Ï‡Î¸Ïοὺς τοῦ σταυÏοῦ τοῦ ΧÏιστοῦ, ὧν τὸ τέλος ἀπώλεια, ὧν ὠθεὸς ἡ κοιλία καὶ ἡ δόξα á¼Î½ τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αá½Ï„ῶν, οἱ Ï„á½° á¼Ï€á½·Î³ÎµÎ¹Î± φÏονοῦντες. ἡμῶν Î³á½°Ï Ï„á½¸ πολίτευμα á¼Î½ οá½Ïανοῖς ὑπάÏχει, á¼Î¾ οὗ καὶ σωτῆÏα ἀπεκδεχόμεθα κύÏιον Ἰησοῦν ΧÏιστόν, ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμοÏφον Ï„á¿· σώματι τῆς δόξης αá½Ï„οῦ κατὰ τὴν á¼Î½á½³Ïγειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αá½Ï„ὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αá½Ï„á¿· Ï„á½° πάντα. á½ÏƒÏ„ε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ á¼Ï€Î¹Ï€á½¹Î¸Î·Ï„οι, χαÏá½° καὶ στέφανός μου, οὕτως στήκετε á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ, ἀγαπητοί.
Here is another translation for comparison:
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 3:17-4:1 ESV)
Living Stones and a Spiritual House
I’ve been thinking about 1 Peter 2:4-5 for some time now:
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV)
The phrase that I’d like you to consider is “as a spiritual house”. In this text of the Greek New Testament, the two words that the ESV translates “as a spiritual house” is οἶκος πνευματικὸς (oikos pneumatikos). There is a problem though: this phrase is in the nominative case, which is almost always the subject of the sentence. Now, if the verb was a linking verb (like “to be” or “to become”) then it would be proper to translate the nominative phrase as a predicate nominative – which would come after the verb in English.
So, if the verb (οἰκοδομέω – oikodomeo – “I build”) is a linking verb, or if it can take a predicate nominative, then the ESV’s translation (and, in fact, every translation that I checked) would be correct. Peter would be saying that his readers are being built “as a spiritual house.”
In fact, in the New Testament, this verb never takes a predicate nominative. It usually takes an accusative noun as a direct object (Acts 7:47), and occasionally takes a prepositional phrase (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Even in the LXX (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), the verb οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeo), does not take a predicate nominative, but instead takes an accusative noun or a prepositional phrase describing what is being built.
So, what does this mean? It means that Peter did not say that his readers were being built “as a spiritual house.” Instead, “spiritual house” is parallel to (in apposition to) the other nominatives in this sentence: “[You] yourselves” and “as living stones”. The sentence, then, would be this:
You yourselves, as living stones, that is, a spiritual house, are being built into a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
Thus, Peter’s readers (and us by extension) are not being built into a spiritual house, we are a spiritual house, just like we are living stones. Instead, we are being built into a holy priesthood, so that we can offer sacrifices that please God.
(By the way, as the ISV points out, the “yourselves” could be emphatic or reflexive. If the “yourselves” is reflexive, then the sentence would be: “You, as living stones, that is, a spiritual house, are building yourselves into a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.” I think either of these translations would be better than reading the “spiritual house” as a predicate nominative.)
So, this is obviously a grammatical argument. If you are familiar with Greek, I’d love to hear your opinion on this.
But, does it matter? Does it matter if we are already a spiritual house or if we’re being built into a spiritual house? What do you say?
Philippians 3:13-17 translation
My translation:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have gained this. But, I do one thing: while forgetting about the things that are behind me and reaching toward those things ahead of me, I race for the goal toward the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. Therefore, as much as we have matured, let us be intent on this. If you have any other intentions, God will also reveal this to you. Nevertheless, live according to what you have already attained. (Philippians 3:13-16)
Greek Text:
ἀδελφοί, á¼Î³á½¼ á¼Î¼Î±Ï…τὸν οὠλογίζομαι κατειληφέναι: ἓν δέ, Ï„á½° μὲν ὀπίσω á¼Ï€Î¹Î»Î±Î½Î¸Î±Î½á½¹Î¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Ï‚ τοῖς δὲ ἔμπÏοσθεν á¼Ï€ÎµÎºÏ„εινόμενος, κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βÏαβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ á¼Î½ ΧÏιστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Οσοι οὖν τέλειοι, τοῦτο φÏονῶμεν: καὶ εἴ τι ἑτέÏως φÏονεῖτε, καὶ τοῦτο ὠθεὸς ὑμῖν ἀποκαλύψει: πλὴν εἰς ὃ á¼Ï†Î¸á½±ÏƒÎ±Î¼ÎµÎ½, Ï„á¿· αá½Ï„á¿· στοιχεῖν.
