1:5a
because of your partnership in the gospel: This phrase has been understood in two ways:
(1) It gives the reason why Paul prayed with joy. (Berean Standard Bible)
(2) It gives the reason why Paul thanked God (in 1:3). Many commentaries follow this interpretation. (Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).
Commentators agree that the phrase your partnership in the gospel refers to the Philippians helping Paul to proclaim the gospel through giving money, praying, encouraging others and by proclaiming it themselves. See “fellowship”, sense A2 in Key Biblical Terms.
gospel: The Greek word translated as gospel means “good news.” See “gospel” in Key Biblical Terms. Look for a common phrase in your language that means “good news.” Other ways to translate it are:
God’s good news
-or-
the good message
1:5b
from the first day until now: This means “from the first time ⌊you heard the gospel and believed it⌋ until now.” There is a similar reference in 4:15b (literally, “in the beginning of the gospel”). The two phrases both mean that as soon as they had accepted the gospel, the Philippians immediately began to cooperate with Paul in spreading the gospel to others. It will probably be helpful for you to make explicit in your translation the implied information that the first day means the time the Philippians first believed the gospel. For example:
from the first day you believed (New Century Version)
until now: This means “you are still doing it.” It does not mean they stopped helping Paul at the time when he wrote the letter. They were continuing to help him at that time.
General Comment on 1:5
In some languages it may be better to reverse 1:5a and 1:5b, and put the time phrase earlier in the verse. For example:
⌊ I pray with joy⌋because ever since you first ⌊accepted the gospel⌋ and until now, you have been partners with me in spreading the gospel.
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