NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 1:6 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
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: <sup>perform: or, finish</sup>
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
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.
26 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
29 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
38 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
[For I am] confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
26 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
26 words
NLT
29 words
MSG
38 words
NASB
26 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 1:6?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 1:6 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 1:6 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.