Bible Strands
Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Philippian church, offering this as the positive counter-statement to the description in v.19 of those whose minds are set on earthly things.
The words — πολίτευμα (politeuma) is the word for civic citizenship, the same term used for Roman political identity; ὑπάρχει (huparchei) is a present indicative asserting a current fact, not a future hope.
The thread — The same civic language appears in Ephesians 2:19 (fellow citizens with the saints), while Colossians 3:1 and 2 Corinthians 4:18 press the orientation toward what is above and unseen.
Why it lands — It is a factual claim about identity that demands a corresponding direction of life; the reader is asked to examine whether their actual pursuit matches the citizenship they claim.
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
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Cross-references
- Ephesians 2:19 Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
- Colossians 3:1 Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- Hebrews 12:22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- 2 Timothy 4:8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
- Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
- 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
- 2 Peter 3:12 as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.