The Meaning of Philippians 1:27 Explained

Philippians 1:27

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;

YLT: Only worthily of the good news of the Christ conduct ye yourselves, that, whether having come and seen you, whether being absent I may hear of the things concerning you, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving together for the faith of the good news,

Darby: Only conduct yourselves worthily of the glad tidings of the Christ, in order that whether coming and seeing you, or absent, I may hear of what concerns you, that ye stand firm in one spirit, with one soul, labouring together in the same conflict with the faith of the glad tidings;

ASV: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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; 

What does Philippians 1:27 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul had been saying he hoped to be able to revisit Philippi and to minister to his original readers again in person. However, he was not sure that he could do that. This uncertain state of affairs led him to exhort them now that he had the opportunity. Whether he came to them or not, their duty was the same. In the following verses he emphasized the importance of certain qualities essential to conduct worthy of the Lord. He did this so his readers would perceive the importance of these traits and give them proper attention.
The first part of this verse gives the main command in the section ( Philippians 1:27 to Philippians 4:9) and the reason for it.
The phrase "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy" is just one word in the Greek text (politeuesthe). It means literally "to live as a citizen." This word was especially appropriate to use in a letter to people who took great pride in their Roman citizenship (cf. Acts 16:12; Acts 16:20-21). The Philippian Christians, however, were also citizens of a more important kingdom, a heavenly one. As such they needed to stand firm in one spirit. Philippi was a colony of Rome in Macedonia, and the church was a colony of heaven in Philippi.
"It [1] conveys the idea of firmness or steadfastness, or unflinching courage like that possessed by soldiers who determinedly refuse to leave their posts irrespective of how severely the battle rages (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:13; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; cf. Also Ephesians 6:13-17 ...)." [2]
The following explanatory phrase "with one mind" (lit. with one soul, Gr. psyche) points to Christian unity being in Paul"s mind as well as their unity in the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 4:32).
Unity in the church is necessary so believers can work together effectively as a team carrying out the will of God. "Striving together" is an athletic metaphor. Specifically, the church"s task is to proclaim and promote the Christian faith embodied in the gospel message.
Paul identified two essential qualities in this verse, unity and steadfastness (cf. Philippians 1:5-6). He then proceeded to develop them more fully in the verses that follow.
"A "worthy walk," then, means specifically the achievement of true Christian unity among themselves, and steadfastness against enemies of the gospel." [3]

Context Summary

Philippians 1:22-30 - Privileged To Suffer In Christ's Behalf
Our "manner of life" is all-important. In the open day and in the hours of darkness it must be worthy of the gospel. We must show ourselves to be of a heavenly tone and temper, as citizens of that "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Lady Powerscourt used to say that she dwelt in heaven, but came down for a few hours each day to do her work on earth, returning home at night. Clearly, then, our dress, accent, and behavior should betray us as strangers and pilgrims who can well endure the discomfort of the inn or the troublous experiences of the place of our sojourn.
Notice that remarkable expression, For unto you if is given in the behalf of Christ"¦ to suffer, Philippians 1:29. This is an added honor conferred on us by our Lord. The King gives us the opportunity of lying in the stocks with Him, of standing at the same pillory, and of being crucified on the same Calvary. But those who have drunk of His cup shall share His throne. When earth and heaven shall pass away, His fellow-sufferers shall be His chosen body-guard and attendants in a world where all shall love and honor Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 1

1  Paul testifies his thankfulness to God, and his love toward the Philippians,
9  daily praying for their increase in grace;
12  he shows what good the faith of Christ had received by his troubles at Rome;
21  and how ready he is to glorify Christ either by his life or death;
27  exhorting them to unity;
28  and to fortitude in persecution

Greek Commentary for Philippians 1:27

Let your manner of life [πολιτευεστε]
Old verb from πολιτης — politēs citizen, and that from πολις — polis city, to be a citizen, to manage a state‘s affairs, to live as a citizen. Only twice in N.T., here and Acts 23:1. Philippi as a colony possessed Roman citizenship and Paul was proud of his own possession of this right. The Authorized Version missed the figure completely by the word “conversation” which did refer to conduct and not mere talk as now, but did not preserve the figure of citizenship. Better render, “Only do ye live as citizens.” [source]
Striving [συνατλουντες]
Rather, “striving together” as in an athletic contest. Late and rare word (Diodorus). “The very energy of the Christian faith to produce energetic individualities” (Rainy). “Striving in concert” (Lightfoot). For the faith (τηι πιστει — tēi pistei). For the teaching of the gospel, objective sense of πιστις — pistis (faith). [source]
For the faith [τηι πιστει]
For the teaching of the gospel, objective sense of πιστις — pistis (faith). [source]
Only []
This one thing I urge as the only thing needful. [source]
Let your conversation be [πολιτεύεσθε]
Only here in Paul's writings, and elsewhere only Acts 23:1. The verb means to be a citizen. Lit., Be citizens worthily of the Gospel. Rev., Let your manner of life be. Margin, Behave as citizens. Compare Ephesians 3:19, and see on Phlippians 3:20. The exhortation contemplates the Philippians as members of the christian commonwealth. The figure would be naturally suggested to Paul by his residence in Rome, and would appeal to the Philippians as a Roman colony, which was a reproduction of the parent commonwealth on a smaller scale. [source]
Ye stand fast [στήκετε]
Compare Ephesians 6:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15. For the verb, see on John 1:26; see on John 8:44. [source]
Spirit - mind [πνεύματι - ψυχῇ]
See on Romans 8:4; see on Romans 11:3. [source]
Striving together for the faith [συναθλοῦντες τῇ πίστει]
The verb occurs only here and Phlippians 4:3. The figure is that of an athletic contest, and is in keeping with standfast. Not to be rendered striving in concert with the faith, thus personifying faith, and making the faith signify the gospel teaching. For the faith as christian doctrine, see on Acts 6:7. Faith is to be taken in its usual subjective sense of trust in Christ or in the Gospel. Together refers to the mutual striving of the Philippians; not to their striving in concert with Paul.sa40 [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 1:27 mean?

Only worthily of the gospel - of Christ conduct yourselves so that whether having come and having seen you or being absent I might hear the things concerning you that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith
Μόνον ἀξίως τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ Χριστοῦ πολιτεύεσθε ἵνα εἴτε ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ὑμᾶς εἴτε ἀπὼν ἀκούω τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν ὅτι στήκετε ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι μιᾷ ψυχῇ συναθλοῦντες τῇ πίστει

Μόνον  Only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μόνον  
Sense: only, alone, but.
ἀξίως  worthily 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἀξίως  
Sense: suitably, worthily, in a manner worthy of.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εὐαγγελίου  gospel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: εὐαγγέλιον  
Sense: a reward for good tidings.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
πολιτεύεσθε  conduct  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πολιτεύομαι  
Sense: to be a citizen.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
εἴτε  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἴτε  
Sense: if … if.
ἐλθὼν  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἰδὼν  having  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἀπὼν  being  absent 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄπειμι1  
Sense: to go away, depart.
ἀκούω  I  might  hear 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
περὶ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
στήκετε  you  are  standing  firm 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: στήκω  
Sense: to stand firm.
ἑνὶ  one 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
πνεύματι  spirit 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
μιᾷ  with  one 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ψυχῇ  mind 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ψυχή  
Sense: breath.
συναθλοῦντες  striving  together 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: συναθλέω  
Sense: to strive at the same time with another.
τῇ  for  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πίστει  faith 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.