Philippians 1:6

“being confident of this very thing, that he who began. good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ”

“Being confident”: “Being persuaded' (Rhm). “For of this. am quite sure” (TCNT). “Of this. am fully persuaded” (Mon). “This confidence began long ago and still continues” (Lenski p. 709). “Of this very thing”: Which is mentioned in the next phrase. “That he who began. good work in you”: God had began. good work in the Philippians at their conversion.

“The word ‘confident' is. perfect tense--which suggests that due to past experiences, Paul abides in. state of confidence regarding the fruition of the Lord's work” (Jackson p. 24). This is not. confidence based on "pure emotional hype", rather “The constancy of their fellowship and labor gave to the apostle. personal certainty that the work would be continued” (Lipscomb p. 158). Neither is this. "once saved, always saved", or Paul's confidence in the "perseverance of the saints". Paul clearly taught that true Christians could become unfaithful (Galatians 5:4). Yet their past (and up to the present) record is. good indication that they were serious about serving God and would continue to do so, especially in the light of the fact that this faithful service had been given even during. time of persecution (Philippians 1:27-30). Compare with Hebrews 6:9.

“Will perfect it”: To execute, accomplish, or finish. “Until the day of Jesus Christ”: Which would be the final day or judgment day (Philippians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). “The words ‘began' and ‘perfect' are technical terms suggesting the beginning and completion of. sacrifice. He may be saying that God, through their sacrificial labors, will bring His work in Europe to ripe completion. The tremendous impact of the gospel throughout the entire Western world is evidence of the fact that Paul's confidence in the Lord's work in Europe was not in vain. And the implication seems to be that the effect of their great work will abide until the end of time!” (Jackson p. 24). “Paul envisioned that the good work, which God started and which was now being carried on by the Philippians (the furtherance of the gospel), would reach its completion at the day of Christ Jesus. That is to say, Paul was certain that the Philippians would never waiver in their generosity, and would never cease sharing their good gifts to help spread the gospel. Knowing the Philippians, he was confident that when their ‘work' was examined it would be pronounced ‘good'” (Hawthorne pp. 21-22). Contrary to some commentators who advocate that Paul believed that Jesus was coming within lifetimes of first century Christians, Paul most emphatically states, in one of his very first letters, that he does not know when Jesus is coming again (1 Thessalonians 5:1). Paul expects the Philippians to remain faithful to the end of the world or the end of their lives.