This verse involves several historical and translational problems. The Greek itself is ambiguous, and accordingly many translations show disagreements as to the meaning. Although Good News Translation begins with you are always in my heart!, one can reverse the pronouns and render “I am close to your heart” (Knox footnote), or “I have a secure place in your heart” (Bruce cf. New English Bible “you hold me in such affection”). However, in the light of the Greek word order, as well as of the context (especially v. 8), it seems best to follow the Good News Translation rendering (cf. Revised Standard Version Jerusalem Bible). Unlike other translations, Good News Translation moves this sentence to the beginning of the verse. This restructuring has two advantages: (1) It immediately focuses attention on the central thrust of what Paul is going to say in the following sentences: and (2) it avoids the involved and clumsy sentence constructions which would otherwise result (cf. other translations).

You are always in my heart! may be expressed in some instances as “I am always thinking of you with happiness,” “you constantly make me think gladly of you,” or “you are very dear to me.”

It is only right for me to feel as I do about you may be expressed as “I am completely justified in feeling as I do about you,” or “it is entirely proper that I should feel as I do concerning you.”

You have all shared with me may be expressed as “you have all helped me,” “you have all worked along with me,” or even “you have all been my partners.”

This privilege that God has given me is an attempt to reflect the sense of a single Greek noun, “the grace.” The absolute use of the word “grace” with a definite article points to its divine origin. In the present context it refers both to Paul’s imprisonment and to his defending and establishing the gospel. To be able to do these things is regarded by him as a God-given privilege (cf. 1.29). This privilege that God has given me may be expressed in some languages as “this work that God has specially given to me,” or “this task which God has been so good as to give to me.” By indicating clearly that God’s goodness was involved in giving Paul his ministry, one may indicate something of the meaning of “grace” as suggested in the Good News Translation translation privilege.

It may be necessary in some languages to render I am in prison as “I am tied in prison,” or “I am locked up here in prison.” Otherwise, a reader might get the impression that Paul was merely visiting a prison at the time.

Also while I was free to defend the gospel and establish it firmly translates a Greek prepositional phrase “in the defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Revised Standard Version). The word translated to defend often carries a judicial sense, meaning “to stand for a defense against a charge in court” (cf. Acts 25.16; 2 Tim 4.16). The term rendered establish it firmly occurs only here and in Heb 6.16. It can also be used in a technical legal sense of “to defend” or “to guarantee legally.” The phrase can be taken as having to do with Paul’s imprisonment, in which case these two words are legal terms describing Paul’s trial before the imperial court or a provincial judge. Accordingly, the phrase can be translated “appear in court to vouch for the truth of the gospel” (cf. New English Bible Moffatt New American Bible). Good News Translation, however, interprets the circumstances differently, as the translation shows. It gives specific temporal references to Paul’s activities: now that I am, indicating that his imprisonment is a present reality, and while I was free, suggesting that his defense and his establishing the gospel were things done prior to the present imprisonment.

While I was free may be expressed as “while I was able to go about,” “while I was unhindered,” or “while there was nothing to stop me.”

It may be difficult to express succinctly the idea in the phrase to defend the gospel. In most languages one can speak of “defending a person” but to defend the gospel may require some modification, for example, “to answer those who speak against the gospel,” or “to show clearly that the gospel is true.”

It may be even more difficult to render the expression establish it firmly. In a sense it is people’s faith in the gospel which is made secure and firm, rather than the gospel itself. It may therefore be necessary to render this expression as “to cause people to believe the good news firmly,” “… to believe with no uncertainty what the good news says,” or “… what the good news is about.”

Quoted with permission from Luo, I-Jin. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .