Philippians 1:19-26

Outline of 1:19-26

C.

Paul's confidence in life or death; Philippians 1:19-26

1.

Confidence that his experiences would turn out to salvation; Philippians 1:19

a.

Through your supplication.

b.

Through the supply of the Spirit.

2.

Confidence that he would always magnify Christ; Philippians 1:20-26

a.

He would not be put to shame; Philippians 1:20.

b.

He would magnify Christ either by life or death; Philippians 1:21-23.

c.

He felt sure he would remain with them; Philippians 1:24-26.

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19. For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Translation and Paraphrase

10. For I know that this (that is, my experiences) will turn out for me unto salvation (by salvation I mean my preservation and deliverance, both now and hereafter), through your prayer (of supplication) and (through the assistance provided in the) supply of (benefits given by) the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Notes

1.

Salvation means (1) safety, that is, deliverance from difficulties; (2) general health and well-being; and (3) eternal life in heaven.

Paul's reference to salvation here seems to refer more to the first two meanings than to the third. He expected to be acquitted of the accusations against him and to be released.

2.

Paul had two helps that gave him confidence that he would get salvation.

(1)

The prayers of his brethren, the Philippians in particular. Prayer is powerful.

(2)

The supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (This is only a name for the Holy Spirit. Compare Romans 8:9.) This can mean either that the Holy Spirit himself is supplied to us to strengthen us (which is true), or that a supply of strength and intensity of faith is given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Whether the supply referred to is the Spirit himself, or to the various forms of assistance supplied by the Spirit, the net result is the same. Either meaning is satisfactory. We prefer the latter interpretation, but there is negligible difference.

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20. according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death. 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Translation and Paraphrase

20. (My confidence in salvation is) in accord with my constant expectation and hope, (and my expectation is this,) that (1) I shall in nothing (ever) be put to shame (never silenced, defeated, nor shown to be in error!), but (2) that (on the contrary) while (I continue to live) in all boldness as (I) always (have, that) Christ shall exalted (and magnified) in my body, whether through life or through death.
21. For to me to live is Christ (His life lives in me), and to die is gain.

Notes

1.

Paul's confidence that he was going to be released from imprisonment in Rome, and come back to see the Philippians as a free and effective preacher, was no new feeling for him. He always had optimistic expectations about the course of his life. His present optimism was in full accord with his normal earnest expectations and hope.

2.

The true man of God is never discouraged and pessimistic, gloomy and inwardly defeated. He knows that the Lord will win the victory, and he knows that he is on the Lord's side.

3.

The root meaning of the word expectation (Gr. apokaradokia) means an intense watching, with the head turned from all other objects. May God help us to have such a magnificent confidence in His direction in our lives that nothing else will look important to us.

4.

Paul's constant confidence led him to have two particular hopes, one negative and one positive:

(1)

In nothing would he be put to shame, never being silenced by adversaries, nor shown to be in error.

(2)

Christ would be magnified, that is, honored and exalted and made to appear great by the things which Paul did in his body. See Acts 19:17: The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

5.

Paul's hope that Christ would be magnified in his body was Paul's confidence whether he lived or died, because to Paul to live was Christ, and to die was gain.

6.

Wm. Barclay, in analyzing the ways that for Paul it was true that to live is Christ, says that Christ is the beginning, the continuing, the end (or goal), the inspiration, the task, the strength, and the reward of life. Each of these ideas deserves a lot of meditation.

7.

For the Christian dying is gain, because we depart and be with Christ. Compare Philippians 1:23. The Christian is only two or three heartbeats from being with Christ forever, The sinner is only two or three heartbeats from being separated from the Savior forever in torments.

8.

Philippians 1:21; Philippians 1:23 are two of numerous passages throughout the Bible that rather clearly teach that the spirit of man continues a conscious existence after death, even before the general resurrection of the bodies of all men.

If there is no conscious existence after death, it was foolish for Paul to desire to depart (die) and be with Christ. If we know nothing after death, and will not see Jesus until the resurrection, Paul could not have hastened his being with the Lord by dying. The doctrines of soul-sleeping and annihilation just do not fit Paul's teachings.

9.

Other passages which give evidence of conscious existence after death include:

2 Corinthians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 5:8-9. To be absent from the body means to be at home with the Lord.

Luke 16:19 ff. The story of the rich man and Lazarus. There is no convincing reason for not taking this story rather literally.

Acts 7:59. Stephen, as he was dying, called, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Stephen expected to go where Jesus was, and so do I.

Matthew 17:3. Elijah and Moses were alive and recognizable thousands of years after their presence on earth.

