Philippians 1:8
in Philippians 1God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
KJV
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
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This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe Apostle calls God as his witness not because he feared distrust, but because he cannot express in words his great heartfelt affection, leaving this to God, who searches the hearts. And this is a clear proof of his sincerity. For if he were flattering …
This site's exposition
bowels of Jesus Christ
Splagchna, bowels, names the seat of deep affection in Hebrew idiom, and Paul reaches for an oath, God is my record, to certify a longing words alone could not prove. The affection is not merely his own but in the bowels of Jesus Christ, Paul's love for the church remade by and flowing through the Lord's own compassion. The phrase anticipates the mind of Christ that chapter 2 will unfold at length.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
He calls not God to witness as though he should be doubted, but does this from his great affection, and his exceeding persuasion and confidence; for after saying that they had fellowship with him, he adds this also, "in the tender mercies of Christ," lest they should think that his longing for them was for this cause, and not simply for their own sake. And what mean these words, "in the tender mercies of Christ"? They stand for "according to Christ." Because ye are believers, because ye love Christ, because of the love that is according to Christ. He does not say "love," but uses a still warmer expression, "the tender mercies of Christ," as though he had said, "having become as a father to you through the relationship which is in Christ." For this imparts to us bowels warm and glowing. For He gives such bowels to His true servants. "In these bowels," saith He, as though one should say, "I love you with no natural bowels, but with warmer ones, namely, those of Christ." "How I long after you all." I long after all, since ye are all of this nature; I am unable in words to represent to you my longing; it is therefore impossible to tell. For this cause I leave it to God, whose range is in the heart, to know this. Now had he been flattering them, he would not have called God to witness, for this cannot be done without peril.
He calls God to witness that his deep affection for them may be understood. One who feels so deeply about something is ready to call God as his witness to underscore his feeling. Through this he inspires a corresponding love in them for himself. For …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Having stated the reason for hope concerning the future, he now indicates the matters for which he makes supplication for them. First, he mentions his desire, which is shown to be very fervent; secondly, the matter of his prayer (1:9). Since the heart's desire is …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I long for you with the bowels of Jesus Christ - In Paul, not Paul lives, but Jesus Christ. Therefore he longs for them with the bowels, the tenderness, not of Paul, but of Jesus Christ.
): For God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Having them in his heart, he longed after them; either he longed to see them, longed to hear from them, or he longed for their spiritual welfare and their increase and improvement in knowledge and grace.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For God is my record,....
It becomes those who profess the gospel to strive for it, to use a holy violence in taking the kingdom of heaven. The faith of the gospel is the doctrine of faith, or the religion of the gospel. There is that in the faith of the gospel which is worth striving for.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Confirmation of Php 1:7. record--that is, witness. in the bowels of Jesus Christ--"Christ Jesus" is the order in the oldest manuscripts. My yearning love (so the Greek implies) to you is not merely from natural affection, but from devotedness to Christ Jesus.
For God is my record - I call God to witness that I have the strongest affection for you, and that I love you with that same kind of tender concern with which Christ loved the world when he gave himself for it; for I am even ready to be offered on the sacrifice and service of your faith, Php 2:17.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For God is my record - My witness; I can solemnly appeal to him. How greatly I long after you all - To see you; and how much I desire your welfare. In the bowels of Jesus Christ - The word “bowels,” in the Scriptures denotes the upper viscera - the region of the heart and lungs: see the notes at Isa 16:11. That region was regarded as the seat of affection, sympathy, and compassion, as the heart is with us. The allusion here is to the sympathy, tenderness, and love of the Redeemer; and probably the meaning is, that Paul regarded them with something of the affection which the Lord Jesus had for them. This was the tenderest and strongest expression which he could find to denote the ardor of his attachment.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Μάρτυς | martus | Witness | G3144 → | |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός, | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ὡς | hos | how | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἐπιποθῶ | epipotho | I long after | G1971 → | |
| πάντας | pantas | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| σπλάγχνοις | splagchnois | [the] affection | G4698 → | |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | of Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| Ἰησοῦ. | iesou | Jesus. | G2424 → | 908 times |
ΜάρτυςWitness
martusG3144 →
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός,God
theosG2316 →1312 times
ὡςhow
hosG5613 →500 times
ἐπιποθῶI long after
epipothoG1971 →
πάνταςall
pantasG3956 →1235 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
σπλάγχνοις[the] affection
splagchnoisG4698 →
Χριστοῦof Christ
christouG5547 →523 times
Ἰησοῦ.Jesus.
iesouG2424 →908 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 4:1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Philippians 1:27
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:8We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
it leads to
- 1 John 3:16
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- 1 John 3:16
Through
Romans 1:9God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Ephesians 6:18
Through
Colossians 2:1For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
it leads to
- Colossians 1:29
To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
- Colossians 1:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
About Philippians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.8; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.