PHP 2:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions,

UST Since the Messiah encourages us, since he comforts us with his love, since the Spirit has produced fellowship among you, since God gives you affection and compassion toward one another,

BLB Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions,

AICNT Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

OEB If, then, any encouragement comes through union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any communion with the Spirit, if there is any tenderness or pity,

WEBBE If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

WMBB If therefore there is any exhortation in Messiah, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

NET Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy,

LSV If, then, any exhortation [is] in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of [the] Spirit, if any yearnings and mercies,

FBV So then, if you're encouraged by being in Christ, if you're comforted by his love, if you share together in the Spirit, if you have compassion and sympathy—

TCNT So if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort from love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion or mercy,

T4T Since Christ encourages us, since he loves us and comforts us, since God’s Spirit fellowships with us, and since Christ is very merciful [DOU] to us,

LEB Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

BBE If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity,

Moff So by all the stimulus of Christ, by every incentive of love, by all your participation in the Spirit, by all your affectionate tenderness,

Wymth If then I can appeal to you as the followers of Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love and any common sharing of the Spirit, or if you have any tender-heartedness and compassion, make my joy complete by being of one mind,

ASV If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

DRA If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration:

YLT If, then, any exhortation [is] in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Drby If then [there be] any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of [the] Spirit, if any bowels and compassions,

RV If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

SLT If therefore any consolation in Christ, if any encouragement of love, if any mutual participation of the Spirit, if any compassions and mercies,

Wbstr If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

KJB-1769 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

KJB-1611 ¶ If there bee therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of loue, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels, & mercies;
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps If there be therefore any consolation in Christe, yf any comfort of loue, if any felowship of ye spirite, yf any compassion and mercie,
(If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of ye/you_all spirit, if any compassion and mercy,)

Gnva If there be therfore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of loue, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercie,
(If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy, )

Cvdl Yf there be amonge you eny consolacion in Christ, yf there be eny comforte of loue, yf there be eny fellishippe off the sprete, yf there be eny compassion and mercy,
(If there be among you any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love, if there be any fellishippe off the spirit, if there be any compassion and mercy,)

TNT If ther be amonge you eny consolacion in Christ yf ther be eny cofortable love yf there be eny fellishippe of the sprete yf ther be eny compassion or mercy:
(If there be among you any consolation in Christ if there be any cofortable love if there be any fellishippe of the spirit if there be any compassion or mercy: )

Wycl Therfor if ony coumfort is in Crist, if ony solace of charite, if ony felouschipe of spirit, if ony inwardnesse of merci doyng,
(Therefore if any comfort is in Christ, if any solace of charity, if any fellowship of spirit, if any inwardness of mercy doing,)

Luth Ist nun bei euch Ermahnung in Christo, ist Trost der Liebe, ist Gemeinschaft des Geistes, ist herzliche Liebe und Barmherzigkeit,
(Is now at/in you Ermahnung in Christo, is consolation/comfort the/of_the love(n), is Gemeinschaft the spirit, is heartfelte love(n) and compassion,)

ClVg Si qua ergo consolatio in Christo, si quod solatium caritatis, si qua societas spiritus, si qua viscera miserationis:[fn]
(When/But_if which therefore consolation in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah, when/but_if that alonetium caritatis, when/but_if which society spirit, when/but_if which viscera had_sentionis: )

2.1 Si qua consolatio, etc. Si vultis habere consolationem in rebus Christi, id est in remissione peccatorum et in aliis donis; vel: si consolari me vultis, si quod solatium charitatis est vobis, id est si vultis ut charitas ecclesiarum quæ orant et bona agunt pro fratribus, sit vobis solatium et confortatio in adversitatibus vestris. Si qua societas spiritus. Propter hanc societatem illi in quos primitus venit Spiritus sanctus, linguis omnium gentium sunt locuti. Si qua viscera. Id est si affectum pietatis habetis erga me. Non dico ipsam miserationem, id est exhibitionem misericordiæ. Si ista, inquam, vultis vobis prodesse, implete gaudium meum, id est estote humiles, unanimes, quod eritis si habueritis idem sapere, etc.

