Philippians 2:15

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul, writing from prison to the Philippian church, places this verse between the command to do all things without grumbling (v. 14) and the image of holding forth the word of life (v. 16).

The words — ἄμεμπτοι (amemptoi, "blameless") and ἄμωμα (amōma, "without blemish") appear together, pairing the adjective with the noun to double the demand for faultlessness.

The thread — "Light in the world" echoes Matthew 5:14; "children of God" parallels Matthew 5:45; and the characterization of a generation as crooked and perverse recalls Deuteronomy 32:5.

Why it lands — The verse demands a public, visible innocence legible against a generation Paul calls crooked and perverse; it is not private virtue but a contrast the world can see.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Cross-references

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
Deuteronomy 32:5 His people have acted corruptly toward Him; the blemish on them is not that of His children, but of a perverse and crooked generation.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.