Here is another translation for comparison:
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:13-16 ESV)
Philippians 3:7-12 translation
My translation:
But, whatever was gain for me, I consider these things loss through Christ. Indeed, I also consider all things loss compared to the overwhelming greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. Because of him, I forfeited all things. I also consider them garbage so that I can gain Christ and be in him, not because I have made myself righteous by keeping the law, but because I have righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. This righteousness from God depends on the faith of knowing him, the power of his resurrection, and sharing in his sufferings while being conformed to his death, since somehow I will gain the resurrection of the dead. But, it’s not that I have already attained this nor have I become perfect. Instead, I keep going forward and grab on to it for myself, because I have been grabbed by Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:7-12)
Greek Text:
[ἀλλὰ] ἅτινα ἦν μοι κέÏδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν ΧÏιστὸν ζημίαν. ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι διὰ τὸ ὑπεÏέχον τῆς γνώσεως ΧÏιστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυÏίου μου, δι’ ὃν Ï„á½° πάντα á¼Î¶Î·Î¼Î¹á½½Î¸Î·Î½, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα ἵνα ΧÏιστὸν κεÏδήσω καὶ εὑÏεθῶ á¼Î½ αá½Ï„á¿·, μὴ ἔχων á¼Î¼á½´Î½ δικαιοσύνην τὴν á¼Îº νόμου ἀλλὰ τὴν διὰ πίστεως ΧÏιστοῦ, τὴν á¼Îº θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην á¼Ï€á½¶ τῇ πίστει, τοῦ γνῶναι αá½Ï„ὸν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως αá½Ï„οῦ καὶ [τὴν] κοινωνίαν [τῶν] παθημάτων αá½Ï„οῦ, συμμοÏφιζόμενος Ï„á¿· θανάτῳ αá½Ï„οῦ, εἴ πως καταντήσω εἰς τὴν á¼Î¾Î±Î½á½±ÏƒÏ„ασιν τὴν á¼Îº νεκÏῶν. Οá½Ï‡ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον á¼¢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω, á¼Ï†’ ᾧ καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ ΧÏιστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ].
Here is another translation for comparison:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (Philippians 3:7-12 ESV)
Philippians 3:1-6 translation
My translation:
In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, but it is security for you. Watch out for those “dogs”! Watch out for those evil workers! Watch out for those “mutilators”! (over-circumcisers) For we are the circumcision. We are the ones serving by the Spirit of God, the ones boasting in Jesus Christ, and the ones who are not putting our confidence in the flesh. Although, compared to those others, I have more reason to put confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh, I have more reason: I was circumcised on the eighth day, born as a descendant of Israel, from the Jewish tribe of Benjamin – a top-notch Hebrew. Concerning the Law, I was a Pharisee. Concerning zeal for God, I persecuted the church. Concerning righteousness that comes from keeping the Law, I was blameless. (Philippians 3:1-6)
Greek Text:
Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί μου, χαίÏετε á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ. Ï„á½° αá½Ï„á½° γÏάφειν ὑμῖν á¼Î¼Î¿á½¶ μὲν οá½Îº ὀκνηÏόν, ὑμῖν δὲ ἀσφαλές. Βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας, βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς á¼Ïγάτας, βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν. ἡμεῖς Î³á½±Ï á¼ÏƒÎ¼ÎµÎ½ ἡ πεÏιτομή, οἱ πνεύματι θεοῦ λατÏεύοντες καὶ καυχώμενοι á¼Î½ ΧÏιστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ οá½Îº á¼Î½ σαÏκὶ πεποιθότες, ÎºÎ±á½·Ï€ÎµÏ á¼Î³á½¼ ἔχων πεποίθησιν καὶ á¼Î½ σαÏκί. εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἄλλος πεποιθέναι á¼Î½ σαÏκί, á¼Î³á½¼ μᾶλλον: πεÏιτομῇ ὀκταήμεÏος, á¼Îº γένους ἸσÏαήλ, φυλῆς Βενιαμίν, ἙβÏαῖος á¼Î¾ ἙβÏαίων, κατὰ νόμον ΦαÏισαῖος, κατὰ ζῆλος διώκων τὴν á¼ÎºÎºÎ»Î·Ïƒá½·Î±Î½, κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν á¼Î½ νόμῳ γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος.
