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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Assurance;   Blessing;   Grace of God;   Intercession;   Perseverance;   Regeneration;   Righteous;   Righteousness;   Scofield Reference Index - Day (of Christ);   Gospel;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assurance;   Missionaries, All Christians Should Be as;   Perseverance;   Second Coming of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Servant;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Day;   Day of the lord;   Encouragement;   Perseverance;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Assurance;   Confidence;   Day of the Lord, God, Christ, the;   Spirituality;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Faith;   Perseverance;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Perseverance of the Saints;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Games;   Omega;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Day of Christ;   Day of the Lord;   Freedom;   Good;   Letter Form and Function;   Philippians;   Righteousness;   Salvation;   Security of the Believer;   Works;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Communion;   Perfection;   Philemon, Epistle to;   Philippians, Epistle to;   Quotations;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Alpha and Omega (2);   Calendar, the Christian;   Day of Christ;   Day and Night;   Day of Judgment;   Discipline;   Endurance;   Example;   Fellowship;   Fellowship (2);   Goodness (Human);   Kingdom Kingdom of God;   Parousia;   Perseverance;   Philemon ;   Philippians Epistle to the;   Predestination;   Will;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Day;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Sanctification;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Prayer;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Communion;   Day;   Day of the Lord (Yahweh);   Effect;   Eschatology of the New Testament;   Immortal;   Intercession;   Parousia;   Perform;   Philemon;   Philippians, the Epistle to;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 26;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 29;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
World English Bible
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Being persuaded of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ,
Weymouth's New Testament
For of this I am confident, that He who has begun a good work within you will go on to perfect it in preparation for the day of Jesus Christ.
King James Version (1611)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will performe it vntil the day of Iesus Christ:
Literal Translation
being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you will finish it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and am surely certified of this, yt he which hath begonne that good worke in you, shal go forth with it vntyll ye daye of Iesus Christ:
Mace New Testament (1729)
he who has begun this good work in you will bring it to perfection against the appearance of Christ. it is but just
Amplified Bible
I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].
American Standard Version
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Revised Standard Version
And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and am suerly certified of this that he which beganne a good worke in you shall go forthe with it vntyll the daye of Iesus Christ
Update Bible Version
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus:
Webster's Bible Translation
Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
Young's Literal Translation
having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform [it] till a day of Jesus Christ,
New Century Version
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
New English Translation
For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Contemporary English Version
God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.
Complete Jewish Bible
And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua.
English Standard Version
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I am persuaded of this same thing, that he that hath begunne this good worke in you, wil perfourme it vntill the day of Iesus Christ,
George Lamsa Translation
Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun the good work among you, the same will continue it until the day of our LORD Jesus Christ:
Hebrew Names Version
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Yeshua the Messiah.
International Standard Version
I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good work amongin">[fn] you will bring it to completion by the day of Christ Jesus.John 6:29; Philippians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
because I am confident of this, that he who hath begun good workings in you will himself make perfect until the day of our Lord Jeshu Meshiha.
Murdock Translation
Because I am confident of this, that he who hath begun the good works in you, will accomplish them until the day of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
New King James Version
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
New Life Bible
I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.
English Revised Version
being confident of this very thing, that he which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
New Revised Standard
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Being persuaded of this very thing - that, he who hath begun in you a good work, will perfect it, until the day of Jesus Christ;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Being confident of this very thing: that he who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.
King James Version
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Lexham English Bible
convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus,
Bible in Basic English
For I am certain of this very thing, that he by whom the good work was started in you will make it complete till the day of Jesus Christ:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And beyng perswaded of this same thyng, that he which hath begun good worke in you, wyll perfourme it vntyll the day of Iesus Christe,
Darby Translation
having confidence of this very thing, that he who has begun in you a good work will complete it unto Jesus Christ's day:
Easy-to-Read Version
I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again.
New American Standard Bible
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.
Good News Translation
And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
tristenynge this ilke thing, that he that bigan in you a good werk, schal perfourme it til in to the dai of Jhesu Crist.
Simplified Cowboy Version
And there ain't no doubt God is going to make top hands out of all of y'all. He ain't gonna quit growing you until his work is finished and Jesus comes riding back over the hill to get us all.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Legacy Standard Bible
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Contextual Overview

