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Journey Through the Bible

A Deep Dive into Philippians 1:6: Meaning and Explanation

Philippians 1:6 is a verse from the New Testament that resonates with followers of Christianity for its message of hope and assurance. This scripture is part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Philippi, and it conveys a deep spiritual truth about God’s work in believers.

Understanding Philippians 1:6

The verse reads: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ For many Christians, this passage is a source of encouragement, offering a promise that God is faithful in continuing the transformative work He has started in each believer’s life.

Explanation of Key Concepts

  • God’s Good Work: The ‘good work’ refers to the spiritual growth and maturation in a believer’s life, initiated by God through the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
  • Confidence in Divine Continuity: Paul expresses certainty (‘being confident’) that God will not abandon His work. This instills assurance that the process of spiritual refinement is ongoing and divine.
  • Completion Until the Day of Christ: This points to the eschatological hope that believers will be made perfect upon Christ’s return. It stresses the lifelong journey of faith growth leading to ultimate fulfillment.

Lessons and Reflections

  1. Embrace the Journey: Philippians 1:6 encourages believers to not fear their shortcomings, but trust in God’s plan for their spiritual journey.
  2. Perseverance through Faith: Even amidst challenges, knowing that God’s work in them will reach completion fosters perseverance and resilience.
  3. Living with Eternal Perspective: This verse invites Christians to live with an awareness of their eternal destiny, shaping their daily lives with hope and forward-looking faith.

Summary

Philippians 1:6 provides a profound assurance of God’s unwavering commitment to the spiritual progress of believers. By understanding its meaning and explanation, Christians are reminded that their lives are securely in God’s hands, who is faithfully and lovingly crafting their salvation journey.

Cross References for Philippians 1:6

Isaiah 40:28 - Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends o... Click to read the verse Isaiah 40:28 Click to read the verse Isaiah 40:28

Mark 4:28 - All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in t... Click to read the verse Mark 4:28 Click to read the verse Mark 4:28

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in a... Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:10 Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:10

Malachi 3:6 - “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Click to read the verse Malachi 3:6 Click to read the verse Malachi 3:6

Psalms 84:11 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he w... Click to read the verse Psalms 84:11 Click to read the verse Psalms 84:11

1 Peter 1:5 - who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready t... Click to read the verse 1 Peter 1:5 Click to read the verse 1 Peter 1:5

Habakkuk 3:2 - Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, i... Click to read the verse Habakkuk 3:2 Click to read the verse Habakkuk 3:2

Romans 14:20 - Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a m... Click to read the verse Romans 14:20 Click to read the verse Romans 14:20

Psalms 57:2 - I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. Click to read the verse Psalms 57:2 Click to read the verse Psalms 57:2

Matthew 13:33 - He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and ... Click to read the verse Matthew 13:33 Click to read the verse Matthew 13:33

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Click to read the verse John 10:28 Click to read the verse John 10:28

John 6:29 - Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Click to read the verse John 6:29 Click to read the verse John 6:29

2 Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the ele... Click to read the verse 2 Peter 3:10 Click to read the verse 2 Peter 3:10

1 Thessalonians 5:23 - May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, sou... Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Psalms 119:33 - דה He Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Click to read the verse Psalms 119:33 Click to read the verse Psalms 119:33

1 Corinthians 5:5 - hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 5:5 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 5:5

1 Chronicles 29:18 - O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your pe... Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 29:18 Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 29:18

Hebrews 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before... Click to read the verse Hebrews 12:2 Click to read the verse Hebrews 12:2

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 - Stand Firm But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from t... Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

1 Samuel 12:22 - For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was please... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 12:22 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 12:22

1 Kings 8:20 - “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the t... Click to read the verse 1 Kings 8:20 Click to read the verse 1 Kings 8:20

Philippians 1:10 - so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of ... Click to read the verse Philippians 1:10 Click to read the verse Philippians 1:10

Hebrews 13:20-21 - May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead ... Click to read the verse Hebrews 13:20-21 Click to read the verse Hebrews 13:20-21

1 Peter 5:10 - And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffere... Click to read the verse 1 Peter 5:10 Click to read the verse 1 Peter 5:10

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Click to read the verse Philippians 2:13 Click to read the verse Philippians 2:13

Psalms 138:8 - The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever— do not abandon th... Click to read the verse Psalms 138:8 Click to read the verse Psalms 138:8

Isaiah 19:25 - The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, a... Click to read the verse Isaiah 19:25 Click to read the verse Isaiah 19:25

Acts 11:18 - When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has... Click to read the verse Acts 11:18 Click to read the verse Acts 11:18

Matthew 13:21 - But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because... Click to read the verse Matthew 13:21 Click to read the verse Matthew 13:21

2 Thessalonians 3:4 - We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 3:4 Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 3:4

Titus 3:4-6 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, Click to read the verse Titus 3:4-6 Click to read the verse Titus 3:4-6

Hebrews 10:35 - So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. Click to read the verse Hebrews 10:35 Click to read the verse Hebrews 10:35

Acts 16:14 - One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyat... Click to read the verse Acts 16:14 Click to read the verse Acts 16:14

Psalms 68:28 - Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before. Click to read the verse Psalms 68:28 Click to read the verse Psalms 68:28

2 Thessalonians 1:11 - With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling... Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 1:11

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, sou... Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Romans 8:28-30 - More Than Conquerors And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love hi... Click to read the verse Romans 8:28-30 Click to read the verse Romans 8:28-30

2 Peter 3:12 - as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destr... Click to read the verse 2 Peter 3:12 Click to read the verse 2 Peter 3:12

James 1:16-18 - Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Click to read the verse James 1:16-18 Click to read the verse James 1:16-18

2 Corinthians 2:3 - I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me r... Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 2:3 Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 2:3

1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus ... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 1:8 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 1:8

Colossians 2:12 - having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of G... Click to read the verse Colossians 2:12 Click to read the verse Colossians 2:12

1 Timothy 6:14 - to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, Click to read the verse 1 Timothy 6:14 Click to read the verse 1 Timothy 6:14

Luke 13:21 - It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all t... Click to read the verse Luke 13:21 Click to read the verse Luke 13:21

Ephesians 2:4-10 - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:4-10 Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:4-10

Mark 8:25 - Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was resto... Click to read the verse Mark 8:25 Click to read the verse Mark 8:25

Philippians 1:29 - For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suff... Click to read the verse Philippians 1:29 Click to read the verse Philippians 1:29

1 Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor promp... Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Ephesians 4:12 - to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Click to read the verse Ephesians 4:12 Click to read the verse Ephesians 4:12

Galatians 5:10 - I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into c... Click to read the verse Galatians 5:10 Click to read the verse Galatians 5:10

1 Peter 1:2-3 - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying ... Click to read the verse 1 Peter 1:2-3 Click to read the verse 1 Peter 1:2-3

2 Corinthians 1:15 - Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 1:15 Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 1:15

Philemon 1:21 - Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. Click to read the verse Philemon 1:21 Click to read the verse Philemon 1:21

2 Corinthians 1:14 - as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us j... Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 1:14 Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 1:14

2 Corinthians 3:4 - Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 3:4 Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 3:4

2 Corinthians 7:16 - I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 7:16 Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 7:16

2 Corinthians 9:4 - For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—w... Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 9:4 Click to read the verse 2 Corinthians 9:4