PHP 2:25 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 Now I consider it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister for my needs,

UST I have concluded that I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a fellow believer and my fellow worker, and he endures difficulties together with me just like soldiers endure difficulties together. He is your messenger and servant, whom you sent to help me when I was needy.

BLB Now I esteemed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,

AICNT But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need,

OEB Still I think it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you now, for he is my dear friend, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and he was also your messenger to help me in my need.

WEBBE But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

WMBB But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your emissary and servant of my need,

NET But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need.

LSV And I thought [it] necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier, and your apostle and servant to my need,

FBV But I thought it was important to send Epaphroditus to you. He's a brother to me, a co-worker and fellow-soldier. He's the one you sent to look after me,

TCNT But for now I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need.

T4T I have concluded that it is really necessary that I send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a fellow believer and my fellow worker, and he endures difficulties together with me [MET], just like soldiers endure difficulties together. You sent him to me in order that he might help me when I was needy [EUP].

LEB ¶ But I considered it[fn] necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need,

2:25 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE But it seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by you for help in my need;

Moff As for Epaphroditus, however, my brother, my fellow-worker, my fellow-soldier, and your messenger to meet my wants, I think it necessary to send you him at once,

Wymth Yet I deem it important to send Epaphroditus to you now—he is my brother and comrade both in labour and in arms, and is your messenger who has ministered to my needs.

ASV But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need;

DRA But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer, and fellow soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants.

YLT And I thought [it] necessary Epaphroditus — my brother, and fellow-workman, and fellow-soldier, and your apostle and servant to my need — to send unto you,

Drby but I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need,

RV But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need;

SLT And I thought necessary Epaphroditus, my brother, and cooperator, and fellow-soldier, and your sent, and workman of my necessity, be sent to you.

Wbstr Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

KJB-1769 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

KJB-1611 Yet I supposed it necessary, to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and companion in labour, and fellow souldiour, but your messenger, and hee that ministred to my wants.
(Yet I supposed it necessary, to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.)

Bshps But I supposed it necessarie to sende to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour, & felowe souldier, but your Apostle, and the minister of my neede.
(But I supposed it necessarie to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your Apostle, and the minister of my neede.)

Gnva But I supposed it necessarie to sende my brother Epaphroditus vnto you, my companion in labour, and fellowe souldier, euen your messenger, and he that ministred vnto me such things as I wanted.
(But I supposed it necessarie to send my brother Epaphroditus unto you, my companion in labour, and fellowe soldier, even your messenger, and he that ministered unto me such things as I wanted. )

Cvdl Neuertheles I thoughte it necessary to sende vnto you the brother Ephraditus, which is my companyon in laboure and felowe soudyer, and youre Apostell, and my mynister at my nede,
(Nevertheless I thought it necessary to send unto you the brother Ephraditus, which is my companion in labour and fellow soldier, and your(pl) Apostell, and my minister at my nede,)

TNT I supposed it necessary to sende brother Epaphroditus vnto you my companion in laboure and felowe soudier youre Apostel and my minister at my nedes.
(I supposed it necessary to send brother Epaphroditus unto you my companion in labour and fellow soldier your(pl) Apostel and my minister at my needs. )

Wycl And Y gesside it nedeful to sende to you Epafrodite, my brother and euene worchere, and myn euene knyyt, but youre apostle, and the mynystre of my nede.
(And I guessed it needful to send to you Epafrodite, my brother and even worchere, and mine even knyyt, but your(pl) apostle, and the minister of my nede.)

Luth Ich hab‘s aber für nötig angesehen, den Bruder Epaphroditus zu euch zu senden, der mein Gehilfe und Mitstreiter und euer Apostel und meiner Notdurft Diener ist,
(I haves but for/in_favour_of nötig viewed, the brother Epaphroditus to/for you to/for send, the/of_the my Gehilfe and Mitstreiter and your(pl) apostles and mine Notdurft servant is,)

ClVg Necessarium autem existimavi Epaphroditum fratrem, et cooperatorem, et commilitonem meum, vestrum autem apostolum, et ministrum necessitatis meæ, mittere ad vos:
(Necessarium however existimavi Epaphroditum brother, and cooperatorem, and commilitonem mine, of_you however apostolum, and ministrum necessity my, to_send to you(pl): )

UGNT ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην, Ἐπαφρόδιτον, τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συνστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς,
(anagkaion de haʸgaʸsamaʸn, Epafroditon, ton adelfon kai sunergon kai sunstratiōtaʸn mou, humōn de apostolon kai leitourgon taʸs ⱪreias mou, pempsai pros humas,)

SBL-GNT Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς,
(Anagkaion de haʸgaʸsamaʸn Epafroditon ton adelfon kai sunergon kai sustratiōtaʸn mou, humōn de apostolon kai leitourgon taʸs ⱪreias mou, pempsai pros humas,)

RP-GNT Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον, καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς·
(Anagkaion de haʸgaʸsamaʸn Epafroditon ton adelfon kai sunergon kai sustratiōtaʸn mou, humōn de apostolon, kai leitourgon taʸs ⱪreias mou, pempsai pros humas;)

TC-GNT Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ [fn]συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον, καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς·
(Anagkaion de haʸgaʸsamaʸn Epafroditon ton adelfon kai sunergon kai sustratiōtaʸn mou, humōn de apostolon, kai leitourgon taʸs ⱪreias mou, pempsai pros humas; )

2:25 συστρατιωτην ¦ συνστρατιωτην TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:19–30: Paul discussed sending Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippians

Paul wrote that, as soon as he knew what would happen to him, he would send Timothy to the Philippians to tell them his news and to bring back news from them. But first Paul would send Epaphroditus. The Philippians should welcome him back and honor him.

