A Good Work among You—Philippians 1:6 (Monday with Mounce 14)
by Bill Mounce
Philippians 1:6 Paul begins his letter to the Philippians with praise for them, and then says this now famous verse. "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (ESV). It is not that difficult of a verse to translate. The only really question is the translation of en hymin. The "you" is plural, a fact obscured by the English language. This is partly why some translations prefer "among" instead of "in" since it helps clarify that Paul’s confidence is in God’s work within all the people of the Philippian church. But these types of constructions can be confusing. Can this verse be used, as it often is, to reassure a single believer that God will bring his work to completion in an individual, or is this only a promise to the larger group of the church? The plural "you" alerts us to the fact that it cannot only be a promise to an individual but that it is primarily for the group. But is that the end of the discussion?
And what specifically is the "good work"?
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by Bill Mounce" »


