Philippians 1:3–5

Prayer for the Church

1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.6 1:4 I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you 1:5 because of your participation7 in the gospel from the first day until now.8

6	tn This could also be translated “for your every remembrance of me.” See discussion below.
7	sn Your participation (Grk “fellowship”) could refer to Paul rejoicing because of the Philippian converts’ “fellowship” in the gospel along with him, but it is more likely that this refers to their active “participation” with him in the gospel by means of the financial support they sent to Paul on more than one occasion, discussed later in this letter (4:10–19, esp. 4:15–16).
8	tn Several alternatives for translating vv. 3–5 are possible: (1) “I thank my God every time I remember you, yes, always in my every prayer for all of you. I pray with joy because of your participation …” (see NAB; also M. Silva, Philippians [BECNT], 43–44; G. D. Fee, Philippians [NICNT], 76–80); (2) “I thank my God because of your every remembrance of me. Always in my every prayer for all of you I pray with joy. [I am grateful] for your participation …” (see Moffatt; also P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 58–61). Option (1) is quite similar to the translation above, but sees v. 4a as more or less parenthetical. Option (2) is significantly different in that Paul thanks God because the Philippians remember him rather than when he remembers them.