Philippians 1:18-26
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 What difference does it make, as long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed?(A) And in that I rejoice.[a]
Indeed I shall continue to rejoice, 19 [b]for I know that this will result in deliverance for me[c] through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.(B) 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.(C) 21 For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.(D) 22 If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose.(E) 23 I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, [for] that is far better.(F) 24 Yet that I remain [in] the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. 25 And this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again.
III. Instructions for the Community
Steadfastness in Faith.[d]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1:18 Rejoice: a major theme in the letter; see Introduction.
- 1:19–25 Paul earnestly debates his prospects of martyrdom or continued missionary labor. While he may long to depart this life and thus be with Christ (Phil 1:23), his overall and final expectation is that he will be delivered from this imprisonment and continue in the service of the Philippians and of others (Phil 1:19, 25; Phil 2:24). In either case, Christ is central (Phil 1:20–21); if to live means Christ for Paul, death means to be united with Christ in a deeper sense.
- 1:19 Result in deliverance for me: an echo of Jb 13:16, hoping that God will turn suffering to ultimate good and deliverance from evil.
- 1:27–30 Ethical admonition begins at this early point in the letter, emphasizing steadfastness and congregational unity in the face of possible suffering. The opponents (Phil 1:28) are those in Philippi, probably pagans, who oppose the gospel cause. This is proof . .. (Phil 1:28) may refer to the whole outlook and conduct of the Philippians, turning out for their salvation but to the judgment of the opponents (cf. 2 Cor 2:15–16), or possibly the sentence refers to the opinion of the opponents, who hold that the obstinacy of the Christians points to the destruction of such people as defy Roman authority (though in reality, Paul holds, such faithfulness leads to salvation).
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