Philippians 3:20 Meaning and Explanation
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Our truest citizenship is in heaven, and from there we wait, watching, for the Saviour to come.
The Context of Philippians 3:20
Philippi was a Roman colony, and its people prized their Roman citizenship deeply, living far from Rome yet belonging to it. Paul takes that civic pride they knew so well and lifts it higher: the believer's true homeland is heaven. The old word 'conversation' here means our citizenship, our way of belonging.
What Does Philippians 3:20 Mean?
The Philippians understood citizenship in their bones. Their city was a little outpost of Rome, and to be a Roman citizen there was an honor that shaped how you lived. Paul says the believer holds a higher citizenship still: our true commonwealth is in heaven. We live here, but we belong there, and that belonging quietly changes how we carry ourselves. We are colonists of a better country, keeping its ways while we wait far from home.
And we are not only waiting; we are watching for a person. From heaven we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will come for His own. The Christian's hope is not a vague someday but a known Someone, the very Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us. Whatever this world withholds, our true home is secure, and the One we love is coming from it to gather us. We wait the way people wait for a face they love at the door.
Philippians 3:20 in the Original Language
politeuma (πολίτευμα), 'conversation' -- commonwealth or citizenship, the state to which one belongs.
How to Apply Philippians 3:20 Today
When this world feels like the only home we have, this verse lifts our eyes higher: our true citizenship is in heaven, and it is secure. We are not only waiting for a someday but watching for Someone, the Saviour Himself. That hope steadies us while we live far from home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Philippians 3:20
What does Philippians 3:20 mean?
Our truest citizenship is in heaven, and from there we wait, watching, for the Saviour to come.
What is the context of Philippians 3:20?
Philippi was a Roman colony, and its people prized their Roman citizenship deeply, living far from Rome yet belonging to it. Paul takes that civic pride they knew so well and lifts it higher: the believer's true homeland is heaven. The old word 'conversation' here means our citizenship, our way of belonging.
How can I apply Philippians 3:20 today?
When this world feels like the only home we have, this verse lifts our eyes higher: our true citizenship is in heaven, and it is secure. We are not only waiting for a someday but watching for Someone, the Saviour Himself. That hope steadies us while we live far from home.