Here is another translation for comparison:
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh – though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. (Philippians 3:1-6 ESV)
Philippians 2:25-30 translation
My translation:
But I considered it necessary to send Ephaproditus to you. He is my brother, my fellow worker, and my “brother-in-arms”, but he is your apostle and your servant to care for my needs. I sent him because he kept longing for all of you and kept being distressed because you heard that he was sick. It’s true, he was sick – he almost died! But God had mercy on him, but not just him. God also had mercy on me so that I would not have great sorrow. So I eagerly sent him to you, so that after you see him again, you might rejoice and I might be free from sorrow. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, exposing himself to danger so that he might take the place of your own service for me. (Philippians 2:25-30)
Greek Text:
Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην ἘπαφÏόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεÏγὸν καὶ συστÏατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουÏγὸν τῆς χÏείας μου, πέμψαι Ï€Ïὸς ὑμᾶς, á¼Ï€ÎµÎ¹Î´á½´ á¼Ï€Î¹Ï€Î¿Î¸á¿¶Î½ ἦν πάντας ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀδημονῶν διότι ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἠσθένησεν. καὶ Î³á½°Ï á¼ ÏƒÎ¸á½³Î½Î·ÏƒÎµÎ½ παÏαπλήσιον θανάτῳ: ἀλλὰ ὠθεὸς ἠλέησεν αá½Ï„όν, οá½Îº αá½Ï„ὸν δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ á¼Î¼á½³, ἵνα μὴ λύπην á¼Ï€á½¶ λύπην σχῶ. σπουδαιοτέÏως οὖν ἔπεμψα αá½Ï„ὸν ἵνα ἰδόντες αá½Ï„ὸν πάλιν χαÏῆτε κἀγὼ ἀλυπότεÏος ὦ. Ï€Ïοσδέχεσθε οὖν αá½Ï„ὸν á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ μετὰ πάσης χαÏᾶς, καὶ τοὺς τοιούτους á¼Î½Ï„ίμους ἔχετε, ὅτι διὰ τὸ á¼”Ïγον ΧÏιστοῦ μέχÏι θανάτου ἤγγισεν, παÏαβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ ἵνα ἀναπληÏώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέÏημα τῆς Ï€Ïός με λειτουÏγίας.
Here is another translation for comparison:
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (Philippians 2:25-30 ESV)
Philippians 2:19-24 translation
My translation:
I hope to send Timothy to you soon so that I too might rejoice when I hear news about you. I am sending Timothy because I have no other kindred spirit who will sincerely care about you. All of the others seek after their own interests and not after the interests of Jesus Christ. But you know his character because he has served the good news with me like a son with a father. Therefore, I hope to send him to you as soon as I know about my situation. Then, I am confident in the Lord that I also will come to you. (Philippians 2:19-24)
Greek Text:
Ἐλπίζω δὲ á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ Ἰησοῦ Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εá½ÏˆÏ…χῶ γνοὺς Ï„á½° πεÏὶ ὑμῶν. οá½Î´á½³Î½Î± Î³á½°Ï á¼”Ï‡Ï‰ ἰσόψυχον ὅστις γνησίως Ï„á½° πεÏὶ ὑμῶν μεÏιμνήσει, οἱ πάντες Î³á½°Ï Ï„á½° ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὠτὰ Ἰησοῦ ΧÏιστοῦ. τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αá½Ï„οῦ γινώσκετε, ὅτι ὡς πατÏὶ τέκνον σὺν á¼Î¼Î¿á½¶ á¼Î´Î¿á½»Î»ÎµÏ…σεν εἰς τὸ εá½Î±Î³Î³á½³Î»Î¹Î¿Î½. τοῦτον μὲν οὖν á¼Î»Ï€á½·Î¶Ï‰ πέμψαι ὡς ἂν ἀφίδω Ï„á½° πεÏὶ á¼Î¼á½² á¼Î¾Î±Ï…τῆς: πέποιθα δὲ á¼Î½ κυÏίῳ ὅτι καὶ αá½Ï„ὸς ταχέως á¼Î»Îµá½»ÏƒÎ¿Î¼Î±Î¹.
