Philippians 1:27
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul urges them to live worthy of the gospel, standing firm together in unity, whether he is present or not.
What Does Philippians 1:27 Mean?
The word conversation here means the whole conduct of life, the way one lives as a citizen. Paul appeals to the Philippians, themselves proud citizens of a Roman colony, to let their entire manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, whether he is with them or far away.
His great concern is that they stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith. The image is of a united front, believers shoulder to shoulder in a common cause. The gospel is not only something to believe but something to live and to defend together. Paul wants to hear, even from a distance, that the Philippians are standing firm and laboring side by side, their unity itself a testimony to the worth of the good news they share.
In the Original Language
politeuomai (πολιτεύομαι), 'let your conversation be' -- to live as a citizen, to conduct one's whole public life.