SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 2002 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:13

3:13a

Brothers: The term Brothers here refers to other Christians, fellow believers, not to literal Brothers. You might translate this as “brothers and sisters,” “older and younger siblings” or “relatives.” The term Brothers also occurs in 1:12, 3:1, 3:17, 4:1, 4:8. See the note on 1:12a.

I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it: Paul was saying in other words what he had already said in 3:12a. He had not yet become all that God wanted him to be.

consider: This means “to regard, believe, say.” But here Paul referred to more than just his opinion of himself. He knew that he had not yet achieved what God wanted him to be.

taken hold of it: See the note on 3:12c.

3:13b

one thing I do: Paul was introducing the main thing that he wanted to do. He was about to explain what he wanted more than anything else. He did this by comparing himself to a man running a race to win a prize.

3:13c

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead: The phrase what is behind refers to Paul’s past, particularly to the things he used to boast about (3:5–6). This would include what happened before he became a Christian, and perhaps even some of what happened after he became a Christian.

Forgetting: Paul did not want to concentrate on his past. This does not mean he would completely forget but that it would not be the main thing he thought about. He compared this to a man running a race and not looking back to see who was close behind him or how far he had run. Make sure that your translation clearly means that Paul intended to forget these things. You might need to use a word meaning “ignoring,” or you might need to use a negative like “not concentrating on” or “not paying any attention to.”

straining toward what is ahead: This also is using the metaphor of a race. The runner pushes himself forward as fast as he can. He tries to be the first to reach the finish line. The meaning here is that Paul was disciplining himself to become more like Christ, trying hard and doing his best to be what Christ wanted him to be.

If people run races in your culture, then it may be possible to use this metaphor. But if people in your culture do not know about racing, you may need to explain that in your translation. See the first meaning line of 3:13c in the Display. Or you may need to leave out the metaphor and translate only the meaning. For an example, see the second meaning line of 3:13c in the Display.

behind…ahead: Because Paul was using the metaphor of a race here, these words can be understood in two ways:

(a) position in space : That is, within Paul’s metaphor of the race, the word behind means “in back of” or “at the rear of,” and the word ahead means “in front of.”

(b) position in time : When Paul used the metaphor of a race, he was referring to his life. In this case, the word behind means “in the past, what happened before now,” and the word ahead means “in the future, what will happen later.”

Consider the following when you translate these words:

• In some languages, there may be words meaning “behind” and “ahead” which have the same dual meaning of space and time as the words do in Greek and English. If you have such words in your language, you should use them here.

• If you must decide which words to use, you should use sense (a) above, if you have used the metaphor of a race. Use sense (b) if you have not been able to retain the metaphor.

In some cultures the people think of the past as figuratively in front of them or “ahead,” because they can visualize what has already happened. They then think of the future as “behind,” something unknown that they cannot visualize. If this is true in your language, you need to be careful to use the correct terms so people understand what Paul was saying.

© 2002 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:12

Paragraph 3:12–16

Paul wanted the Philippians to have the same attitude as he did, the attitude he had as he earnestly tried to become all that God wanted him to be.

3:12a

Not that I have already obtained all this: This phrase means “I do not mean that I have already done all these things.”

obtained: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as obtained means to achieve something or to accomplish something.

all this: In the Greek text there is no object for the verb “to obtain.” That is, Paul does not say explicitly what he wanted to obtain. However, in many languages including English it is necessary either to supply an object or to use a verb which does not require an object. So the Berean Standard Bible has used all this as object, whereas the Good News Translation has used the verb “succeed” which in English does not need an object:

I do not claim that I have already succeeded. (Good News Translation)

There are several possible ways to understand what Paul wanted to obtain.

(1) It refers to all the things about which Paul had been talking in 3:9–11. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers specifically to the words “know Christ” in 3:10. Paul did not yet know Christ as fully as he wanted to.

(3) It refers back to “the resurrection from the dead” in 3:11.

(4) It refers to the perfection Paul mentioned in 3:12b. (NET Bible, New Century Version)

Interpretation (1) is recommended. Paul was thinking about his life’s goal of knowing Christ and all that was involved in becoming like him.

One way you could translate 3:12a is:

I am not implying/saying that I have already achieved/accomplished all this.

