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for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;
Philippians 1:5 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
  • BSB because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
  • NKJV for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
  • NASB in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
  • NLT for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

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's joy rests on the Philippians' ongoing partnership in spreading the gospel. They have shared in the work from the start.

Overview

"Partnership" (koinonia) includes their financial support and active fellowship in the mission. From their conversion until now they have stood with Paul, making them co-laborers, not mere spectators. This shared commitment to the Good News is itself ground for thanksgiving.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 18

  • Phil 4:14–15However you did well that you shared in my affliction.
  • Heb 3:14For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:
  • Phil 1:7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.
  • Phlm 1:17If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
  • 2 Cor 8:1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;
  • Eph 3:6that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
  • Col 1:21–23You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
  • 1 Jn 1:3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
  • Acts 16:12–40and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
  • Acts 2:42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
  • 1 Jn 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
  • 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
  • Rom 15:26For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
  • 1 Cor 1:9God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
  • 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 11:17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree;
  • Rom 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
  • Eph 2:19–22So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

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 1:5YouTube · 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 1:5 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.

Philippians 1:5 · Limitless Word