The Meaning of Philippians 2:15 Explained

Philippians 2:15

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;

YLT: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the world,

Darby: that ye may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation; among whom ye appear 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,

Discover Philippians 2:15

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Philippians 2:15?

MEANING: What does Philippians 2:15 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Philippians 2:15 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Philippians 2:15?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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; 

What does Philippians 2:15 Mean?

Study Notes

world
kosmos = mankind.
The Greek word kosmos means "order," "arrangement," and so, with the Greeks, "beauty"; for order and arrangement in the sense of system are at the bottom of the Greek conception of beauty.
When used in the N.T. of humanity, the "world" of men, it is organized humanity-- humanity in families, tribes, nations--which is meant. The word for chaotic, unorganized humanity--the mere mass of man is thalassa, the "sea" of men (e.g.) Revelation 13:1 (See Scofield " Revelation 13:8 ") . For "world" (kosmos) in the bad ethical sense, "world system" John 7:7 .

Verse Meaning

By working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, rather than with grumbling and disputing, the Philippians would show themselves to be blameless and innocent (pure, NIV). "Blameless" (Gr. amemptos) means without blame (not culpable; cf. Philippians 3:6) because we deal with our sins as we should. It does not mean unblemished (Gr. amomos) nor unblameable (Gr. anegkletos and anepileptos). [1] "Innocent" or "pure" (Gr. akeraioi) means unadulterated, unmixed with anything defiling (cf. Romans 16:19).
Paul then added the idea of being unblemished (Gr. amomos). The children of God are to be free from defilement and so not chargeable with justifiable criticism even though we live in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation (cf. Deuteronomy 32:5). The word "generation" (Gr. geneas) can refer to a group of people several generations long, not just to one generation of people. [2] Here it probably refers to unbelievers as a whole (cf. Matthew 17:17; Acts 2:40).
Christians are lights in a dark world ( Matthew 5:14; cf. Daniel 12:3). The Light of the World now indwells us ( John 8:12). Paul wanted his readers to bear a strong witness rather than having their light shaded by sin or uncleanness (cf. Matthew 5:15-16). Light is a good illustration of something that does what it has to do by being what it ought to be. [3]

Context Summary

Philippians 2:12-18 - Lights In The World
The sublime visions of the Apostle of the glory of the divine Redeemer are always linked with practical exhortation. Do nothing through pride and vainglory. Look on the things of others. Count others better than yourself. Work out what God is working in. Your heart is God's workshop! His Spirit is there, striving against selfishness, pride, impurity, and vanity, but you must consolidate each holy impulse in speech and act. Be careful of every such movement in your soul; it will become clearer and more definite as you yield to it, and it will be corroborated by outward circumstances, which God will open before you. But exercise fear and trembling, just as the young pupil of a great master will be nervously careful not to lose one thought or suggestion which he may impart.
In this manner you will become as a lighthouse on a rockbound coast, shining with blameless and beneficent beauty among your companions. Light is silent, but it reveals. Light is gentle, but it is mighty in its effects. Light departs when the sun is down, but it may be maintained by various luminaries until dawn again breaks. As we shine, we shall be consumed, but the sacrifice will not be in vain. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 2

1  Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12  to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16  and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God
19  He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also

Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:15

That ye may be [ινα γενηστε]
Rather, “that ye may become” (second aorist middle subjunctive of γινομαι — ginomai to become). [source]
Blameless [αμεμπτοι]
Free from censure Harmless (ακεραιοι — akeraioi). Unmixed, unadulterated as in Romans 16:19. Without blemish Without spot, “unblemished in reputation and in reality” (Vincent). In the midst of (μεσον — meson). Preposition with genitive. Crooked Old word, curved as opposed to ορτος — orthos straight. See note on Acts 2:40. Perverse (diestrammenēs). Perfect passive participle of diastrephō to distort, to twist, to turn to one side (διεστραμμενης — dia in two). Old word. See note on Matthew 17:17 and note on Acts 13:10. [source]
Harmless [ακεραιοι]
Unmixed, unadulterated as in Romans 16:19. [source]
Without blemish [αμωμα]
Without spot, “unblemished in reputation and in reality” (Vincent). In the midst of (μεσον — meson). Preposition with genitive. Crooked Old word, curved as opposed to ορτος — orthos straight. See note on Acts 2:40. Perverse (diestrammenēs). Perfect passive participle of diastrephō to distort, to twist, to turn to one side (διεστραμμενης — dia in two). Old word. See note on Matthew 17:17 and note on Acts 13:10. [source]
In the midst of [μεσον]
Preposition with genitive. [source]
Crooked [σκολιας]
Old word, curved as opposed to ορτος — orthos straight. See note on Acts 2:40. Perverse (diestrammenēs). Perfect passive participle of diastrephō to distort, to twist, to turn to one side (διεστραμμενης — dia in two). Old word. See note on Matthew 17:17 and note on Acts 13:10. [source]
Perverse [diestrammenēs)]
Perfect passive participle of diastrephō to distort, to twist, to turn to one side Old word. See note on Matthew 17:17 and note on Acts 13:10. [source]
May be - harmless [γένησθε - ἀκέραιοι]
May be is rather may prove or show yourselves to be. Harmless, lit., unmixed. See on Matthew 10:16. Better, guileless. Blameless in the sight of others, guileless in your own hearts. [source]
Sons of God [τέκνα]
Rev., better, children. See on John 1:12. Compare Deuteronomy 32:5. [source]
Without rebuke [ἄμωμα]
Rev., correctly, without blemish. See on Colossians 1:22. The word is epexegetical of the two preceding epithets, unblemished in reputation and in reality. [source]
Crooked and perverse [σκολίας - διεστραμμένης]
Crooked, see on untoward, Acts 2:40; see on froward, 1 Peter 2:18. Perverse, lit., warped, twisted. See on Matthew 17:17; see on Luke 23:14. [source]
Ye shine [φαίνεσθε]
Rev., more correctly, ye are seen. Compare Matthew 24:27; Revelation 18:23, A.V., where the same error occurs. Shine would require the verb in the active voice, as John 1:5; John 5:35. [source]
Lights [φωστῆρες]
Only here and Revelation 21:11, see note. Properly, luminaries. So Rev., in margin. Generally of the heavenly bodies. See Genesis 1:14, Genesis 1:16, Sept. [source]
In the world []
Connect with ye are seen, not with luminaries. The world, not only material, but moral. For the moral sense of κόσμος worldsee on John 1:9. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 2:15 mean?

so that you may be blameless and innocent children of God unblemished in [the] midst of a generation crooked perverted among whom you shine as lights in [the] world
ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι τέκνα Θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς διεστραμμένης ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ

ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
γένησθε  you  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ἄμεμπτοι  blameless 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄμεμπτος  
Sense: blameless, deserving no censure, free from fault or defect.
ἀκέραιοι  innocent 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀκέραιος  
Sense: unmixed, pure as in wines or metals.
τέκνα  children 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἄμωμα  unblemished 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ἄμωμος  
Sense: without blemish.
μέσον  in  [the]  midst 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: μέσος  
Sense: middle.
γενεᾶς  of  a  generation 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γενεά  
Sense: fathered, birth, nativity.
σκολιᾶς  crooked 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: σκολιός  
Sense: crooked, curved.
διεστραμμένης  perverted 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: διαστρέφω  
Sense: to distort, turn aside.
οἷς  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
φαίνεσθε  you  shine 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: φαίνω  
Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light.
φωστῆρες  lights 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φωστήρ  
Sense: that which gives light, an illuminator.
κόσμῳ  [the]  world 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κόσμος  
Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.

What are the major concepts related to Philippians 2:15?

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