14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
complaining (v.14) — secret debate (of a moral character) — secret discontent
disputing (v.14) — can be inward questioning (of an intellectual character) against another person or against God — rationalizing and calculating
blameless (v.15) — without fault, without grounds for a charge — outward expression of moral integrity
harmless (v.15) = should be “unmixed, pure” — discerning evil and choosing only good
children of God (v.15) — the Greek stresses “birth which manifests the likeness of the begetter” — resembling the father
without fault (v.15) = some texts have “without blemish” — inward condition
crooked (v. 15) = perverse, having departed from the truth
perverse (v.15) = having been turned out of the way, warp, pervert, twist
shine (v.15) — should be “appear,” be recognized — a statement, not a command.
lights (v.15) = light-bearers — We aren’t light, but we reflect Christ, who is
world (v.15) — present order of human affairs in opposition to God
holding fast (v.16) = holding out so as to offer
word of life (v.16) — the gospel
rejoice (v.16) — have a glorying, boast
day of Christ (v. 16) — beginning with the Rapture and continuing (see Philippians 1:6)
labored (v.16) — to exhaustion
Paul did not want his exhortation to the Philippians believers, that they reflect Christ in the world, to be without effect. He wanted them to settle their differences so he could look back on his ministry with them as something to glory in.