New Living Translation
Philippians 2:15
15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
Philippians 2:15 in other versions
- King James Version (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;
- New International Version (NIV)so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
- English Standard Version (ESV)that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
- New King James Version (NKJV)that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Context of Philippians 2:15
13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 2:15 word by word
ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ye may beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- blamelessἄμεμπτοςamemptos · blamelessG273
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- harmlessἀκέραιοςakeraios · innocentG185
- the sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- without rebukeἀμώμητοςamōmētos · blamelessG298
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- of aγενεάgenea · generationG1074
- crookedσκολιόςskolios · crookedG4646
- perverseδιαστρέφωdiastrephō · to pervertG1294
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ye shineφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- lightsφωστήρphōstēr · lightG5458
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
Cross-references for Philippians 2:15
- Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
- Ephesians 5:27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
- 1 Timothy 3:2So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
- 1 Timothy 5:7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.
- 2 Peter 3:14And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
- Matthew 10:16“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
- Romans 16:19But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.
- Hebrews 7:26He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.
- Philippians 1:10For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
- Matthew 5:45In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
- Luke 6:35“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
- Ephesians 5:1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
- 1 Peter 1:14So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.
Commentaries on Philippians 2:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15That ye may be blameless - In yourselves, and harmless to others. The sons of God - Showing by your holy conduct that ye are partakers of the Divine nature. Without rebuke - Persons against whom no charge of transgression can justly be laid. A crooked and perverse - Probably referring to the Jews, who were the chief opponents and the most virulent enemies which the Christian Church had. Among whom ye shine - Be like the sun and moon; bless even the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15That ye may be blameless - That you may give no occasion for others to accuse you of having done wrong. And harmless - Margin, “sincere.” The Greek word ( ̓́ akeraios) means properly that which is unmixed; and then pure, sincere. The idea here is, that they should be artless, simple, without guile. Then they would injure no one. The word occurs only in Matthew 10:16; Phlippians 2:15, where it is rendered “harmless,” and Romans 16:19, where it is rendered…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15you shine as lights in the world: Believers should attract others to God through their actions (see Matthew 5:13–16). in a crooked and perverse generation: See Deuteronomy 32:5; Romans 1:18–32; 3:10–23.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. blameless and harmless--without either the repute of mischief, or the inclination to do it [Alford]. sons--rather as Greek, "the children of God" (Ro 8:14-16). Imitation of our heavenly Father is the instinctive guide to our duty as His children, more than any external law (Mt 5:44, 45, 48). without rebuke--"without (giving handle for) reproach." The whole verse tacitly refers by contrast to De 32:5, "Their spot ... not ... of His children ... a…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 2:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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