Philippians 1:6
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
These words open Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, written during his imprisonment, as he gives thanks for their faithful partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
What Does Philippians 1:6 Mean?
Paul is confident that the God who started a good work in the Philippians will keep working until that work is finished. The verse flows out of his thanksgiving for their partnership in the gospel, and it grounds his confidence not in the believers themselves but in the One who began the work. The phrase "hath begun" points back to a definite starting point -- the moment grace took hold in their lives -- and the same God who initiated that change is the One committed to completing it.
The word translated "perform" carries the sense of bringing something to its intended goal, finishing what was started. Paul pictures the Christian life as a project authored by God, not abandoned halfway but carried forward steadily "until the day of Jesus Christ" -- the day of His return and the fullness of redemption. This gives the believer both comfort and a horizon: the work is not yet done, but it is in faithful hands. Paul's assurance invites the reader to trust that present struggles and unfinished progress are not signs of failure but stages in a work God Himself is committed to completing.
In the Original Language
The verb "epiteleō" (perform) means to complete or bring to a goal, while "enarchomai" (begun) marks a definite beginning -- together framing salvation as a work with a divine start and a sure finish.
Cross References
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
- Philippians 2:13
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24
“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
- Psalm 138:8
Application
When you feel your spiritual growth is slow or incomplete, this verse anchors your confidence in God's faithfulness to finish what He started in you.