Paragraph 2:25–30

Some time before this letter was written, Epaphroditus brought a gift to Paul from the church in Philippi, his home town (see 4:18). While he was with Paul, Epaphroditus had become very sick, and almost died, but God had spared his life. The Philippian believers had heard about his illness. Therefore, as soon as he got well, Paul sent him back to Philippi so that the believers there would not worry.

Epaphroditus was probably the person who brought this letter to the Philippians. Therefore, Paul used past tenses in this paragraph as though Epaphroditus had already arrived in Philippi. This was because Paul was already imagining the Philippians reading the letter after Epaphroditus arrived in Philippi. However, in some languages it may be necessary to use a present tense. Use whatever tenses are most natural in your language.

2:25a

But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus,

¶ But I have decided that it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus
¶ But I have decided that I must send Epaphroditus back to you first.

But: This shows contrast with what Paul had just said. In 2:19–24 he had written about sending Timothy to Philippi. Here in 2:25–30 he wrote that he would send Epaphroditus first.

send back to you: This is literally “send to you” (RSV, GNT). But Paul was sending Epaphroditus back to his home town Philippi. So in many languages, it will be appropriate to use a verb that means “to send someone back to where they came from.” However, make sure your translation does not imply that Paul was sending him back because he no longer wanted him or because he thought Epaphroditus had failed. The context makes this clear.

2:25b

my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier,

my/our^(incl) brother, the one who works with me to tell the gospel and who fights like a soldier with me to defend the gospel.
He has worked together with me to tell the good news and has helped me struggle against the enemies of the gospel.

my brother: This means “my fellow Christian who is like a brother.” In some languages it is necessary to refer to Epaphroditus as “our^(incl) brother” instead of as my brother to make it clear that Epaphroditus was a Christian brother to the Philippians as well as to Paul.

In some languages it is necessary to indicate whether someone is a younger brother or an older brother in relation to someone else. No one knows how old Epaphroditus was. However, if you must choose in your language, it is probably best to consider Epaphroditus as younger than Paul.

fellow worker: This refers to a person who works together with someone else.

fellow soldier: This means that Epaphroditus was helping Paul defend the good news against those who opposed it. You could restate the metaphor fellow soldier by using a simile: “he is like a soldier fighting by my side.” In some languages it may be necessary to say whom Paul and Epaphroditus were fighting against. Scholars do not agree about whether these enemies were human enemies of the gospel, Satan and his evil spiritual forces, or both. It is best to use a general expression like “enemies of the good news,” without saying exactly who they were.

2:25c

who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

You sent him to look after my needs, as your representative.
You sent him to represent you in helping to provide me with what I needed.

messenger: This is the Greek word apostolos which is often translated “apostle” in the New Testament. However, the word literally means “representative” or messenger and that is how Paul used it here. Epaphroditus was not an apostle like Peter and Paul. He simply represented those who sent him, that is, the Philippians. The Philippian believers had sent him to help Paul, especially to deliver their gift to him (4:18). See “apostle", sense 1 in KBT.

and minister to my needs: This is literally “and [your] minister of my needs.” The NIV supplies “whom you sent,” and this model may be helpful in your language also. The Philippian believers had sent Epaphroditus to bring money gifts to Paul and in this way to provide for his needs. They also apparently sent him to help Paul in other ways while he was in prison.

General Comment on 2:25

In your language it may be necessary to change the order of phrases so that the connection between 2:25 and 2:26 is clearer. One way to do this would be:

^cYou have sent your messenger Epaphroditus to help provide what I need. ^bAs my Christian brother he has helped me with the work of the gospel and struggles with me against the enemies of the gospel. ^aI have decided that it is necessary that I send him back to you.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-names

Ἐπαφρόδιτον

Epaphroditus

Epaphroditus is the name of a man sent by the Philippian church to minister to Paul in prison.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφὸν & μου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀναγκαῖον Δέ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τόν ἀδελφόν καί συνεργόν καί συστρατιώτην μού ὑμῶν δέ ἀπόστολον καί λειτουργόν τῆς χρείας μού πέμψαι πρός ὑμᾶς)

The phrase my brother does not mean that Epaphroditus was Paul’s biological brother. Rather, Paul calls Epaphroditus his brother because they were both members of God’s spiritual family through their faith in Jesus Christ. If this would be unclear in your language, consider stating this explicitly. Alternate translation: [my spiritual brother] or [my brother in Christ]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

συνστρατιώτην

The phrase fellow soldier does not mean that Epaphroditus and Paul were actual soldiers in a military. What Paul means is that he and Epaphroditus were spiritual soldiers fighting together beside God in the spiritual battle against Satan and evil. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this explicitly or modify the phrase fellow soldier to further explain what Paul means, or you could express the meaning of fellow soldier by turning it into a simile, as the UST does. Alternate translation: [fellow believer who works and struggles along with us] or [fellow soldier of God] or [fellow warrior for God]

ὑμῶν & ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου

˱of˲_you_all & ambassador (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀναγκαῖον Δέ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τόν ἀδελφόν καί συνεργόν καί συστρατιώτην μού ὑμῶν δέ ἀπόστολον καί λειτουργόν τῆς χρείας μού πέμψαι πρός ὑμᾶς)