August 10, 2022 – Wednesday
Philippians 1:7 NIV
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
Philippians 1:7 ESV
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Philippians 1:7 NKJV
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
Philippians 1:7 KJV
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Comments
Showing four versions to show how alike they all are except for the endings or where they mention grace. While the NIV says all of you share in God’s grace with me the ESV has a different order, but says essentially the same thing, you are all partakers with me of grace and the NKJV has the same ending as the NIV, but words more similar to the ESV, you all are partakers with me of grace. Then the KJV has something of a unique ending ye all are partakers of my grace where you have to know it is not gracethat belongs to or is from Paul, but the grace everyone he is addressing partakes or shares with him is from the same grace he received. Or as Guzik puts it, Paul’s thankfulness, joy, and desire to pray for the Philippians was right because they stood beside him in his trials for the gospel, and they received the same grace he did. .Ellicott’s Commentary quoting the KJV says, the marginal reading is preferable. Ye are all partakers with me of the grace—i.e., of the privilege described in Ephesians 3:8 (which we looked at earlier), “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible also says it is better read with me of grace with the meaning, that as they had participated with him in the defense of the gospel; as in all his troubles and persecutions they had made common cause with him, so it followed that they would partake of the same tokens of the divine favor.
I like Barnes’ Notes best as it shows we have a need as partakers of God’s grace, to live as Christians and in doing so to defend the gospel and find a way to support those who persecuted for doing the same thing. To do this we might support various missionaries or when questioned about our ‘good deeds’ let people know they are the result of the grace we have received. There is also The Voice of the Martyrs, real modern-day martyrs for Christ and Far Reaching Ministries who train chaplains in war torn, heavily persecuted areas. Those are two among many others where we have the opportunity to support our brothers and sisters who are standing firm in the faith while in the midst of great trials and tribulations. Bottom Line: Let us be worthy of sharing in the same grace as Paul in the defense of such wonderful good news.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help us to be worthy of sharing in the same grace as Paul by our behavior in living out the Word and supporting our brothers and sisters whenever we are able to do so. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek