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Philippians 1:27

Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;
Philippians 1:27 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
  • BSB Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
  • NKJV Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
  • NASB Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
  • NLT Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul urges them to live as good citizens worthy of the gospel, standing firm and united. Conduct should match the message they believe.

Overview

The word for "way of life" evokes citizenship, fitting a Roman colony like Philippi: live as citizens of heaven. Whether present or absent, Paul wants to hear they stand firm "in one spirit" and strive together for the faith. Gospel worthiness shows itself in unity and steadfastness.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 40

  • Eph 4:1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
  • 1 Cor 16:13–14Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
  • 1 Cor 1:10Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
  • 2 Pet 3:14Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
  • Phil 2:1–2If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
  • Col 1:10that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
  • Jude 1:3Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
  • 1 Th 4:1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.
  • Eph 4:3–6being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • Phil 2:12So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
  • Rom 12:4–5For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
  • 1 Cor 12:12–31For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
  • 2 Cor 13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
  • Jer 32:39and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good, and of their children after them:
  • Acts 4:32The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
  • Phil 3:18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
  • Ps 133:1A Song of Ascents. By David. See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
  • 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
  • Rom 1:16For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
  • Jas 3:18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
  • 2 Tim 4:7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
  • 2 Pet 3:11Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
  • Eph 1:13in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation — in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
  • Acts 2:46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
  • 2 Cor 4:4in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
  • 3 Jn 1:3–4For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
  • Titus 2:10not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.
  • Prov 22:23for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
  • Matt 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
  • 1 Tim 1:11according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
  • John 17:20–21Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word,
  • 1 Tim 1:19holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith;
  • Phlm 1:5hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
  • Acts 24:24But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
  • Phil 2:24But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
  • Eph 1:15For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
  • 1 Th 2:11–12As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,
  • 1 Th 3:6But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;
  • Gal 1:7and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
  • 2 Cor 9:13seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (9)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Philippians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Philippians 1:27YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PhilippiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.

How Philippians 1:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.