Philippians 1:25

having this confidence The Greek is the same as in Philippians 1:6 above, where see note.

I know An unqualified assertion, made more explicit still by the next verse. We have the strongest ground, from the merely historical point of view, for saying that this expectation was verified by the event; that the Apostle was released, and enabled to revisit his missions. See 1 Timothy 1:3 for an intimation of a visit to Macedonia, later in date than the writing of this passage.

It has been asked how this "I know" is to be reconciled with the "I know that ye all shall see my face no more," of Acts 20:25. Were bothverified by the event? We believe that they were, and that only our necessary ignorance of the history in detail makes the difficulty. We believe that the guidance of the Divine Spirit, however His action worked through a perfect freedom of mental processes in St Paul, secured the veracity of his deliberate forecasts in a way quite supernatural. But apart from this ground of inference, we think that Acts 20:25 has natural evidences of its fulfilment. The narrative there, acts 1:37, 38, calls special and pathetic attention to the prediction; and it seems hardly credible that if it had been contradicted by events within a few years the passage should have remained intact; some sort of intimation that St Paul had after all met them again would have crept in. And we have seen that there is good evidence for the fulfilment of the present anticipation also. It seems reasonable, then, from the merely historical point of view, to assume that events did prevent an after-visit of St Paul's to Ephesus, though he did revisit Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20); or at least that there was no such after-visit as allowed him to meet that body of presbyters again.

and continue with you all Better, with R.V., yea, and abide with you all. The word "abide" is repeated: it will be not only continuance, but continuance with you. Quite lit., "abide byyou all"; as side by sidein Christian life and labour.

furtherance R.V., progress; more accurately. The A.V. suggests St Paul's helping themon, which is not the point of the Greek word here. See above on Philippians 1:12.

joy of faith Lit., "joy of the faith." R.V. "joy in the faith." But Romans 15:13 ("joy … in believing") seems to us to favour the A.V., and Marg. R.V. The definite article quite naturally may mean "yourfaith," your act and experience of believing. For the deep connexion between joy and faith see Rom. quoted above; Acts 16:34; 1 Peter 1:8. Both "progress" and "joy" in this verse have relation to the word "faith."