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Meaning, commentary and cross references

Philippians 3:20

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Philippians 3:20 (ESV)
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In other translations

  • KJV · King James Version

    For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

  • NIV · New International Version

    But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

  • WEB · World English Bible

    For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

What does Philippians 3:20 mean?

John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven,.... The Ethiopic version renders it, "we have our city in heaven"; and the words may be truly rendered, "our citizenship is in heaven"; that is, the city whereof we are freemen is heaven, and we behave ourselves here below, as citizens of that city above: heaven is the saints' city; here they have no continuing city, but they seek one to come, which is permanent and durable; a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Hebrews 11:10, as yet they are not in it, though fellow citizens of the saints, and of the household of God; they are pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners on earth, Leviticus 25:23; but are seeking a better country, an…

John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).

Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Philippians 3:17–21

Of such he says, They serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, Rom 16:18. (2.) They glory in their shame. They not only sinned, but boasted of it and gloried in that of which they ought to have been ashamed.

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).

John Calvin · Commentaries, on Philippians 3:18–21

20. Nostra qutem conversatio in coelis est, e quibus etiam salvatorem respectamus, Dominum Iesum Christum. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 21. Qui transformabit corpus nostrum humile, ut sit conforme corpori suo glorioso, secundum efficaciam, qua potest etiam sibi subiicere omnia. 18 For many walk The simple statement, in my opinion, is this -- Many walk who mind earthly things, meaning by this, that there are many who creep upon the ground [195] , not feeling the power of God's kingdom.

John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).

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Context: Philippians 3:17–21 (WEB)

17Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. 18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.

Read all of Philippians 3

Cross references

  • Ephesians 2:19

    So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,

  • Colossians 3:1–3

    If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:18–5:1

    while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

  • Hebrews 12:22

    But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

  • 1 Peter 1:3–4

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • 2 Timothy 4:8

    From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

  • Ephesians 2:6

    and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:10

    and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Key words

In the Baptist Catechism

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