The Greek of this verse is somewhat obscure. It means literally “having the same conflict such as you saw in me, and now hear in me.” The participle “having” agrees with “you” of the previous verse; so “you” is the logical subject of the participial clause. The emphasis is on the word “same,” and several translations (including Good News Translation) make this fact explicit: now you can take part with me in the battle; “take your part in the same struggle” (Goodspeed); “you and I are together in the same fight” (Jerusalem Bible); “you and I are engaged in the same contest” (New English Bible). The Greek word translated battle applies originally to athletic contests in the arena, but it is also used of any inward or outward struggle (Col 2.1; 1 Thes 2.2; cf. 1 Tim 6.12; 2 Tim 4.7; Heb 12.1).
As already suggested in connection with the term fighting in verse 27, it may not be possible to preserve the metaphor of battle in verse 30. Sometimes, however, one can speak of “struggle” or “conflict,” and in other instances the closest equivalent may be “severe opposition.” Since the conflict is essentially one in which Paul is defending the gospel, it may be important to make this aspect more specific. For example, verse 30 may be rendered as “Now you can join me in my struggle to defend the good news. This is the same struggle which you saw me having in the past, and I am continuing in my struggle to defend the good news even as you now hear.”
For a smoother connection, Good News Translation repeats the battle (in the battle … the same battle). The Greek verb rendered you saw is in the aorist tense, referring to incidents in the past. Most translations make this information explicit: you saw me fighting in the past (Good News Translation); “you saw me fighting before” (Jerusalem Bible); “you saw how I fought it once” (Knox). The fight to which these words refer is recorded in Acts 16.19-24 (cf. 1 Thes 2.2). Since the emphasis is on the same kind of fight which the Philippians are encouraged to engage in, Good News Translation uses the word same.
As you hear … I am fighting still is literally “now you hear in me.” “In me” is to be taken in the sense of “in my person,” that is, I am fighting still personally, a reference to Paul’s present imprisonment as he awaits trial.
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 .