The first clause of this verse, don’t be afraid of your enemies is sometimes connected with the previous sentence (New English Bible “contending as one man for the gospel faith, meeting your opponents without so much as a tremor”; cf. Revised Standard Version Jerusalem Bible Phillips). For the sake of clarity, Good News Translation makes this somewhat obscure clause (literally, “and not being frightened in anything by your opponents,” cf. Revised Standard Version) into two clauses: Don’t be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous. The addition of always be courageous makes the transition to the next clause smoother and more natural. The verb translated be afraid occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is used of the shying of a horse when it is startled (cf. New American Bible “do not be intimidated by your enemies”). The enemies are probably the heathen inhabitants at Philippi, who would use persecution, or the threat of it, to intimidate believers.

Some languages have quite distinct terms for various types of enemies. In the this verse the term enemies does not refer to enemies in war, but to those who cause difficulty through persecution. Accordingly, it may be necessary to indicate clearly the type of enemies involved, for example, “Don’t be afraid of those who are persecuting you,” or “… those who are causing you trouble.”

Always be courageous may be expressed in some languages in rather idiomatic form, for example, “always have a hard heart,” or “do not be afraid to show your faith to those who oppose you.” In other languages being courageous is expressed negatively, for example, “do not run away,” or “do not wish to hide yourselves.”

And this will prove to them that they will lose is literally “which is to them an omen of destruction.” The addition of the connective and makes it immediately obvious that this refers to the preceding idea of courageousness. This is a relative pronoun with explanatory force (cf. Eph 3.13; Col 3.5). “Omen” represents a rare Greek word found in the New Testament only here, in Rom 3.25-26, and in 2 Cor 8.24. It signifies a proof based on factual evidence, so it is not simply a “foreshadow” (New American Bible), but a “sure sign” (New English Bible Jerusalem Bible Goodspeed) or “clear omen” (Moffatt Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation makes it a verbal statement, this will prove.

A literal rendering of this will prove to them may be awkward or even impossible in some receptor languages, since the pronoun this would have to refer to a particular kind of behavior, namely, being courageous. A verb such as “prove” may require a personal agent, and therefore one may sometimes say “by doing this, you will prove to them.” In other languages proof may be expressed in terms of convincing, for example, “if you do this, they will be convinced that they will lose.”

The verbal statement they will lose translates a Greek noun which means literally “perdition” or “destruction.” Some commentators take this to mean the loss of eternal life at the day of judgment. However, since the imagery of war and contest is evident in the context, it is possible to take it in the sense of defeat in war or contest, thus they will lose (so also Jerusalem Bible).

You will win renders a Greek noun, meaning “salvation.” Here again, the word is often taken to mean the gaining of eternal life at the last judgment. But, in contrast to they will lose, one can interpret the word in the sense of victory in war or contest, thus you will win. You is in an emphatic position in Greek. Paul adds an explanatory phrase; literally, “and this from God.” This refers to win, and God is the one who makes the winning possible. The phrase is thus rendered explicitly because it is God who gives you the victory.

You will win may be expressed as “you will be victorious,” or “you will come out ahead.” The rendering of this expression should be in direct contrast to the rendering of the previous clause, they will lose.

It is God who gives you the victory is an expression of causation. God becomes the primary agent, and you experience the victory. Therefore it may be useful to render the expression in some languages as “because God is the one who causes you to be victorious,” or “… causes you to win.”

Quoted with permission from Luo, I-Jin. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .