independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The salutation 1:1–2
1
Παῦλος καὶ Τιμόθεος δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦindependent — the senders — a verbless superscription; not 'apostle' but 'slaves'
πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Φιλίπποιςphrase modifier — dative of address — the recipients ('all' begins its refrain)
σὺν ἐπισκόποις καὶ διακόνοις·phrase modifier — the leaders included — σύν, alongside the saints
2
χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.independent — the greeting
The thanksgiving 1:3–8
vv. 3–6 — thanks for the partnership, confidence for its completion
3
Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μουindependent — the main verb — everything through v. 8 hangs here
ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶνphrase modifier — the occasion — whenever you come to mind
4
πάντοτε ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν μετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος,participial — manner — thanksgiving practiced as joyful intercession
5
ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν,cause — the ground of the thanks — read with Εὐχαριστῶ (v. 3), not with v. 4
6
πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο,participial — causal — the thanksgiving's undergirding confidence
ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ·content — the content of αὐτὸ τοῦτο — begun, therefore finished
vv. 7–8 — the confidence justified: you are in my heart
7
καθώς ἐστιν δίκαιον ἐμοὶ τοῦτο φρονεῖν ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν,comparative — the confidence vindicated — it is only just (on πεποιθώς)
διὰ τὸ ἔχειν με ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς,cause — διά + infinitive — με read as subject: 'I hold you', not 'you hold me'
ἔν τε τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου συγκοινωνούς μου τῆς χάριτος πάντας ὑμᾶς ὄντας.participial — ὄντας — why they are in his heart: fellow-partakers of the one grace
8
μάρτυς γάρ μου ὁ θεός,independent — the oath — verbless invocation of the witness
ὡς ἐπιποθῶ πάντας ὑμᾶς ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.content — ὡς — the content of the testimony: longing with Christ's own σπλάγχνα
The prayer — a chain of ends 1:9–11
9
καὶ τοῦτο προσεύχομαι,independent — the prayer announced — τοῦτο points forward
ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει,purpose — the petition — ἵνα gives the content of τοῦτο: love that grows discerning
10
εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τὰ διαφέροντα,purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — discernment's exercise: sorting what differs
ἵνα ἦτε εἰλικρινεῖς καὶ ἀπρόσκοποι εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ,purpose — the further end — character fit for the day
11
πεπληρωμένοι καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης τὸν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦparticipial — the state at the day — perfect participle: fruit already ripened
εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον θεοῦ.purpose — the last end of the chain — doxological, as in Eph 1
The advance of the gospel through the chains 1:12–14
12
Γινώσκειν δὲ ὑμᾶς βούλομαι, ἀδελφοί,independent — the disclosure formula — the letter's news section opens
ὅτι τὰ κατ' ἐμὲ μᾶλλον εἰς προκοπὴν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐλήλυθεν,content — the news — μᾶλλον: against expectation, προκοπή not setback
13
ὥστε τοὺς δεσμούς μου φανεροὺς ἐν Χριστῷ γενέσθαι ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πᾶσιν,purpose — result 1 — ὥστε + infinitive; ἐν Χριστῷ read with φανερούς
14
καὶ τοὺς πλείονας τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐν κυρίῳ πεποιθότας τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου περισσοτέρως τολμᾶν ἀφόβως τὸν λόγον λαλεῖν.purpose — result 2 — coordinate ὥστε-infinitive; τοῖς δεσμοῖς dative of cause with πεποιθότας
Rival preachers — envy and goodwill 1:15–17
15
τινὲς μὲν καὶ διὰ φθόνον καὶ ἔριν,independent — the μέν limb — its verb gapped forward to κηρύσσουσιν
τινὲς δὲ καὶ δι' εὐδοκίαν τὸν Χριστὸν κηρύσσουσιν·independent — the δέ limb — the shared verb: both parties do preach Christ
16
οἱ μὲν ἐξ ἀγάπης,independent — elliptical — the goodwill party (καταγγέλλουσιν gapped)
εἰδότες ὅτι εἰς ἀπολογίαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου κεῖμαι,participial — causal — they read the imprisonment rightly: κεῖμαι, appointed
17
οἱ δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας τὸν Χριστὸν καταγγέλλουσιν, οὐχ ἁγνῶς,independent — the rivals — ἐριθεία, partisan self-seeking
οἰόμενοι θλῖψιν ἐγείρειν τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου.participial — their (mistaken) calculation — οἰόμενοι, they only suppose
The rejoicing and the hope 1:18–20
18
τί γάρ;independent — the diatribe turn — the motives dismissed in two words
πλὴν ὅτι παντὶ τρόπῳ, εἴτε προφάσει εἴτε ἀληθείᾳ, Χριστὸς καταγγέλλεται,independent — πλὴν ὅτι — the one thing that matters: Christ preached
καὶ ἐν τούτῳ χαίρω.independent — the letter's keynote sounds — present joy
ἀλλὰ καὶ χαρήσομαι,independent — the joy projected forward — future tense, launching vv. 19–26
19
οἶδα γὰρcause — why the future joy is certain
ὅτι τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν δεήσεως καὶ ἐπιχορηγίας τοῦ πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,content — the content — σωτηρία through their prayer and the Spirit's supply (Job 13:16 LXX echoed)
20
κατὰ τὴν ἀποκαραδοκίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα μουphrase modifier — the norm of the knowing — ἀποκαραδοκία, the craned-neck watch
ὅτι ἐν οὐδενὶ αἰσχυνθήσομαι,content — the hope's content, negative side — no shame
ἀλλ' ἐν πάσῃ παρρησίᾳ ὡς πάντοτε καὶ νῦν μεγαλυνθήσεται Χριστὸς ἐν τῷ σώματί μου,content — the positive side — Christ magnified in Paul's body, whatever the verdict
εἴτε διὰ ζωῆς εἴτε διὰ θανάτου.phrase modifier — the alternatives held open — the hinge into v. 21
To live is Christ — the deliberation 1:21–26
vv. 21–24 — the two options weighed
21
ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸςindependent — the maxim, first limb — verbless: living simply is Christ
καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος.independent — the maxim, second limb — death as κέρδος, net gain
22
εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί,conditional — protasis — verbless, leaning on the apodosis below
τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου,independent — apodosis — verbless: more life, more harvest
καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω.independent — the deliberation confessed — the indirect question fronted before its verb
23
συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο,independent — συνέχομαι — hemmed in from both sides
τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχωνparticipial — the pull on one side — ἐπιθυμία in its rare good sense
εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι,purpose — εἰς τό + paired infinitives — the desire's object: ἀναλῦσαι, weighing anchor
πολλῷ γὰρ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον·cause — the piled comparative — 'much rather better', verbless
24
τὸ δὲ ἐπιμένειν ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ ἀναγκαιότερον δι' ὑμᾶς.independent — the counterweight — the second articular infinitive; δι' ὑμᾶς decides it
vv. 25–26 — the resolution: remaining, for your progress
25
καὶ τοῦτο πεποιθὼς οἶδαindependent — the deliberation resolved — πεποιθώς echoes v. 6
ὅτι μενῶ καὶ παραμενῶ πᾶσιν ὑμῖνcontent — the content — the wordplay μενῶ / παραμενῶ
εἰς τὴν ὑμῶν προκοπὴν καὶ χαρὰν τῆς πίστεως,purpose — the goal — their προκοπή now, matching the gospel's in v. 12
26
ἵνα τὸ καύχημα ὑμῶν περισσεύῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς παρουσίας πάλιν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.purpose — the further goal — boasting in Christ, occasioned ἐν ἐμοί
Citizens worthy of the gospel 1:27–30
27
Μόνον ἀξίως τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ Χριστοῦ πολιτεύεσθε,independent — the chapter's one imperative — πολιτεύεσθε, civic language for a Roman colony
ἵνα εἴτε ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ὑμᾶς εἴτε ἀπὼν ἀκούω τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν,purpose — the aim — the same report either way, present or absent
ὅτι στήκετε ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι,content — the hoped-for report — στήκετε, the military stand
μιᾷ ψυχῇ συναθλοῦντες τῇ πίστει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου,participial — manner — συναθλοῦντες, athletes side by side; τῇ πίστει dative of advantage
28
καὶ μὴ πτυρόμενοι ἐν μηδενὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀντικειμένων,participial — the negative manner — πτυρόμενοι, the shy of a startled horse
ἥτις ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς ἔνδειξις ἀπωλείας, ὑμῶν δὲ σωτηρίας,relative — ἥτις — antecedent the whole fearless stand, attracted to ἔνδειξις: one sign read two ways
καὶ τοῦτο ἀπὸ θεοῦ·phrase modifier — verbless aside — the whole double sign is God's doing
29
ὅτι ὑμῖν ἐχαρίσθη τὸ ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ,cause — the ground — ἐχαρίσθη: suffering as a grace-gift
οὐ μόνον τὸ εἰς αὐτὸν πιστεύεινcontent — epexegetic infinitive 1 — unpacking τὸ ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ
ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ πάσχειν,content — epexegetic infinitive 2 — the gift's harder half
30
τὸν αὐτὸν ἀγῶνα ἔχοντεςparticipial — third participle on στήκετε — their ἀγών is his
οἷον εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοὶ καὶ νῦν ἀκούετε ἐν ἐμοί.relative — οἷον — the struggle they watched at Philippi (Acts 16) and now hear of from Rome
Analysis. Philippians 1 alternates between short flush-left main clauses and two long descending staircases, and the colors show the letter's warmth doing its grammatical work. The thanksgiving (vv. 3–8) hangs everything from the single purple Εὐχαριστῶ: a teal participle of manner, the causal ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ, and the confidence participle πεποιθώς, which itself carries a blue ὅτι-content line and then a comparative καθώς justification stepping down through διὰ τὸ ἔχειν to the συγκοινωνούς clause. The prayer (vv. 9–11) is one amber chain — ἵνα, εἰς τό, ἵνα, εἰς δόξαν — each goal opening onto the next. The middle of the chapter is diatribe-like surface: the μέν/δέ antithesis of vv. 15–17 sits as paired purple lines (the μέν limb verbless, its verb gapped forward to κηρύσσουσιν), τί γάρ; turns the corner at v. 18, and the meditation of vv. 21–24 is a run of verbless maxims with one forward-leaning olive protasis (εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί) over its apodosis. The final staircase (vv. 27–30) descends seven levels from the one imperative πολιτεύεσθε — ἵνα, ὅτι, participles, the ἥτις relative on the sign, καὶ τοῦτο ἀπὸ θεοῦ, and the causal ὅτι with its paired articular infinitives (believing and suffering both gifts). Interpretive cruxes the layout takes a side on: ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ (v. 5) is read as the ground of Εὐχαριστῶ (v. 3), not of the joyful praying of v. 4; διὰ τὸ ἔχειν με ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς (v. 7) is taken as 'because I hold you in my heart' (με the subject), not the reverse; the ἵνα of v. 9 is treated as the petition giving the content of τοῦτο; ἐν Χριστῷ (v. 13) is construed with φανερούς — the bonds became known as being for Christ; and ἥτις (v. 28) takes the whole fearless stand as its antecedent, attracted into the gender of ἔνδειξις — one and the same sign read two ways, destruction for them, salvation for you.