PHP 2:17 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) but even if I’m to lose my life by being poured out like wine on your sacrifice and on the ministry of your faith, I’ll be happy and celebrate along with all of you.

Key: khaki:verbs, 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 But even if I am being poured out as an offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice with you all.

UST And I am joyful and I will rejoice with you all, despite suffering daily or going through times when those who oppose the gospel try to kill me. I will gladly suffer along with you, adding to your service which you offer because you believe in him.

BLB But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

AICNT But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

OEB And yet, even if, when your faith is offered as a sacrifice to God, my lifeblood must be poured out in addition, still I will rejoice and share the joy of you all;

WEBBE Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.

LSV but if I also am poured forth on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and am glad with you all,

FBV So even if I pour out my life as a sacrifice and offering so you may trust in God, I'm happy for it, and I'm glad together with all of you,

TCNT But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

T4T Perhaps the Roman authorities will execute me, and my blood will pour out [MET] as the wine pours out when the priest offers it to God [MET]. For your part, you believe in Christ firmly. As a result, you have given yourselves completely to God in order that you might do what he wills [MET], just like a priest offers a sacrifice completely to God [MET]. Because I dedicate myself wholly to God together with you, even if they are about to execute me, I will greatly rejoice [DOU], because I am giving myself wholly to God, and because you all are giving yourselves wholly to God.

LEB But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice with all of you.

BBE And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all:

Moff Even if my life-blood has to be poured as a libation on the sacred sacrifice of faith you are offering to God, I rejoice, I congratulate you all —

Wymth Nay, even if my life is to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I rejoice, and I congratulate you all.

ASV Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

DRA Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and congratulate with you all.

YLT but if also I am poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and joy with you all,

Drby But if also I am poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice in common with you all.

RV Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

SLT But if also I am poured out upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice together with you all.

Wbstr And if I am even offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

KJB-1769 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

KJB-1611 Yea, and if I bee [fn]offered vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith, I ioy, and reioyce with you all.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

2:17 Gr. powred foorth.

Bshps Yea, and though I be offered vp vpo the offeryng and seruice of your fayth, I reioyce, and reioyce with you all.
(Yea, and though I be offered up upon the offering and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.)

Gnva Yea, and though I bee offered vp vpon the sacrifice, and seruice of your faith, I am glad, and reioyce with you all.
(Yea, and though I be offered up upon the sacrifice, and service of your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all. )

Cvdl Yee and though I be offred vp vpo the offerynge & sacrifice of youre faith, I am glad, and reioyce with you all:
(Ye/You_all and though I be offered up upon the offering and sacrifice of your(pl) faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all:)

TNT nether have labored in vayne. Yee and though I be offered vp vpon the offerynge and sacrifice of youre fayth: I reioyce and reioyce with you all.
(neither have laboured in vain. Ye/You_all and though I be offered up upon the offering and sacrifice of your(pl) faith: I rejoice and rejoice with you all. )

Wycl But thouy Y be offrid or slayn on the sacrifice and seruyce of youre feith, Y haue ioye, and Y thanke you alle.
(But though I be offered or slain/killed on the sacrifice and service of your(pl) faith, I have joy, and I thank you alle.)

Luth Und ob ich geopfert werde über dem Opfer und Gottesdienst eures Glaubens, so freue ich mich und freue mich mit euch allen.
(And if/whether I sacrificed become above to_him victim/prey and God’sdienst yours(pl) faiths, so am_happy I me and am_happy me with you all/everyone.)

ClVg Sed et si immolor supra sacrificium, et obsequium fidei vestræ, gaudeo, et congratulor omnibus vobis.
(But and when/but_if immolor above sacrifice, and obsequium of_faith yours, gaudeo, and congratulor to_all to_you(pl). )

UGNT ἀλλ’ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συνχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν.
(all’ ei kai spendomai epi taʸ thusia kai leitourgia taʸs pisteōs humōn, ⱪairō kai sunⱪairō pasin humin.)

SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν·
(alla ei kai spendomai epi taʸ thusia kai leitourgia taʸs pisteōs humōn, ⱪairō kai sugⱪairō pasin humin;)

RP-GNT Ἀλλ' εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν·
(All' ei kai spendomai epi taʸ thusia kai leitourgia taʸs pisteōs humōn, ⱪairō kai sugⱪairō pasin humin;)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἀλλ᾽ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ [fn]συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν·
(All ei kai spendomai epi taʸ thusia kai leitourgia taʸs pisteōs humōn, ⱪairō kai sugⱪairō pasin humin; )

2:17 αλλ ¦ αλλα NA²⁷ SBL WH

2:17 συγχαιρω ¦ συνχαιρω TH WH

Key for above GNTs: orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:12–18: Believers should obey God so that they show other people how God wants people to behave

Paul reminded the Philippian believers that when they obeyed God as Jesus did (2:6–8), God would help them to give the gospel to those in spiritual darkness. As long as they were faithful, Paul knew that his work and even his suffering would not be in vain.

Paragraph 2:17–18

Even though Paul’s work caused him to suffer, he was rejoicing and so should the Philippians.

2:17a

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith,

I may become like wine that they pour as an offering over the sacrifice that you are making because you believe.
I may suffer and die because I preached the good news, just as you are suffering because you believe it.

But: There are two ways to interpret how 2:16 and 2:17 connect, depending on the meaning of the Greek word alla, which the BSB translates as But.

The word alla introduces an additional thought. The main clause in 2:17 (“I am glad and rejoice with all of you”) agrees with what the author said or implied in 2:16. It does not indicate a contrast to 2:16. Many commentaries support this interpretation.For example, Gordon Fee. Also Tony Popr in personal correspondence with the author. (KJV, NJB)
The word alla means “but,” showing a contrast to the text preceding 2:17. (BSB, NIV, NET, NLT, REB)

It is recommended that you translate 2:17 as a continuation of rather than a contrast to 2:16. This may mean that you do not need to translate alla explicitly. Many English translations have left it implicit, as English does not always need a conjunction to indicate a further thought. Or you may need to use a “Yes” or a “No” at the beginning of 2:17 in your translation. This will depend on what part of 2:16 the main idea of 2:17 is adding to and agreeing with. The NJB uses “indeed” to indicate how the two verses relate.

even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith: Here Paul used a figure of speech to describe his situation. He referred to two different kinds of offerings. The Jewish priests killed animals on the altar as sacrifices. To accompany this they also poured wine out on the ground or on the dead animal (Numbers 15:1–12). This was called a drink offering. Paul compared the Philippians to the animal sacrifice, and he compared himself to the drink offering that completed their sacrifice.

Unbelievers were persecuting the Philippians because they chose to worship God and obey the good news of Jesus Christ. So their lives were like a sacrifice offered to God. Paul was suffering in prison and was in danger of death because he had preached the good news to many people. So he was like the drink offering that the priest poured on top of another offering. This does not mean that either Paul or the Philippians were about to die, though the drink offering could mean that Paul’s blood would soon to be poured out when he was executed.

If in your culture people do not sacrifice animals or make drink offerings, this metaphor may be very difficult for your readers to understand. If so, it will be important to make the comparison very clear in your translation. Or you may need to leave out the metaphor altogether and translate only the meaning behind it.

even if I am being poured out: The Greek verb here is in the present tense, but there are two ways in which that tense is understood here:

It should be translated as “even if I am to be poured out….” Paul used the present tense to refer to the future. He knew that the Romans might execute him. He was comparing the “pouring out” with the possibility of his death. (RSV, GNT, NJB, REB, NCV, CEV, NLT)
It should be translated as “even if I am being poured out….” Paul was referring to the suffering that he was already experiencing. (BSB, NIV, GW, NASB, NRSV, NET)

