A.T. Robertson Commentary Philippians 1:27

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;" — Philippians 1:27 (ASV)

Let your manner of life (πολιτευεσθε). Old verb from πολιτης, citizen, and that from πολις, city, to be a citizen, to manage a state's affairs, to live as a citizen. Only twice in N.T., here and Ac 23:1. Philippi as a colony possessed Roman citizenship and Paul was proud of his own possession of this right. The Authorized Version missed the figure completely by the word "conversation" which did refer to conduct and not mere talk as now, but did not preserve the figure of citizenship. Better render, "Only do ye live as citizens."

Striving (συναθλουντες). Rather, "striving together" as in an athletic contest. Late and rare word (Diodorus). "The very energy of the Christian faith to produce energetic individualities" (Rainy). "Striving in concert" (Lightfoot).

For the faith (τη πιστε). For the teaching of the gospel, objective sense of πιστις (faith).