Parallel PHP 2:16

UTN uW Translation Notes:

λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες

/the/_word ˱of˲_life holding_up

Here, holding forth could mean: (1) holding out to others the word of life. Alternate translation: “holding out the word of life” or “offering the word of life” (2) holding firmly to the word of life. Alternate translation: “holding tightly to the word of life” or “holding firmly to the word of life”

λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες

/the/_word ˱of˲_life holding_up

The phrase holding forth the word of life continues the thought from the previous verse and shows in more detail how Christians can become “blameless and pure, children of God” who “shine as lights in the world.” Consider the best way to show this connection in your language. Alternate translation: “as you hold forth the word of life”

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

λόγον ζωῆς

/the/_word ˱of˲_life

The phrase word of life refers to the good news about Jesus. If this would be unclear in your language, consider translating this phrase in plain language. Alternate translation: “the message that gives life” or “the life-giving gospel” or “the life-giving message”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

λόγον

/the/_word

Here the phrase the word means “the gospel.” In his writings, Paul often uses word to refer to the message of the gospel. In doing this, Paul is describing something Christians communicate to others by associating it with words. If this is not clear in your language, you could use an equivalent expression, or use plain language. Alternate translation: “the message” or “the gospel” or “the good news”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

λόγον ζωῆς

/the/_word ˱of˲_life

The phrase the word of life could mean: (1) the word that gives people life. Alternate translation: “the word that gives life” (2) the word that is about life and that gives life. Alternate translation: “the word that is about life and gives life” (3) the word which contains life and has the ability to give people life. Alternate translation: “the word that contains and gives life” If your language allows you to keep the phrase the word of life ambiguous, this is the best option. If your language does not allow you to do this, you may specify clearly how the phrase of life is related to the word.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

λόγον ζωῆς

/the/_word ˱of˲_life

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the abstract noun life by using it in a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: “the life-giving word” or “the word which gives life”

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον, οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα

to /a/_boast ˱to˲_me in /the/_day ˱of˲_Christ because not in vain ˱I˲_ran nor in vain ˱I˲_labored

With the phrase for my boasting on the day of Christ, Paul introduces a reason that the Philippian believers should try to live out the things he has just told them to do in 2:12 and ending with the phrase “holding forth the word of life.” Paul here gives one reason for what he has just asked them to do. He says that if they live out what he has just told them, then when Christ returns, he can be proud of the fact that he did not work in vain among them. Consider the best way in your language to show this reason-result relationship. Alternate translation: “so that I will be able to boast on the day Christ returns that I did not run in vain or labor in vain”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ

to /a/_boast ˱to˲_me

Here, boasting refers to Paul being rightfully proud of God’s work in the lives of the Philippian believers. If it would be clearer in your language, consider stating this explicitly. Alternate translation: “so that I may be rightfully proud of God’s work in you” or “so that I might glory in God’s work in you”

εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ

to /a/_boast ˱to˲_me

Alternate translation: “so that I may boast” or “in order that I have good reason to glory”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ,

to in /the/_day ˱of˲_Christ

The phrase the day of Christ refers to the time in the future when Christ will return. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “when Christ returns” or “at the time Christ returns”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον, οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα

not in vain ˱I˲_ran nor in vain ˱I˲_labored

The phrases run in vain and labor in vain have very similar meanings here. Paul uses these two phrases together to emphasize how hard he has worked to help people believe in Christ and mature in their obedience and love for him. You may translate these two phrases separately, as the ULT does, or if it would be clearer in your language, you may translate them together as a single phrase. Alternate translation: “I did not work so hard for nothing” or “I did not work hard with no lasting results”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον

not in vain ˱I˲_ran

Here Paul uses the word run metaphorically to mean “work.” Here Paul specifically means that he worked for the advancement of the gospel among the Philippians. Paul uses the word run to bring to the Philippians’ minds the image of a runner who is racing toward a finish line in order to win a prize. If this image is familiar to people in your culture, consider using this metaphor. But if this image is not familiar to your readers, consider stating this idea in plain language. Alternate translation: “I did not work for the advancement of the gospel uselessly” or “I did not work for the spread of the good news for nothing” or “I did not run the race uselessly”

(Occurrence -1) εἰς κενὸν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα)

Alternate translation: “for no purpose … for no purpose” or “without positive results … without positive results” or “for nothing … for nothing”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα

nor in vain ˱I˲_labored

Here Paul uses the word labor to refer to his spiritual work of sharing the gospel with the Philippian believers and working to help them grow in spiritual maturity. Paul assumes that his readers will know that he is referring to his spiritual work among them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “or work hard for nothing, trying to help you believe in Christ and obey him”