There is stronger support in commentaries and English versions for interpretation (1). Also see 2 Timothy 4:6, where Paul used the same verb to speak of his approaching death.Those who argue for interpretation (2) say that in the larger context of the letter, Paul nowhere suggested that he expected to die as the result of being in prison. In fact, Paul stated the opposite in 1:25b: “I know that I will remain [alive] and that I will continue with all of you.” See also 1:24 and 2:24. When he used the image of “sacrifice” in 2:17a, referring to the Philippian believers, Paul was not suggesting that they would die because they followed Christ. And in the same way, when Paul referred to himself as being like a “drink offering,” he did not mean that he would die rather than be released from prison. When he talked about a “drink offering” and a “sacrifice,” he was more likely referring to the fact that he and they struggled and suffered as believers.Also Paul used the present tense here (“I am being poured out”), not the future tense (“I will be poured out”). This also implies that he was talking about the suffering he was experiencing when he was writing the letter, not what would happen to him later. The following shows how this interpretation might be translated:I am suffering because of the good news, just as you are suffering because you believe it. Nevertheless, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

the sacrifice and service: This is a figure of speech in which the two words sacrifice and service refer to the same idea. So you could more clearly translate this as “the sacrificial service” or “the sacrificial offering” or “the offering of the sacrifice.” Their sacrifice is another way to say that the Philippians had been dedicated to God, as a sacrifice is dedicated to God.

of your faith: A literal translation of the Greek is “of your faith.” There are two basic ways to interpret this phrase:

Their faith was the reason or the motive for their “sacrifice”. (NIV, GNT, NCV)
Their faith was the “sacrifice.” The sacrificial offering represents the fact that they believed. For example:
Your faith in the Lord and your service are like a sacrifice offered to him. (CEV) (CEV)

The first interpretation seems to be the more likely one in this context. So it is recommended that you follow it (1). The sacrifice was broader than just faith. It consisted of their lives wholly committed to God (SSA).

General Comment on 2:17a

Here is a possible way you could translate 2:17a adding a lot of implicit information:

I may still have to die as a result of my work. When you believed God’s message, you gave yourselves to God like a priest offering a sacrifice to God. If the Romans kill me, then I will be like wine that the priest would pour over your sacrifice as an additional offering.

2:17b

I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

But I am still happy and rejoice with you all.
But I am nevertheless glad and I am rejoicing with you all.

I am glad and rejoice: In Greek these two verbs come from the same root verb and they can be literally translated as “I rejoice and I rejoice with [you].” Paul rejoiced because it was a privilege to suffer for Jesus Christ. And he said that he rejoiced with the Philippians because they believed the gospel that he preached, and they, like himself, were willing to suffer for their faith. See notes on 2:16c.

General Comment on 2:17

In some languages it may be necessary to reorder 2:17 and place 2:17b before 2:17a. For example:

I an glad and rejoice with you all, even though I am about to be poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice that you offer to God because you believe.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἀλλ’ εἰ καὶ

but if (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλʼ εἰ καί σπένδομαι ἐπί τῇ θυσίᾳ καί λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν χαίρω καί συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν)

But even if connects the idea of running and laboring for the advance of the gospel, which Paul discussed in [2:16](../02/16.md), with what he says in the rest of this verse. Consider how to translate this phrase in your language in a way that shows this connection.

Note 2 topic: translate-symaction

σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν

˱I˲_˓am_being˒_poured_out (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλʼ εἰ καί σπένδομαι ἐπί τῇ θυσίᾳ καί λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν χαίρω καί συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν)

The phrase I am being poured out as an offering on the sacrifice uses imagery from the Old Testament Jewish sacrificial system. A priest would sacrifice an animal on the altar as a burnt offering to God and then pour out wine as a drink offering to God, in order to make the sacrifice complete. See [Num 28:7](../num/28/07.md). If there is a gesture with similar meaning in your culture, consider using it here, but if this imagery would be confusing in your culture, consider translating this imagery using plain language. Alternate translation: [I work and give my life for your sake in order to complete the sacrificial service of your faith]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σπένδομαι

˱I˲_˓am_being˒_poured_out

Paul uses the phrase I am being poured out as an offering to depict his imprisonment and suffering for the advancement of the gospel. Paul probably is also thinking of the fact that he could be killed in the future for preaching the gospel. If this metaphor would not be clear in your language, consider using plain language to express this idea.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

σπένδομαι

˱I˲_˓am_being˒_poured_out

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the abstract noun offering by using a verbal form.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλʼ εἰ καί σπένδομαι ἐπί τῇ θυσίᾳ καί λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν χαίρω καί συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [on your sacrifice and service which you offer because you believe]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys