The usual abbreviation for Philippians is Phil., and a shorter form, Php, appears in some study Bibles and reference lists. Either one goes in front of the chapter and verse numbers, so a reference to chapter 4, verse 6 is written Phil. 4:6 or Php 4:6.
Philippians is a book of the New Testament, a letter traditionally credited to the apostle Paul and written to the Christian community in Philippi, a city in ancient Macedonia in what is now northern Greece. It is short, only four chapters, so it turns up often in sermon notes, Bible study handouts and church bulletins. The main thing to watch is that it looks a lot like the abbreviation for Philemon.
Quick facts
Standard abbreviation
Phil.Shorter form
Php (no period)Period
Phil. in traditional style; many modern guides drop itVerse format
Phil. 4:6, chapter then colon then verseTestament
New Testament, after Ephesians and before ColossiansChapters
4Not to be confused with
Philemon, shortened Phlm or Philem.
Which abbreviation for Philippians to use
Different style guides prefer slightly different forms. Here is how they line up:
| Form | Where it is used | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Phil. | Traditional style, many church bulletins and school papers | Phil. 1:21 |
| Phil | Academic styles that drop periods in Bible references | Phil 1:21 |
| Php | Some study Bibles, apps and quick reference charts | Php 1:21 |
If your teacher, church office or publisher has a style sheet, follow it. If not, Phil. is the safest choice because almost every reader recognizes it. In running text, write the book name in full when there is no verse number: "We are reading Philippians this month."
How to write a Philippians verse reference
- Book, chapter, verse: Phil. 2:3. The colon separates chapter from verse.
- A range of verses: Phil. 2:5-11, with a plain hyphen between verse numbers.
- Two separate verses: Phil. 4:6, 8, with a comma.
- A whole chapter: Phil. 3, with no colon.
- Version name: some writers add the translation after the reference in parentheses, using that version's own initials.
In a church bulletin: "Sermon text: Phil. 4:4-9." Readers know to open Philippians, chapter 4, and read verses 4 through 9.
When you read a reference aloud, say the full name: "Philippians four, six" or "Philippians chapter four, verse six."
Philippians vs Philemon
These two New Testament letters sit close together and both begin with Phil, so readers mix them up all the time.
- Philippians: four chapters, written to a church. Abbreviated Phil. or Php.
- Philemon: a single chapter, written to one man about a personal matter. Abbreviated Phlm or Philem., and Phm in some short lists.
A quick check: Philemon has only one chapter, so a reference such as "Phil. 3:14" has to be Philippians. If you see a chapter number higher than 1, it cannot be Philemon. To avoid doubt in your own notes, use Php for Philippians and Phlm for Philemon.
Where Philippians sits in the Bible
Philippians is the eleventh book of the New Testament in the order used by most English Bibles. It comes after Galatians and Ephesians and before Colossians, a group of short letters often studied together. Bible teachers sometimes call Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon the prison letters, because the text says the writer was held in custody at the time.
Because it is short, Philippians is a popular choice for a one month reading plan or a small group study. That is also why its abbreviation shows up so often on handouts and memory verse cards.
Abbreviations for nearby books
| Book | Traditional | Short |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians | Gal. | Gal |
| Ephesians | Eph. | Eph |
| Philippians | Phil. | Php |
| Colossians | Col. | Col |
| Philemon | Philem. | Phlm |
These are true abbreviations, shortened spellings, not acronyms built from first letters. If the two terms blur together, acronym vs abbreviation untangles them, and the BIBLE acronym page covers a well known memory phrase built on the word Bible.
Quick tips for Bible abbreviations
- Use the same style for every book in one document; do not mix Phil. with Eph without a period.
- Do not abbreviate a book name at the start of a sentence. Write "Philippians 1:6 says" instead of "Phil. 1:6 says."
- Capitalize the first letter, always: Phil., not phil.
- In footnotes and tables, the short forms save space; in a paragraph, the full name reads better.
Find more everyday shortened words in our common abbreviations guide, including the chapter abbreviation.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for Philippians?
The standard abbreviation is Phil., written with a period in traditional style. A shorter form, Php, is used in some study Bibles and reference charts.
Is Phil short for Philippians or Philemon?
Phil. almost always means Philippians. Philemon is usually shortened to Phlm or Philem. so the two books are not confused.
How do you write Philippians 4:13 in short form?
Write Phil. 4:13 or Php 4:13. The number before the colon is the chapter and the number after it is the verse.
How many chapters are in Philippians?
Philippians has four chapters. That short length makes it a common choice for group studies and short reading plans.
Do you put a period after Phil?
Traditional style does, Phil. Several academic and modern styles leave the period off. Either is fine if you use one style throughout.