Study it in the app“Only live as citizens in a manner worthy of the good news of the Messiah, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of the things concerning you: that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul striving side by side for the faith of the good news,”
OnlyΜόνονlive as citizensπολιτεύεσθεin a manner worthyἀξίωςof the good newsτοῦ εὐαγγελίουof the Messiah,τοῦ Χριστοῦso that,ἵναwhetherεἴτεI comeἐλθὼνandκαὶseeἰδὼνyouὑμᾶςorεἴτεam absent,ἀπὼνI may hearἀκούωof the thingsτὰconcerningπερὶyou:ὑμῶνthatὅτιyou are standing firmστήκετεinἐνoneἑνὶspirit,πνεύματιwith oneμιᾷsoulψυχῇstriving side by sideσυναθλοῦντεςfor the faithτῇ πίστειof the good news,τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
only
Nothing beyond that: bread is not enough to live.
Where else “Monon” appearslive, conduct oneself
Live as a citizen, conduct one's life; behave.
Where else “politeuesthe” appearsworthily
In a worthy manner; as is fitting.
Where else “axiōs” appearsgood news
Good news: an announcement of victory or of joy. It is the word usually translated "gospel".
Where else “euangeliou” appearsMessiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
Where else “Christou” appearswhether, or
"Whether ... or", "if".
Where else “eite” appearscome
To move to where someone is or to a place, and be present there.
Where else “elthōn” appearssee
To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.
Where else “idōn” appearsgo away
Go away, leave; a different verb of the same spelling means be absent.
Where else “apōn” appearshear of
To hear about something.
Where else “akouō” appearsstand firm
To hold one's ground, not fall.
Where else “stēkete” appearssingle
Just one, or united as one.
Where else “heni” appearsspirit
A person's spirit, their inner self.
Where else “pneumati” appearssoul
A person's innermost self: what they feel and desire.
Where else “psychēi” appearscontend together
Contend together, like athletes on the same team.
Where else “synathlountes” appearstrust
Truly trusting in God or in Jesus.
Where else “pistei” appears26so that your boasting may abound in the Messiah Jesus because of me through my presence with you again.
27 · This verse (above)
28and not being frightened in anything by those who oppose you. This is for them a sign of destruction, but of your salvation, and this is from God.
1. What it says
What happened to Paul in prison, and what effect does he say it had on the spread of the good news (v. 12-14)?
2. What it means
Paul writes, "to me to live is the Messiah, and to die is gain" (v. 21). What do you think he means?
3. How I live it
Paul rejoices even in hardship (v. 18). What difficult situation today could you look at from another angle?
