Paragraph 3:17–21

Paul wanted the Philippians to act like citizens of heaven, as he did, and not to act like those who were proud of doing wrong.

3:17a

Join one another in following my example: Paul wanted the believers in Philippi to follow the same principles that he lived by. The phrase he used here literally means “become joint imitators of me.” This can be interpreted in several ways:

(1) The believers should unite with one another in imitating Paul. (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

(2) They should join with others who imitated Paul. (New International Version, Revised English Bible)

(3) The command just means “imitate me.” The prefix sun – on the verb “imitate,” which the Berean Standard Bible has translated as Join one another, has no significance and can be ignored. (New International Version, Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word)

There is strongest commentary support for meaning (1), and it is recommended that you follow this in your translation. Paul wanted the Philippians to unite together in imitating his Christian way of thinking and acting.

brothers: The term brothers here refers to other Christians, fellow believers, not to literal brothers. You might translate this as “brothers and sisters,” “older and younger siblings” or “relatives.” The term brothers also occurs in 1:12, 3:13, 3:17, 4:1, 4:8. See the note on 1:12a.

3:17b

carefully observe: This means to watch something carefully.

those who walk according to the pattern we set for you: Other believers were following Paul’s example and his companions’ example of how Christians should behave. Paul wanted the rest of the Philippians to watch how those believers acted, and to imitate them.

walk: The word walk here refers to acting or behaving in a certain way.

we: This probably refers to Paul and some other apostles or teachers who had gone to teach in Philippi with him (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Revised English Bible). It does not include the Philippians.

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