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

confident: 2 Corinthians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 7:16, 2 Corinthians 9:4, Galatians 5:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:4, Philemon 1:21, Hebrews 10:35

begun: Philippians 1:29, Philippians 2:13, John 6:29, Acts 11:18, Acts 16:14, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 2:4-10, Colossians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Titus 3:4-6, Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 13:21, James 1:16-18, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 Peter 1:3

will: Psalms 138:8, John 6:29, Ephesians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 1 Peter 5:10

perform it: or, finish it, Hebrews 12:2

the day: Philippians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Peter 3:10

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:22 - it hath 1 Kings 8:20 - hath performed 1 Chronicles 29:18 - keep Psalms 57:2 - that Psalms 68:28 - strengthen Psalms 84:11 - the Lord Psalms 119:33 - I shall keep Isaiah 19:25 - Blessed Isaiah 40:28 - fainteth Habakkuk 3:2 - O Lord Malachi 3:6 - therefore Matthew 13:21 - dureth Matthew 13:33 - till Mark 4:28 - first Mark 8:25 - and saw Luke 13:21 - till John 10:28 - they John 12:28 - and will Romans 14:20 - the work 1 Corinthians 5:5 - the day 2 Corinthians 1:7 - our 2 Corinthians 1:14 - in the 2 Corinthians 3:4 - such Ephesians 2:10 - we are 1 Thessalonians 1:4 - Knowing 1 Timothy 6:14 - until Hebrews 6:9 - beloved 1 Peter 1:5 - kept 2 Peter 3:12 - hasting unto the coming

Cross-References

Genesis 1:5
God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
Genesis 1:6
Then God said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth."
Genesis 1:7
And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.
Genesis 1:8
God called the space "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:13
And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.
Genesis 1:20
Then God said, "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind."
Genesis 1:22
Then God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Being confident of this very thing,.... The reason of his thanksgiving, and of his making request with joy continually on the behalf of this church, was the confidence and full persuasion he had of this same thing, of which he could be as much assured as of any thing in the world:

that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: by this good work is not meant the preaching of the Gospel among them, nor a Gospel church state set up in the midst of them: for though the preaching of the Gospel was a good work, and issued well in the conversion of many, in their edification and comfort, and which was still continued; and though a Gospel church state was erected among them, and was now flourishing, yet the apostle could not assure himself of the continuance of either of them, especially until the day of Christ; and both have been removed from thence many hundreds of years ago: nor is their liberal communication to the support of the Gospel intended; for though this was a good work, yet this was not wrought by God, but by themselves, and was not wrought in them, but done by them; nor their good lives and conversations. The Syriac version indeed renders it "good works", but these cannot be designed, for the same reasons as before; for though they are good things, and answer many valuable ends and purposes, yet they are external works done by men, and not internal ones wrought in them by God; wherefore by it is undoubtedly meant the work of grace upon their hearts, sometimes called the work of faith, because that is a principal part of it: this is God's work, and not man's, as may be concluded from the nature of the work itself, which is the transforming of a man by the reviewing of him, a regeneration, a resurrection, and a creation, and therefore requires almighty power; and from the condition man is in by nature, he is dead in sin, and has no power to act spiritually, and much less what is equal to such a work as this; he has no will, desire, and inclination to it, but all the reverse; and if he had, he could no more effect it, than the dry bones in Ezekiel's vision could cause themselves to live. This is the work of God. Sometimes it is ascribed to the Father, who regenerates, calls by his grace, reveals his Son, and draws souls unto him; and sometimes to the Son, who quickens whom he will, whose Spirit is given, whose image is stamped, and out of whose fulness grace is received; but more commonly it is attributed to the Spirit, who is a spirit of regeneration, sanctification, and faith: and this is a "good work", as it must needs be, since it is God's work; he is the efficient cause of it; his good will and pleasure, his grace and mercy are the moving cause of it, and not men's works; and his good word is the means of it. The matter of it is good; it is an illumination of the understanding, a subduing of the will, a taking away of the stony heart, and a giving of an heart of flesh, an infusion of spiritual life, a formation of Christ in the soul, and an implantation of all grace there: it is good in its effects; it makes a man a good man, and fits and qualifies him to perform good works, which without it he cannot do; it makes a man a proper habitation for God, and gives him meetness for the heavenly inheritance. And this is an internal work, a work begun "in" the saints; nothing external is this work; not an outward reformation, which, when right, is the fruit of this good work; nor external humiliation for sin; nor a cessation from the grosser acts of sin; nor a conformity and submission to Gospel ordinances; all which may be where this work is not; but it is something within a man; as appears from the names by which it goes; such as spirit, so called, because it is of a spiritual nature, wrought by the Spirit of God, and has its seat in the spirit of man; it is called the inward man, which is renewed day by day; a seed that remains in him, and a root which is out of sight, and oil in the vessel, the heart, as distinct from the lamp of an outward profession: as also from the several things, which, together, make up the subject of it; it is the understanding which is enlightened; the will which is subdued; the heart and inward parts in which the laws of God are written; the mind and conscience, which are sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and cleansed; and the affections, which are set on divine objects. This is a begun work, and but a begun one. It may be said to be begun as soon as light is let into the soul by the Spirit of God; when it sees its lost state, and need of a Saviour, for as the first thing in the old creation was light, so in the new; when the fear of God is put into the heart, which is the beginning of wisdom; when love appears in the soul to God, to Christ, to his people, word, and ordinances; and when there are the seeing, venturing, and relying acts of faith on Christ, though there is a great deal of darkness, trembling, and unbelief; and when it is got thus far, and even much further, it is but a begun work; it is not yet finished and perfect: this appears from the several parts of this work, which are imperfect, as faith, hope, love, knowledge, c. from the indwelling of sin, and corruption in the best of saints from their various continual wants and necessities; from their disclaiming perfection in this life, and their desires after it. But the apostle was confident, and so may every good man be confident, both for himself and others, that God who has, and wherever he has begun the good work of grace, will "perform", finish it, or bring it to an end, as the word here used signifies: and this the saints may assure themselves of, from many considerations; as from the nature of the work itself, which is called living water, because it always continues, a well of it, because of its abundance, and is said to spring up to eternal life; because it is inseparably connected with it, where there is grace, there will be glory; grace is the beginning of glory, and glory the perfection of grace; this work of grace is an incorruptible seed, and which remains in the saints, and can never be lost; it is a principle of life, the root of which is hid in Christ, and that itself is maintained by him, and can never be destroyed by men or devils: and also from the concern God has in it, who is unchangeable in his nature, purposes, promises, gifts, and calling; who is a rock, and his work is perfect sooner or later; who is faithful, and will never forsake the work of his hands, and has power to accomplish it; and who has promised his people, that they shall grow stronger and stronger, that they shall not depart from him, and he will never leave them. Moreover, this may be concluded from the indwelling of the Spirit, as a spirit of sanctification, as the earnest and seal of the inheritance, and that for ever; and from the intercession and fulness of grace in Christ, and the saints' union to him, and standing in him; as well as front the impotency of any to hinder the performance of this work, as sin, Satan, or the world: to which may be added the glory of all the three Persons herein concerned; for if this work is not finished, the glory of God the Father in election, in the covenant of grace, in the contrivance of salvation, in the mission of his Son, the glory of Christ in redemption, and of the Spirit in sanctification, would be entirely lost: wherefore it may be depended on, this work will be performed wherever it is begun, and that "until the day of Jesus Christ"; meaning either the day of death, when Christ takes the souls of believers to himself, and they shall be for ever with him, when this work of grace upon the soul will be finished; for God, who is the guide of his people, will be their God and guide even unto death: or else the last day, the day of judgment, the resurrection day, when Christ shall appear and raise the dead, and free the bodies of the saints from all their bondage, corruption, vileness, and weakness, which will be putting the last and finishing hand to this good work; nor will even the bodies of the saints be quitted by the Spirit of God till this is done.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Being confident - This is strong language. It means to be fully and firmly persuaded or convinced; participle, middle voice, from πείθω peithō - to persuade; compare Luke 16:31. “Neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead;” that is, they would not be convinced; Acts 17:4; Hebrews 11:13; Acts 28:24. It means here that Paul was entirely convinced of the truth of what he said. It is the language of a man who had no doubt on the subject.