3:12b

or have already been made perfect: The Greek word teleios that the Berean Standard Bible translates as perfect could have one of two meanings in this context:

(1) Paul had not yet become a perfect person. God’s work in him was not yet finished. He was not yet completely righteous. (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) Paul had not yet reached the goal that he talked about in 3:14. (New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

3:12c

but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me: Paul was trying very hard to become more and more like Christ, because that is Christ’s purpose in choosing him.

press on: The Greek word here literally means “run after” or “go after” in the sense of pursuing something. Paul was using a metaphor here to say that he was trying hard to be like Christ, just as a runner tries hard to win a race and get the prize.

take hold of: This is from the same Greek root word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “obtained” in 3:12a. The form here means “to get something for yourself.”

that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me: There are two ways to understand the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that for which :

(1) It has its literal meaning “for which.” 3:12c can then be stated as Christ took hold of Paul in order that Paul would know him and become like him, as is discussed in 3:9–11. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It has an idiomatic meaning “because.” It gives the reason why Paul was pressing on, and it means “because Christ Jesus took hold of me”. This interpretation requires that an object be supplied after “I press on to take hold of…,” such as “the goal.” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:11

3:11

and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead: The Greek phrase ei pōs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so, somehow can be understood in three ways:

(1) It means “so that in some way….” It therefore shows purpose. Paul wanted these things (3:10) in order that he could be among those whom God would cause to live again after they died. For example:

so that somehow I also may be raised to life (Contemporary English Version)

(2) It means “in the hope of somehow….” It therefore shows hope. Paul wanted these things (3:10) because he hoped and expected that God would cause him to live again after he died. For example:

in the hope that I myself will be raised from the dead (Good News Translation)

(3) It means “that if possible….” It therefore shows doubt about whether Paul would reach the resurrection. For example:

that if possible I might reach the resurrection from the dead (Revised Standard Version)

The first interpretation is recommended (1).

to attain: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to attain refers to reaching a place one was aiming for. Here it is used as a metaphor and it refers to reaching an objective or obtaining something one was working for. In some languages it may be necessary to remove the metaphor. Then this phrase could be translated:

that I may be among those whom God will raise from the dead

the resurrection from the dead: This refers to the time when God will make everyone come alive again.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:10

3:10

This verse begins with the phrase “I want to know Christ.” Paul followed this with three phrases that show three ways that he could know Christ: by the power of Christ’s resurrection, by the fellowship of sharing Christ’s sufferings, and by becoming like Christ in his death.

3:10a

I want to know Christ: This does not mean to know about Christ. It means to know and experience Christ personally. Paul already knew Christ, but he wanted to know him better.

3:10b

and the power of His resurrection: The power of Christ’s resurrection was already influencing Paul’s life, but he wanted to experience it more. This is one of the ways that a person can know Christ better.

There are several ways to understand the phrase the power of His resurrection :

(1) It refers to the power Christ received after God raised him from the dead. This could be translated:

I want to have the power ⌊that⌋ Christ ⌊had⌋ when he rose again.

(2) It refers to the God’s power that raised Christ from the dead. This could be translated:

I want to experience the same power ⌊that God used when he caused⌋ Christ to live again ⌊after he had died⌋. (New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

Most English versions do not specify how they understand his phrase, but both interpretations have strong support from commentators. It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1). Paul probably meant that knowing Christ included Paul experiencing the power that is now Christ’s.

Paul wanted this power so that he could behave in the way that pleased God and so that he could effectively teach others God’s message.

resurrection: In some languages the word resurrection can mean to come back to life as a different person or as a different living thing. This is not the meaning of resurrection in the Bible. If this is a problem in your language, you need to translate in a way that makes it clear that resurrection means a person becoming alive again as the same person.

General Comment on 3:10a–b

One way to connect 3:10a–b is:

I want to know Christ ⌊better in this way: I want to know⌋ the power of his resurrection.

3:10c

and the fellowship of His sufferings: This is the second way in which a person can know Christ better.

There are two main ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) Paul was already suffering for Christ and he wanted more of the fellowship with Christ that comes from following him. He did not want to suffer, but he wanted to know Christ more and more even though that meant suffering.

(2) Paul wanted to share by faith (mentally) the sufferings that Christ had.

The first interpretation has stronger support. It is recommended that you follow it (1). Paul did not want to suffer. But he knew that everyone who follows Christ faithfully should expect to suffer because those who refuse to follow Christ oppose them (2 Timothy 3:12). And he wanted the fellowship with Christ that would accompany this suffering.

fellowship: In this context this means “sharing in something with someone.” See note on “partnership” in 1:5a, and “fellowship”, sense A2 in Key Biblical Terms. This sense is brought out by the Berean Standard Bible when it supplies the words “sharing in.”

3:10d

being conformed to Him in His death: This is a difficult phrase to understand and most English versions translate it more or less literally. There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) It is meant literally. Paul wanted to become like Christ by suffering as Christ did even to the point of death.

(2) It is meant figuratively. Paul wanted to die to sin.

Both interpretations have strong support, but it is more likely that Paul was referring here to physical death, just as he had been referring to physical sufferings in 3:10c. So it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul said that he wanted to become like Christ in every aspect of his life. He even wanted to die like Christ died. This means that he was willing to have people persecute him and kill him for his faith just like people killed Christ.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:21

3:21a

the power that enables Him: This means the ability to be strong and to do great things. The power that Christ has makes it possible for him to take control of everything.

subject all things to Himself: This refers to taking control of all things.

In some languages it will not be possible to talk about controlling or ruling things. If this is true in your language, you could translate this “take control of all people/beings.”

Some other possible translations are:

make everything be under his authority
-or-
cause everything to happen as he commands

all things: That is, all that God has created. This could be translated as “heaven and earth” or “all the world.”

3:21b

transform: This means to change something from what it was into something different.

our lowly bodies: The phrase our lowly bodies refers to the bodies we now have, bodies get sick and die.

to be like His glorious body: When Christ changes these earthly bodies, they will become like his heavenly body—the sort of body Christ had after God raised him from the dead. God not only caused Christ’s body to live again but he made it a different sort of body (see 1 Corinthians 15:35–58), one that was no longer able to die.

His glorious body: This refers to the body Christ had after God raised him from the dead. Through this new body, God showed his power and his glory.

General Comment on 3:21

In some languages it may be helpful to reorder this verse so that 3:21b comes before 3:21a. One way to do this is:

He will change our weak, human bodies to be like his glorious body. He will do this by his power that makes him able to bring all things under his control.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:8

3:8a

More than that: The series of Greek particles that the Berean Standard Bible translates as More than that is used to intensify something. Paul apparently felt that the statement in 3:7 was not strong enough. So in 3:8 he added more to what he said in 3:7. Do not just translate More than that literally. Look for a natural way to strengthen and intensify something that has already been said. Some ideas are:

And that is not all….
-or-
Besides all that….

I count all things as loss: Paul was saying, “I consider everything ⌊that was gain to me before⌋ a loss ⌊now⌋.” The term all things indicates that Paul is including more than the things he listed in 3:5–6. He meant that everything he previously depended on for God to save him had no real value.

I count: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I count is in the present tense. This contrasts with the perfect tense Paul used in 3:7b. This change in tense is another way of emphasizing and intensifying what he was saying.

loss: This is the same term used in 3:7b. See notes there.

3:8b

compared to: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as compared to is the same preposition translated as “for the sake of” in 3:7. In this verse it can be understood in two ways:

(1) It indicates comparison. Paul was comparing his past life with knowing Christ. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version).

(2) It indicates cause. Paul was giving the reason why he considered everything a loss. For example:

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth…. (Revised Standard Version) (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version)

Either meaning is possible and both may be implied. The two meanings are not contradictory. Paul chose knowing Christ over everything else because it was better. So if you can translate in such as way as to make both possibilities understood, you should do so. If not, it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation.

the surpassing excellence: When Paul considered the things he formerly was proud of, they seemed worthless when he compared them with knowing Christ. All that comes with knowing Christ is far greater than all the other things people could depend on. Use the strongest terms you can to describe how great and priceless knowing Christ is, and how small and without value these other things are.

3:8c

of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord: Paul knew Jesus Christ personally, and this was much more valuable than anything else. The idea of knowing Christ may be difficult to translate in some languages where the idea of knowing a person may only mean that you have met him and know who he is. It may not include the deeper meaning that Paul implied here in 3:8c, of knowing Jesus personally. It may be necessary to say something like “really knowing” or “knowing personally.”

3:8d

In 3:8 the language of business and money that began in 3:7 continues. Paul was saying that he willingly gave up one thing in order to gain another thing which was worth much more. Jesus used similar words in the parable of the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45–46) and in his teaching about discipleship (Matthew 16:26).

for whom: This means “for the sake of Christ Jesus” or “because of Christ Jesus.”

I have lost all things: Paul was describing how he willingly gave up all the things he formerly was proud of in order to know Christ. He not only considered them as loss, but he voluntarily gave them up. He did not cease to be all the things he described in 3:5a–c, but he rejected these things as worthless. See also the note on 3:8a.

In some languages, to say “I lost something” implies that a person accidentally lost it. If that is so in your language it will be better to say something like “I have thrown everything else away.”

3:8e

I consider them rubbish: There are two ways to interpret how this phrase relates to the phrases before and after it.