2.1 When/But_if which consolation, etc. When/But_if do_you_want to_have consolation in/into/on things Christi, that it_is in/into/on remissione of_sins/sinners and in/into/on to_others gifts; vel: when/but_if to_be_comforted me do_you_want, when/but_if that alonetium of_charity it_is to_you(pl), that it_is when/but_if do_you_want as charity assemblies/churches which orant and good(s) they_act for brothers, be to_you(pl) alonetium and confortatio in/into/on adversitatibus yours. When/But_if which society spirit. Because this society them in/into/on which primitus he_came Spirit holy, tongues/languages of_all nations are spoke. When/But_if which viscera. That it_is when/but_if the_feeling of_piety you(pl)_have towards me. Not/No I_mean/say itself had_sentionem, that it_is exhibitionem of_mercy. When/But_if these_(ones), I_must_say, do_you_want to_you(pl) to_benefit, fillse joy mine, that it_is be humbles, unanimes, that you(pl)_will_be when/but_if has_hadis the_same to_be_wise, etc.

UGNT εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
(ei tis oun paraklaʸsis en Ⱪristōi, ei ti paramuthion agapaʸs, ei tis koinōnia Pneumatos, ei tis splagⱪna kai oiktirmoi,)

SBL-GNT Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
(Ei tis oun paraklaʸsis en Ⱪristōi, ei ti paramuthion agapaʸs, ei tis koinōnia pneumatos, ei tis splagⱪna kai oiktirmoi,)

RP-GNT Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
(Ei tis oun paraklaʸsis en ⱪristōi, ei ti paramuthion agapaʸs, ei tis koinōnia pneumatos, ei tis splagⱪna kai oiktirmoi,)

TC-GNT Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος, εἴ [fn]τις σπλάγχνα καὶ [fn]οἰκτιρμοί,
(Ei tis oun paraklaʸsis en Ⱪristōi, ei ti paramuthion agapaʸs, ei tis koinōnia pneumatos, ei tis splagⱪna kai oiktirmoi, )

2:1 τις ¦ τι PCK ¦ τινα TR

2:1 οικτιρμοι ¦ οικτειρμοι TH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:27–2:11: Paul encouraged the Philippians to live as true followers of Christ

Paul encouraged the Philippians to act as believers should, to agree with each other and to be courageous when they spoke to other people about Christ. Since they lived among many people who were opposed to the gospel, they should expect to defend their faith. They should also expect to suffer because they trusted in Christ.

Paragraph 2:1–4

Since Christ has shown the Philippians how much he loves them, they should love one other, agree with one another and be humble.

2:1–4 is one long sentence in the Greek. In your translation you may need to divide this into several shorter sentences.

2:1

There is no verb in 2:1 in the Greek text. BSB has supplied “have” in the first phrase, but you may need to supply a verb for each of the four parts of the verse. Paul used these four conditional or “if” clauses (or phrases) to make his appeal to the Philippians very strong. What he was asking them to do is in 2:2a: “make my joy complete.”

Paul used the Greek word ei in each of the four parts of 2:1. It literally means “if.” But in this context Paul was not expressing any doubt that these things were true. He was assuming that they were true. If your word for “if” is only used in a conditional sense, you will need to use another connecting word here, for example, “since.” See the first Meaning Line in the Display for 2:1a, 2:1b, 2:1c, and 2:1d.

These four phrases have a strong emotional effect, and Paul’s basic aim in writing them was to motivate the readers to follow his instructions in 2:2–4. Look for a way in your language to express the emotional appeal and the strong feeling that Paul showed here. Try not to lose the emotional force by making long sentences in an attempt to explain the exact meaning. One possibility is to use rhetorical questions. For example, in 2:1a:

Does being united to Christ encourage you? Of course it does!

If you use rhetorical questions, you will need to use them in each part of this verse. See the second Meaning Line in the Display for 2:1a, 2:1b, 2:1c, and 2:1d.

Another way to translate 2:1 is to use short statements. For example:

¹You are united to Christ and this encourages you. Christ loves you and this gives you comfort. You have fellowship with the Spirit. And there is tenderness and compassion.

If you do this, you will need to begin 2:2 with a phrase to connect it with all these statements in 2:1. For example:

²Since all these things are true, make my joy complete….

2:1a

Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ,

¶ Since/if you are encouraged because you belong to Christ,
¶ Does it encourage you that you belong to Christ? Of course it does!
¶ You live in union with Christ and he/this encourages you.

Therefore: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as Therefore indicates that what follows is the result of what preceded. Some English versions do not use a connector here. Use the expression that is most natural in your language.

if you have any encouragement in Christ: A literal translation of the Greek here is “If any encouragement in Christ…” But in many languages, a verb will be needed (as it is in English). The context implies you have (as the BSB uses) or “you receive” here.

encouragement: The Greek word that the BSB translates as encouragement comes from a verb that means “to comfort, encourage, cheer up.” It is not possible to translate encouragement as a noun in every language. If you need to translate it with a verb, you could say:

if you are encouraged/comforted because you are united with Christ

if being united with Christ encourages/comforts you

if Christ has encouraged you by uniting you with himself

in Christ: The BSB translates the Greek phrase literally as in Christ. People who are joined with Christ because they trust him are in Christ. They belong to him, they let him have control of their lives.

2:1b

if any comfort from His love,

since/if you are comforted by Christ’s love for you,
Do you get any comfort from knowing that he loves you? Yes, you do!
Christ loves you and this comforts you.

comfort from His love: In Greek, the noun love has no possessive pronoun (His). This means that commentators disagree about what love Paul was talking about here. There are four main possibilities:Another possibility is that it refers to God’s love for the Philippians. Some commentators suggest this so that this would then complete the Trinity in 2:1. That is: 2:1a—Christ encourages, 2:1b—God loves, and 2:1c—the Spirit provides fellowship.

Christ’s love for the Philippians.
Paul’s love for the Philippians.
The Philippians’ love for Paul.
The Philippians’ love for one another.

Many English versions do not make it clear what love is being referred to (for example, RSV, NJB, NASB), but those which do make it clear, follow the first option—Christ’s love for the Philippians (BSB, NIV, GNT, NLT, CEV, NCV). Since the exact meaning of the Greek is not clear, it may be preferable to leave it more general in your translation, if you can do so. However, if in your language you must provide a subject and an object for love, it is recommended that you also follow option (1). Believers do not have to worry even in difficult times because they know that Christ loves them.

2:1c

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

since/if you have fellowship with the Spirit,
Do you share together with God’s Spirit? Yes, of course!
The Holy Spirit shares together with you.

fellowship with the Spirit: The Greek is literally “fellowship of the spirit.” This may refer to

the fellowship that believers have with the Spirit. (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, GNT)
the fellowship that the Spirit helps believers to have with each other. (CEV, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

fellowship: The Greek word here is koinōnia, which means “sharing,” “participating,” “having a part in something.” This Greek word has several related meanings. For example, it can refer to people sharing with one another or doing something with one another, or people joining together with others in some way. The sense in this verse has to do with participation in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within and ministers to all believers.

the Spirit: Most commentators and versions agree that this refers to the Spirit of God. You may need to translate the phrase the Spirit as “the Holy Spirit” or “the Spirit of God” or “God’s Spirit” in order to make it clear to whom it is referring.

