Philippians 1:6

Authorized King James Version

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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:

Original Language Analysis

πεποιθὼς Being confident G3982
πεποιθὼς Being confident
Strong's: G3982
Word #: 1 of 15
to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence
αὐτὸ very thing G846
αὐτὸ very thing
Strong's: G846
Word #: 2 of 15
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τοῦτο of this G5124
τοῦτο of this
Strong's: G5124
Word #: 3 of 15
that thing
ὅτι that G3754
ὅτι that
Strong's: G3754
Word #: 4 of 15
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ὁ G3588
ὁ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 5 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐναρξάμενος he which hath begun G1728
ἐναρξάμενος he which hath begun
Strong's: G1728
Word #: 6 of 15
to commence on
ἐν in G1722
ἐν in
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 7 of 15
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
ὑμῖν you G5213
ὑμῖν you
Strong's: G5213
Word #: 8 of 15
to (with or by) you
ἔργον work G2041
ἔργον work
Strong's: G2041
Word #: 9 of 15
toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
ἀγαθὸν a good G18
ἀγαθὸν a good
Strong's: G18
Word #: 10 of 15
"good" (in any sense, often as noun)
ἐπιτελέσει will perform G2005
ἐπιτελέσει will perform
Strong's: G2005
Word #: 11 of 15
to fulfill further (or completely), i.e., execute; by implication, to terminate, undergo
ἄχρις it until G891
ἄχρις it until
Strong's: G891
Word #: 12 of 15
(of time) until or (of place) up to
ἡμέρας the day G2250
ἡμέρας the day
Strong's: G2250
Word #: 13 of 15
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
Ἰησοῦ· of Jesus G2424
Ἰησοῦ· of Jesus
Strong's: G2424
Word #: 14 of 15
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Χριστοῦ Christ G5547
Χριστοῦ Christ
Strong's: G5547
Word #: 15 of 15
anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus

Analysis & Commentary

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 (πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, pepoithōs auto touto, "having been persuaded of this very thing")—Paul's confidence rests not in Philippian resolve but divine faithfulness. The participle pepoithōs (perfect tense) indicates settled persuasion. He which hath begun (ὁ ἐναρξάμενος, ho enarxamenos) attributes initiation to God; will perform (ἐπιτελέσει, epitelesei, future indicative) guarantees completion.

A good work (ἔργον ἀγαθόν, ergon agathon) refers to salvific transformation, not mere moral improvement. Until the day of Jesus Christ (ἄχρι ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, achri hēmeras Christou Iēsou) is the Parousia, Christ's return. This verse grounds assurance of perseverance: God who began salvation will complete it eschatologically. Philippians' gospel-partnership evidenced God's work, not self-generated religion.

Historical Context

The theology of divine preservation countered both legalistic self-effort and libertine presumption in the early church. Paul's confidence was empirical—Philippi's decade of faithfulness demonstrated authentic regeneration. The 'day of Jesus Christ' echoed OT 'day of the Lord' but focused on Christ's return as Judge and Consummator (cf. 1 Cor 1:8, 2 Cor 1:14).

Questions for Reflection