Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favour of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Phil 1:3-11
πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι ἡμέρας ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
{being confident of} this {this thing} that {the one} {having begun} in you work good {will complete/perfect} until {(the) day} {of Jesus} Christ
Literal Versions:
(ASV) being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(LITV) being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you will finish it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Dynamic Equivalence Versions
(GNB) And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.
(GW) I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.
(NLT) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Free Translations
(MSG) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
(TLB) And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.
Jewish Flavour Versions
(CJB) And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua.
(ISV) I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good action among you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah Jesus
(TS2009) being persuaded of this, that He who has begun a good work in you shall perfecta it until the day of יהושע Messiah.
The Alternatives:
Being confident of: ~ / persuaded / sure of~that / convinced / certain / never been the slightest doubt in my mind /
This this thing: ~ / this very thing / this good work /
The One who: ~ / God / the God who /
Having begun: ~ / began / started /
a good work: ~ / the good work / this great work / a good action / this good work /
in you: ~ / within you / among you /
will perfect it: ~ / perform it / finish it / complete it / continue his work / keep it growing / keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish / keep right on helping you grow in his grace / bring it to completion /
until: ~ / to / through to / – / on / by /
Day of Jesus Christ: ~ / the day of Jesus Christ / the Day of Christ Jesus / the day when Christ Jesus returns / the very day Christ Jesus appears / that day when Jesus Christ returns / the Day of the Messiah Yeshua / the Day of the Messiah Jesus / the day of יהושע Messiah /
That gives you a run down on all the pieces to this verse. It is a marvellous statement of certainty from Paul. It reminds me of a song we used to sing in church in the late 70’s, using exactly the words of this verse, with each line repeated (:||) in succession.
- I’m confident of this very thing :||
- That He :||
- Who has begun :||
- A good work :||
- in you :||
- He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ :||
- What makes him so certain, confident and sure?
- What is he so confident about?
- What very thing is he putting his confidence in?
- Is it “a good work” or “the good work”?
- What’s the difference and does it matter?
Use this one verse to connect up the other verses of this whole segment (Phil 1:3-11)
Look for the repeated elements in these verses which pull the whole segment together. Much like the song is repetitive, so too are Paul’s prayer elements and the sentiments he expresses to the Philippians. Why is Paul so joyful? David Pawson and many other commentators say this letter is such a joyful letter, despite that fact that Paul is in prison while he is writing it and his first encounter in Philippi was a prison break. Yet despite all of that the letter is overwhelmingly joyful. Why is that? How might you extract the essence of joy from it to become a strength and encouragement to you until the day of Christ’s return?