Philippians 1:25 — Compare Translations

Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.

NIV

New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)

Dynamic equivalence
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Formal equivalence
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

22 words · Formal / word-for-word

ESV

English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)

Formal equivalence
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

22 words · Essentially literal

NLT

New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)

Dynamic equivalence
Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

27 words · Thought-for-thought clarity

MSG

The Message · 2002

Paraphrase
So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues.

22 words · Contemporary paraphrase

NASB

New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)

Formal equivalence
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

22 words · Most literal English translation

Translation Length Comparison

NIV
25 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
27 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
22 words

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 1:25?

Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 1:25 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).

Which translation of Philippians 1:25 is best?

No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.

What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?

Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.