Here is another translation for comparison:
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. (Philippians 2:19-24 ESV)
Philippians 2:12-18 translation
My translation:
For this reason, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed (not only in my presence but even more in my absence), produce the works of your own salvation with much fear. For the one working in you is God, so that your desires and your actions will be according to his good pleasure. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you might be faultless and innocent, that is, the blameless children of God in the middle of a crooked and perverted people. To this kind of people, shine like stars in the cosmos by holding fast to the gospel so that I might be proud when Jesus returns, because I neither ran nor labored in vain. But even if I am being sacrificed for the offering and service of your faith, I rejoice! And, even more, I rejoice together with all of you! For the same reason, you also rejoice and rejoice together with me! (Philippians 2:12-18)
Greek Text:
á½ÏƒÏ„ε, ἀγαπητοί μου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, μὴ ὡς á¼Î½ τῇ παÏουσίᾳ μου μόνον ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον á¼Î½ τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου, μετὰ φόβου καὶ Ï„Ïόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηÏίαν κατεÏγάζεσθε: θεὸς Î³á½±Ï á¼ÏƒÏ„ιν á½ á¼Î½ÎµÏγῶν á¼Î½ ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ á¼Î½ÎµÏγεῖν á½‘Ï€á½²Ï Ï„á¿†Ï‚ εá½Î´Î¿Îºá½·Î±Ï‚. πάντα ποιεῖτε χωÏὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν, ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέÏαιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστÏαμμένης, á¼Î½ οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆÏες á¼Î½ κόσμῳ, λόγον ζωῆς á¼Ï€á½³Ï‡Î¿Î½Ï„ες, εἰς καύχημα á¼Î¼Î¿á½¶ εἰς ἡμέÏαν ΧÏιστοῦ, ὅτι οá½Îº εἰς κενὸν ἔδÏαμον οá½Î´á½² εἰς κενὸν á¼ÎºÎ¿Ï€á½·Î±ÏƒÎ±. ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι á¼Ï€á½¶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουÏγίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίÏω καὶ συγχαίÏω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν: τὸ δὲ αá½Ï„ὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίÏετε καὶ συγχαίÏετέ μοι.
Here is another translation for comparison:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:12-18 ESV)
Philippians 2:5-11 translation
(NOTE: My goal was to translate one or two paragraphs per week. Philippians 2:1-4 probably belong to the same paragraph as Philippians 2:5-11. However, for the sake of less translation, I’ve separated this paragraph into two weeks.)
My translation:
Have this same intent among yourselves which was also in Jesus Christ: Although his nature was divine, he did not consider his divinity to be something he had to hold onto. Instead, he humbled himself by taking on the nature of a servant, by being born in the form of humanity. When he had the same form as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death caused by crucifixion. For this very reason, God honored him and gave him the name that is more than every name, so that, by Jesus’ name, everyone (those in heaven, those on the earth, and those under the earth) might bow before him and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
Greek Text:
τοῦτο φÏονεῖτε á¼Î½ ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ á¼Î½ ΧÏιστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ὃς á¼Î½ μοÏφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάÏχων οá½Ï‡ á¼Ïπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ, ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν á¼Îºá½³Î½Ï‰ÏƒÎµÎ½ μοÏφὴν δούλου λαβών, á¼Î½ á½Î¼Î¿Î¹á½½Î¼Î±Ï„ι ἀνθÏώπων γενόμενος: καὶ σχήματι εὑÏεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθÏωπος á¼Ï„απείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχÏι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυÏοῦ. διὸ καὶ ὠθεὸς αá½Ï„ὸν ὑπεÏύψωσεν καὶ á¼Ï‡Î±Ïίσατο αá½Ï„á¿· τὸ ὄνομα τὸ á½‘Ï€á½²Ï Ï€á¾¶Î½ ὄνομα, ἵνα á¼Î½ Ï„á¿· ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ á¼Ï€Î¿Ï…Ïανίων καὶ á¼Ï€Î¹Î³Îµá½·Ï‰Î½ καὶ καταχθονίων, καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα á¼Î¾Î¿Î¼Î¿Î»Î¿Î³á½µÏƒÎ·Ï„αι ὅτι κύÏιος Ἰησοῦς ΧÏιστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατÏός.
Here is another translation for comparison:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)