Philippians 2:15

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, amongst whom you are seen as lights in the world,

BSB

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

KJV

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

ASV

that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,

BBE

So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

Original Greek

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ἵνα ina so that G2443 γένησθε genēsthe you may be G1096 ἄμεμπτοι amemptoi blameless G273 καὶ kai and G2532 ἀκέραιοι akeraioi innocent G185 τέκνα tekna children G5043 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 ἄμωμα amōma blameless G299 ἐν en in G1722 μέσον meson [the] midst G3319 γενεᾶς geneas of a generation G1074 σκολιᾶς skolias crooked G4646 καὶ kai and G2532 διεστραμμένης diestrammenēs perverted G1294 ἐν en among G1722 οἷς hois whom G3739 φαίνεσθε phainesthe you shine G5316 ὡς hōs as G5613 φωστῆρες phōstēres lights G5458 ἐν en in G1722 κόσμῳ kosmō [the] world G2889

The early church

"That ye may be blameless," says he, "and harmless"; i.e. irreproachable, unsullied; for murmuring occasions no slight stain. And what means "without disputing"? Is it good, or not good? Do not dispute, he says, though it be trouble, or labor, or any thing else whatever. He did not say, "that ye be not punished," for punishment is reserved for the thing; and this he made evident in the Epistle to the Corinthians; but here he said nothing of the sort; but he says, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ." Observest thou that he is instructing these not to murmur? So that murmuring is left for unprincipled and graceless slaves. This it is which deserves our admiration, the being "blameless"; for that they might not urge this plea, he himself set it down by anticipation. For the stars too give light in the night, they shine in the dark, and receive no blemish to their own beauty, yea they even shine the brighter; but when light returns, they no longer shine so. Thus thou too dost appear with the greater lustre, whilst thou holdest straight in the midst of the crooked.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Philippians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 12–18

We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the light-house warns mariners to avoid rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. Let us try thus to shine. The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Running, denotes earnestness and vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, and close application. It is the will of God that believers should be much in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers, have great reason to rejoice with them. (Php 2:19-30)

Read Matthew Henry on Philippians 2 →

Cross-references

37

Topics

Wicked (People)RighteousZeal, ReligiousCharacterHolinessMeeknessStrifeInfluenceAdoptionPerfectionLight

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.