(1) The phrase I consider them rubbish relates directly to the following phrase “that I may gain Christ”. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) The phrase I consider them rubbish is a comment that Paul added, something that is separate from the main thing he was saying. It would mean that the phrase in 3:8e “that I may gain Christ” would be the purpose of 3:8d. For example:

I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ. (New Living Translation (2004)) (God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul regarded all his previous advantages as rubbish in order to obtain Christ.

rubbish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rubbish can also mean “dung, excrement.” These things (3:7a–8a) were not only worthless, but Paul hated them. He considered them filthy. He was glad to get rid of them. Some ideas for translating this word “dung,” “something rotten,” “garbage” or “trash which I throw away.” Avoid using a word that might offend your readers.

that I may gain Christ: Paul continued to use the business metaphor of buying and selling here. Here it means that he wanted to belong fully to Christ, to know him more and more. Paul already belonged to Christ and knew him, but he wanted to know him better. Some ways to translate the phrase gain Christ are: “belong to Christ,” “know Christ,” “follow Christ,” “obey Christ.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:7

Paragraph 3:7–11

Paul was continuing to write against the Judaizers. In the last paragraph he listed all the things that he used to be proud of (3:5–6). In this paragraph (3:7–9) he said that he now considered all these things to be useless. Nothing mattered to him besides knowing Jesus Christ better.

3:7a

whatever was gain to me: Paul was referring mainly to the things he had mentioned in 3:5–6. These were things that he could be proud of as a person and as a Jew. But in his relation to Jesus Christ, these things did not make him proud. They did not help him to know Jesus Christ better.

gain: This term was used in business transactions to refer to financial gain. But Paul was using the term as a metaphor to mean “advantage” in general. In some languages it may be necessary to drop the metaphor and translate this meaning. Some ways to do this are:

the things for which I thought ⌊God⌋ accepted me
-or-
everything I ⌊mistakenly⌋ thought I could trust in ⌊so that God would save me⌋

3:7b

I count as loss for the sake of Christ: After he came to know Jesus Christ, Paul thought about the things he was formerly proud of in a new way. He realized that they were worthless in comparison to knowing Christ. And he chose to count them as without value so that he could belong to Christ.

I count: The Greek verb form here could be translated as:

I have come to realize
-or-
I have come to regard [them]

loss: Like “gain” in 3:7a, loss was a term used in business transactions. It referred to financial loss. Paul was using the term as a metaphor to refer to the uselessness of his worldly advantages. There are two possible ways to translate this Greek word:

(1) something that does not help, that is worthless or without value. In the context of 3:7b, you could translate this as:

these things did not help me ⌊to know Christ⌋ (God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) something that harms, hinders or prevents something from happening (NET Bible). This would mean that the things Paul used to be proud of actually hindered him from knowing Christ. In the context of 3:7b, you could translate this as:

these things hindered me from knowing Christ

The immediate context (in particular 3:8) strongly supports interpretation (1). It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

for the sake of: The Greek preposition that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for the sake of occurs three times in 3:7 and 3:8. It could also be translated as:

because of
-or-
on account of

General Comment on 3:7

Two versions give additional ideas for translation:

But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. (Contemporary English Version)

But because of Christ, I have come to consider all these advantages I had as disadvantages. (Jerusalem Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 3:6

3:6a

zeal: The word zeal means “a strong feeling in favor of something.” Here it means that Paul strongly desired to be religious and to encourage people to honor God. This was an attitude that the Jews highly respected. You could translate the word zeal (or the phrase “as for zeal”) as:

I strongly desired to honor God.

persecuting the church: Before Paul became a believer, he had greatly harmed those who followed Christ. He beat some, put others in prison and caused others to die (Acts 8:1–3, 9:1–2). He did this because he thought they were against the Jewish laws and the Jewish religion. He thought the best way he could serve God was to get rid of Jesus’ disciples.

the church: This refers to Christ’s followers, not to any building they met in. You could translate this as “those who believed in Jesus” or “the people who followed Jesus.”

3:6b

righteousness in the law: This is literally “righteousness that is in law.” This law refers to the law of Moses, found in the first five books of the Old Testament. Paul meant that he did what was right according to the Jewish laws. He was righteous in an external or legal sense. But this is different from being righteous according to God’s standard, which is based on what people think and desire, not just what they do.

faultless: When Paul wrote this letter, he knew he was a sinner. But here in 3:6 he was thinking about the time before he believed in Christ. He claimed that at that previous time he had obeyed all the Jewish laws. No one could have blamed him or said he was at fault for disobeying any of the Jewish laws. You could translate the word faultless here as “no one could find one law that I disobeyed.” In some languages it may be helpful to reverse the order in this phrase. For example:

There is no one who can accuse me of disobeying the law, because I obeyed it all.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 2002