Genesis 25:8; Numbers 21:24; Deuteronomy 32:50. Many Old Testament saints were gathered to their fathers, when they were not buried in the tombs of their fathers, or anywhere near them. When, then, did this gathering take place? Unless the expression is purely figurative, it seems to be best to understand that they were gathered together in that realm beyond the grave.

Ezekiel 32:31. Pharaoh in Sheol (Hades) sees the multitude of his host and speaks with them.

2 Samuel 12:23. David expected to go unto his dead son.

10.

Such passages as Psalms 115:17 and Ecclesiastes 9:5 are set forth by some as presumably teaching that the dead know nothing and are unconscious. Since the Scriptures never contradict themselves, and such a meaning contradicts other plainer passages, this cannot be the true teaching of the passages referred to.

It is true that the bodies of the dead know nothing, and differ in no way from the dead bodies of beasts. This is probably the point of these verses. Also these verses may simply reflect the fact that in the Old Testament dispensation that God had not yet fully revealed the facts about life and immortality as He has now revealed them through Christ. For it was Christ who brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10. Note that He did not bring it into existence; he brought it to light.

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22. But if to live in the flesh,if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall chose I know not.

Translation and Paraphrase

22. But if (it happens to be my lot) to continue living in (the) flesh, (well) this (will produce) to me fruit of labor; and (therefore) I cannot make known what I would (really) choose (as my lot, since I really do not know myself!).

Notes

1.

Paul found himself in a quandary, wanting both to die and to live. So he weighed the alternatives. If he lived, that would bring to him further fruit of his labor on earth. This to him was as appealing as the idea of dying and going to be with the Lord. So he says, What I should choose I know not.

2.

Paul had no uncertainty about what would happen if he lived, as the inclusion of the italicized if in the American Standard Version might suggest. He took it for granted that fruitfulness would follow if he continued living on earth. We need not ever be in doubt that we shall bear fruit, if we speak forth our gospel clearly and regularly. See Galatians 6:9 and Isaiah 55:10-11.

3.

Every saint must come to this condition of mind-willingness to die, and yet desire to stay on earth and work.

4.

Perhaps we may wonder how Paul could assume that by wishing it he could influence the course of events, and determine whether he lived or died. In truth he probably couldn-'t; none of us can. And yet a death wish very frequently leads people to give up their interests in life, and to give up trying, and to pine themselves to death. Paul did not yield to this. He retained his zest for life, and his confidence that he could do something worthwhile, even when he was old and in prison. He did not join the duet of Jonah and Elijah, We wish we could die. (Jonah 4:3; Jonah 4:8; 1 Kings 19:4).

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23. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: 24. yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake,

Translation and Paraphrase

23. I am hard pressed (from the two sides), having the desire to depart (that is, to die) and be with Christ, for this is very much better (Gr. more better by much),
24. but to continue (or remain) in the flesh (is) more necessary for you (plural).

Notes

1.

Paul was in a strait. A strait is a narrow place, as a neck of water between two land areas (e.g., the straits of Gibraltar and the straits of Magellan), He was close to both sides, to living and to dying. He found both directions appealing. He was pressed, squeezed in by both alternatives.

2.

The expression to depart means to break up, as the breaking up of a camp; also to loose, as of loosing the mooring ropes of a ship so it can sail, Thus in Paul's use it meant to break up the camp in this life, and loose life's moorings so as to move to another world.

3.

See notes on Philippians 1:21 about our departing to be with Christ. The doctrine of immortality is very precious to God's saints.

4.

To Paul to depart and be with Christ was better by much than to remain on earth.

But just at that time he was needed on earth, and was emotionally and intellectually drawn toward living and helping the Philippians, since that was more needful for them than his death.
The courage of the Philippians might have faltered if Paul had just then died in bonds. The mystery of lawlessness was already working, and Paul was needed to help them resist this apostasy.

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25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith; 26. that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Translation and Paraphrase

25. And being persuaded of this (the necessity of living to help you) I know that I shall remain and continue near to you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26. So that your exultation (and joy) may abound (and be overflowing) in Christ Jesus by means of me, through my coming again to you.

Notes

1.

Paul's conviction that he was needed assured him that he would continue living in the flesh. What was best for man was the thing that God would cause to happen.

2.

Paul would not only just abide (Gr. meno), but abide with (Gr. parameno) them.

3.

Paul himself experienced progress in the gospel (Philippians 1:12), and joy (Philippians 1:3). His presence with the Philippians would cause them to share such progress and joy.

4.

Progress and joy are necessary things in the lives of Christians. Without them our motivation and energy lags, and we soon lag all over.

5.

Glorying means our cause or ground for glorying, rather than the act of glorying or boasting.

6.

Evidently the Philippians were praying for Paul's release. Compare Philippians 1:19. When this release came to pass, they would glory in Christ because their prayers had been granted.