Chapter 1 – One God Translation

Philippians

   1 From Paul and Timothy, servants of Messiah Jesus, to all the saints in Messiah Jesus who are in Philippi, including the elders[1217] and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God who is our Father[1218] and from the lord Jesus Messiah. [1219]
    3 I give thanks to my God every time I remember you, 4 praying always with joy for all of you, 5 because of your partnership in the Gospel from the day you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain of this: that the One who began a good work in you will carry it to completion at the Day of Messiah Jesus. [1220] 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, since I hold you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the Gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Messiah Jesus. 9 And I pray that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can determine what matters ultimately, and thus be pure and blameless on the Day of Messiah. [1221] 11 I pray that you may be filled with the fruit of uprightness[1222] which comes through Jesus Messiah, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the Gospel: [1223] 13 it has become known to the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for the cause of Messiah. 14 And most of the brothers and sisters have gained confidence in the lord[1224] from my imprisonment and have even more courage to speak the Gospel-word fearlessly. 15 Some, to be sure, preach Messiah out of envy and rivalry, but others with good motives. 16 These do so out of love, knowing that I am here for the defense of the Gospel. 17 The others proclaim Messiah out of selfish ambition and the wrong motives, seeking to cause me trouble in my imprisonment.
     18 So what is the outcome? Just that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Messiah is being proclaimed. [1225] And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know I will be delivered through your prayers and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Messiah. [1226] 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed[1227] in any way, but that now as always, with all boldness, Messiah will be highly honored in me, whether by my life or my death.
     21 For me, living is Messiah and dying is gain. 22 If I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful work for me, and I do not know which one is preferable. 23 I am drawn to both: I have a desire to depart and be with Messiah[1228] — which is far better — 24 but to remain in the flesh is more essential for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your development and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of me, your pride in Messiah Jesus may increase when I come to you again.
     27 Only live your lives in a manner worthy of the Messiah’s Gospel.[1229] Then, whether I come and see you or stay absent, I will hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, contending alongside each other for the faith of the Gospel, 28 and not being frightened in any way by those opposing you. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation — and all this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Messiah but also to suffer for him, 30 having the same struggle which you saw I had, and now hear that I am experiencing.

Philippians

[1217]

Elders, pastors and bishops are all the same rank — different names for the same office. The current single pastor and group of elders does not fit the NT pattern.

[1218]

One of over 1300 references in the NT to God as the Father. This unitarian view of God is confirmed by Jesus in Mark 12:29 and by Mal. 2:10. There was never any doubt in NT times that the Father is “the only one who is true God” (Jn. 17:3).

[1219]

The “my lord,” adoni of Ps. 110:1. Adoni (all 195 times) is never a title for Deity.

[1220]

His future, single, visible Second Coming in power and glory. There is no prior secret rapture/resurrection in the NT.

[1221]

The single, future Second Coming of Jesus to bring the faithful dead back to life and inaugurate the coming Age of the Kingdom of God on earth (1 Cor. 15:23; Dan. 12:2, etc). There is no PRE-Tribulation resurrection/rapture in the NT. Jesus will come back once, after the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:29).

[1222]

Being right with God, which is achieved by obedience to Jesus, “the obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26; Jn. 3:36; Heb. 5:9). This includes of course belief in the atoning substitutionary death of Jesus. The commands of Jesus begin with Mark 1:14-15, belief in the Gospel of the Kingdom, and are based on the command to believe that “the Lord our God is one Lord” (Mk. 12:29, definitely a non-Trinitarian creed). Water baptism is a basic part of the commanded Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20), until the end of the age, which is the Second Coming of Jesus to inaugurate the Kingdom worldwide.

[1223]

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God as originally preached by Jesus (Heb. 2:3; Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 4:43; Mt. 13:19: “word of the Kingdom” = “word.” Mk. 4:14 = “word of God,” Lk. 8:11) and preached always by Paul (Acts 19:8; 20:24-25; 28:23, 31).

[1224]

lord Messiah.

[1225]

Most readers need to be reminded of what “preaching/proclaiming the Messiah” means, and for this Acts 8:4, 5, 12 provides a marvelous key. “Preaching the word” = “proclaiming the Messiah” = “preaching the Gospel about the Kingdom of God and the things concerning the name and agenda of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:4, 5, 12). This is the full definition of all the references to “preaching the word” or “proclaiming Christ.” In NT times this was clear, but today “tracts” offering salvation through Christ fail to mention the Kingdom Gospel. Thus the dictum of the Billy Graham Association is proved to be flawed when he states that “Jesus came to do three days work.” This is obviously untrue since Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom for a long time before mentioning his death and resurrection for the first time in Matt. 16:21.

[1226]

The spirit of Jesus is mentioned as active in Acts 16:7 and of course “the lord is the spirit” (2 Cor. 3:17). Jesus promised to return in spirit after departing from the disciples. He did this as the “Comforter” mentioned 4 times in the Gospel of John and a fifth time in 1 John 2:1, where the Comforter is Jesus the Mediator. Christ returned in spirit and thus did not leave the disciples as orphans (Jn. 14:18).

[1227]

Paul always had in mind the warning of Jesus that “he who is ashamed of me and my words” will be disqualified at the future coming of Jesus (Mk. 8:38). A half-hearted stance on the teachings of Jesus is severely condemned by Jesus in Rev. 3:16 (“spit you out of my mouth”). See also 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 John 7-9.

[1228]

At the resurrection — the next second of my consciousness after falling asleep in death and remaining asleep until Jesus comes back. One can be “with Jesus” only via resurrection at the Second Coming: “In this way [via resurrection] we will be with the lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). There is no conscious existence at the moment of death, since “the dead know nothing at all” (Ecc. 9:5, 10; cp. Jn. 11:11, 14).

[1229]

The Gospel as preached by the Messiah — the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mk. 1:14-15; Luke 4:43; Acts 8:12, etc).