That he which hath begun a good work in you - The “good work” here referred to, can be no other than religion, or true piety. This is called the work of God; the work of the Lord; or the work of Christ; John 6:29; compare 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Corinthians 16:10; Philippians 2:30. Paul affirms here that that work was begun by God. It was not by their own agency or will; compare the notes on John 1:13. It was on the fact that it was begun by God, that he based his firm conviction that it would be permanent. Had it been the agency of man, he would have had no such conviction, for nothing that man does today can lay the foundation of a certain conviction that he will do the same thing tomorrow. If the perseverance of the Christian depended wholly on himself, therefore, there could be no sure evidence that he would ever reach heaven.

Will perform it - Margin, “Or, finish” The Greek word - ἐπιτελέσει epitelesei - means that he would carry it forward to completion; he would perfect it. It is an intensive form of the word, meaning that it would be carried through to the end. It occurs in the following places: Luke 13:32, “I do cures;” Romans 15:28, “when I have performed this;” 2 Corinthians 7:1, “perfecting holiness;” 2 Corinthians 8:6, “so he would also finish in you;” 2 Corinthians 8:11, “perform the doing of it;” Galatians 3:3, “are ye now made perfect by the flesh;” Hebrews 8:5, “when he was about to make the tabernacle;” Hebrews 9:6, “accomplishing this service;” and 1 Peter 5:9, “are accomplished in your brethren.” The word occurs nowhere else; and here means that God would carry on the work which he had begun to completion. He would not leave it unfinished. It would not he commenced and then abandoned. This would or could be “performed” or “finished” only:

(1) By keeping them from falling from grace, and,

(2) By their ultimate entire perfection.

Until the day of Jesus Christ - The day when Christ shall so manifest himself as to be the great attractive object, or the day when he shall appear to glorify himself, so that it may be said emphatically to be his day. That day is often called “his day,” or “the day of the Lord,” because it will be the day of his triumph and glory. It refers here to the day when the Lord Jesus will appear to receive his people to himself - the day of judgment. We may remark on this verse, that Paul believed in the perseverance of saints. It would be impossible to express a stronger conviction of the truth of that doctrine than he has done here. Language could not be clearer, and nothing can be more unequivocal than the declaration of his opinion that where God has begun a good work in the soul, it will not be finally lost. The ground of this belief he has not stated in full, but has merely hinted at it. It is based on the fact that God had begun the good work. That ground of belief is something like the following:

(1) It is in God alone. It is not in man in any sense. No reliance is to be placed upon man in keeping himself. He is too weak; too changeable; too ready to be led astray; too much disposed to yield to temptation.

(2) The reliance, therefore, is on God; and the evidence that the renewed man will be kept is this:

  1. God began the work of grace in the soul.
    1. He had a design in it. It was deliberate, and intentional. It was not by chance or haphazard. It was because he had some object that was worthy of his interposition.
    2. There is no reason why he should begin such a work and then abandon it. It cannot be because he has no power to complete it, or because there are more enemies to be overcome than he had supposed; or because there are difficulties which he did not foresee; or because it is not desirable that the work should be completed. Why then should he abandon it?
    3. God abandons nothing that he undertakes. There are no unfinished worlds or systems; no half-made and forsaken works of His hands. There is no evidence in His works of creation of change of plan, or of having forsaken what He began from disgust, or disappointment, or lack of power to complete them. Why should there be in the salvation of the soul?
    4. He has promised to keep the renewed soul to eternal life; see John 10:27-29; Hebrews 6:17-20; compareRomans 8:29-30; Romans 8:29-30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 6. Being confident — There shall be nothing lacking on God's part to support you; and to make you wise, holy and happy; and bring you at last to his kingdom and glory.


 
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