2:1d

if any affection and compassion,

and since/if Christ has been tender and compassionate toward you,
Has Christ been kind and merciful toward you? Of course he has!
Christ has been kind to you and has shown you pity.

affection and compassion: These two words can refer to two different feelings or to a way of expressing a single emotion. Most commentaries interpret the two words as two distinct but related ideas. The phrase affection and compassion has been understood as describing

how Christ felt toward the Philippians (SSA, O’Brien);
how the Philippians felt toward one another or toward Paul. (GNT, REB, GW, NLT, CEV)

If you need to translate affection and compassion as verbs, you will probably need to give a subject. Interpretation (1) is the most likely to be what Paul meant, and it is recommended that you follow it. Christ loved the Philippians and pitied them. He demonstrated this when he died on the cross to save them.

affection: This is the same word as was used in 1:8. The Greek word literally refers to the “insides of the body.” It means the “affections,” “the feelings of the heart,” “the center of a person’s emotions.” In this verse it means to be tender toward someone, to be kind and gentle to them.

compassion: The Greek word here means “pity, mercy, sympathy.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

οὖν

therefore

The word Therefore indicates that what follows is the natural result of or conclusion to what preceded it. Use the most natural form in your language to show this relationship.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἴ τις & παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ εἰ τὶ παραμύθιον ἀγάπης εἰ τὶς κοινωνία Πνεύματος εἰ τὶς σπλάγχνα καί οἰκτιρμοί)

The phrase if there is any, which occurs one time in this verse, and the phrase if any, which occurs three times in this verse, appear to be hypothetical statements. However, they are not hypothetical, because they each express things which are true. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the meaning of these phrases explicitly. Alternate translation: [because of the encouragement which comes from Christ, because there is comfort from his love, because of the fellowship of the Spirit, because you have affections and compassions] or [since Christ has encouraged you, since there is comfort from his love, since there is fellowship in the Spirit, since you have affections and compassions]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί

In the three occurrences of the phrase if any in this verse, the missing words, “there is,” are implied and can be supplied in your translation if omitting them would cause confusion. Alternate translation: [if there is any comfort from love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there are any affections and compassions]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἴ τις & παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun encouragement by using a verbal form of this word. Alternate translation: [if Christ encourages you]

εἴ τις & παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ

The word encouragement could refer to: (1) “encouragement” (2) “exhortation” Alternate translation: [if there is any exhortation in Christ] (3) both the idea of “encouragement” and “exhortation” at the same time. Alternate translation: [if there is any encouragement and exhortation in Christ]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἴ τις & παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ

The phrase, encouragement in Christ probably means the encouragement that Christ gives to believers because they are in union with him. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [because of the encouragement which comes from Christ] or [if Christ encourages you] or [because you are encouraged by being in Christ] or [since you are encouraged because of your union with Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης

Here, love probably refers to Christ’s love for the Philippians. Alternate translation: [if his love has given you any comfort] or [if his love for you has comforted you in any way]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the ideas behind the abstract nouns comfort and love by using verbal forms of these words and/or using them in a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: [if Christ’s way of loving you has comforted you] or [if being loved by Christ has comforted you]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης

The phrase comfort of love refers to the comfort which the Philippian believers received from Christ’s love. If it would be clearer in your language, consider stating this explicitly. Alternate translation: [if you have received any comfort from Christ’s love] or [if Christ’s love comforts you]

εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος

The phrase fellowship of the Spirit could refer to: (1) the Holy Spirit giving the Philippian Christians fellowship with each other. Alternate translation: [if the Spirit has produced any fellowship among you] or [if the Spirit has given you fellowship with each other] (2) the Philippian Christians’ fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [if you have fellowship with the Spirit] (3) both the Holy Spirit giving the Philippian Christians fellowship with each other and to their having fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [if you have any fellowship with the Spirit and the Spirit has produced in you any fellowship with each other]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun fellowship by using it in a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: [if the Spirit has produced any fellowship among you] or [if the Spirit has enabled you to fellowship with each other]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract nouns affections and compassions by using them in a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: [if you feel any affections and compassions for one another] or [if you have any affection and compassion for each other]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί

The phrase if any affections and compassions probably refers to the Philippian believers’ affection and compassion toward each other. If it would be clearer in your language, consider stating this explicitly. Alternate translation: [if you have any affection and compassion toward one another]

Parallel PHP 2:1

Section 1:27–2:11: Paul encouraged the Philippians to live as true followers of Christ

Paragraph 2:1–4

2:1

2:1a

2:1b

2:1c

2:1d