Philippians 1:6
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The verse highlights that God's involvement isn't just about starting something good in us, but about seeing it through to completion. It's not a mere initial impulse, but a guarantee of His sustained action until the final consummation of our salvation in Christ. This implies that our spiritual journey is not dependent on our own inconsistent efforts, but on God's faithful finishing of the work He began.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul, imprisoned and facing various challenges, writes this letter to the believers in Philippi, a church he deeply cherishes and for which he offers thanks. He's addressing them with a profound sense of confidence in God's ongoing work within them, even amidst their shared struggles and his own uncertain circumstances. This verse is part of a larger expression of gratitude and assurance that God's faithfulness will carry their spiritual journey to completion.
Ever wonder if your faith is really yours or if it's something God is actively doing? Paul assures us that the journey of faith isn't just human effort.
Paul uses the phrase "he who began a good work in you." This points directly to God as the one initiating and carrying out the work of faith and godliness in believers. It's not about our initial decision or our ongoing strength, but about God's sovereign action. The scholars highlight that this "good work" is understood as the work of grace, a divine transformation within the heart, not mere outward actions. This divine origin means it's a work that is truly good and deeply rooted.
Think of it like this: God plants a seed of faith in your heart. You nurture it with prayer and obedience, but the power to grow, to blossom, and to bear fruit comes from the divine source that first planted it.
What happens if you stumble? Can God's work in you truly be finished if you're not perfect yet?
The verse doesn't just say God starts a good work; it promises He will bring it to completion. This isn't about our perfection but about God's faithfulness. The original Greek word translated as 'bring it to completion' or 'perform it' implies carrying something through to its intended end, perfecting it.
Even though believers still struggle with sin and imperfection (as the commentaries note, referencing the 'indwelling of sin'), Paul's confidence rests on God's power. This completion is guaranteed not by our flawless performance, but by God's unwavering commitment. It culminates in 'the day of Jesus Christ' – the ultimate moment when we will be fully redeemed, body and spirit.
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Paul's confidence in God's faithful work in the Philippians is rooted in his personal experience and his understanding of God's character, even as he faced the uncertainties and potential hardships of his own imprisonment and the broader climate of Roman persecution.
c. AD 49-51
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul spent approximately two years in Corinth, a major Roman port city, during his second missionary journey. During this time, he established the church in Corinth, facing significant opposition but also seeing many conversions. The letter to the Philippians, written later, reflects on the spiritual maturity and steadfastness of the Corinthian believers.
c. AD 53-57
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During his third missionary journey, Paul resided in Ephesus for over two years, ministering extensively and facing considerable challenges. This period was marked by both great success in spreading the gospel and intense opposition from those who felt their livelihood threatened, such as the silversmiths mentioned in Acts 19.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's First Roman Imprisonment
The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome for the first time, likely under house arrest. During this period, he wrote several epistles, including Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon, to churches and individuals he could not visit in person.
c. AD 64
The Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire swept through Rome, leading Emperor Nero to persecute Christians, whom he blamed for the disaster. This event likely intensified the suffering and trials faced by believers in Rome and throughout the Roman Empire, adding to the context of persecution mentioned in Paul's letters.
This passage echoes the assurance of God's faithfulness, stating He will not turn away from doing good to His people, mirroring Paul's confidence in God completing the work He begins.
1 Corinthians 1:8This verse directly parallels Philippians 1:6 by also stating that God 'will sustain you to the end,' reinforcing the idea of divine commitment to the believer's completion.
Romans 8:28This verse provides a foundational promise that God works all things for good for those He loves, which underpins Paul's certainty that God's good work in the Philippians will indeed be brought to completion.
John 6:39Jesus Himself declares His Father's will is that He should lose none of those given to Him, but raise them up on the last day, directly supporting the idea of God's determined work of salvation reaching its final consummation.
Deuteronomy 32:39This Old Testament passage speaks of God's power to kill and make alive, and to bring down to Sheol and bring up, highlighting God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to complete His purposes for His people.
vincentPhilippians 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:"
Being confident (πεποιθὼς)With a slightly causative force: since I am confident.Hath begun - will perform (ἐναρξάμενος - ἐπιτελέσει)The two words occur together, 2 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:3. Both were used of religious ceremonials. So Euripides: "But come! Bring up the sacrificial meal-basket" (ἐξάρχου κανᾶ); that is, begin the offering…
gillPhilippians 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:"
Being confident of this very thing,.... The reason of his thanksgiving, and of his making request with joy continually on the behalf of this church, was the confidence and full persuasion he had of this same thing, of which he could be as much assured as of any thing in the world: that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the…
The verse highlights that God's involvement isn't just about starting something good in us, but about seeing it through to completion. It's not a mere initial impulse, but a guarantee of His sustained action until the final consummation of our salvation in Christ. This implies that our spiritual journey is not dependent on our own inconsistent efforts, but on God's faithful finishing of the work He began.
Paul, imprisoned and facing various challenges, writes this letter to the believers in Philippi, a church he deeply cherishes and for which he offers thanks. He's addressing them with a profound sense of confidence in God's ongoing work within them, even amidst their shared struggles and his own uncertain circumstances. This verse is part of a larger expression of gratitude and assurance that God's faithfulness will carry their spiritual journey to completion.
Paul, imprisoned and facing various challenges, writes this letter to the believers in Philippi, a church he deeply cherishes and for which he offers thanks. He's addressing them with a profound sense of confidence in God's ongoing work within them, even amidst their shared struggles and his own uncertain circumstances. This verse is part of a larger expression of gratitude and assurance that God's faithfulness will carry their spiritual journey to completion.
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." — The verse highlights that God's involvement isn't just about starting something good in us, but about seeing it through to completion. It's not a mere initial impulse, but a guarantee of His sustaine…
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Last reviewed October 2026
