Philippians 1:26

That your rejoicing may be more abundant. — The word translated “rejoicing” is that favourite word of St. Paul, which signifies a ground of “boasting,” or exultation. It is used both of blessing beyond strict necessity, and of service beyond legal duty; in both of which there is ground for joy and thankfulness. This is, perhaps, best seen in 1 Corinthians 9:15, where he declares that the simple preaching of the gospel is “nothing to boast of,” but that the preaching it without cost is “the boasting,” of which he says that he would “rather die than that any man should make it void.” (Comp. also the use of the same word in Philippians 2:16, and in Romans 4:2; 1 Corinthians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 9:3.) Here, therefore, St. Paul speaks of them as having in him, and in their connection with him, a cause of boasting, or rejoicing, just as in 2 Corinthians 1:14 (“We are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours”), and declares that this will become “more abundant” by his coming to them again.

In Jesus Christ for me. — The original runs, “in Christ Jesus in me.” The parallelism is instructive: all Christian rejoicing, or confidence, is primarily “in Christ Jesus,” even if it be secondarily “in” His servants. The suggestion of this idea here softens the apparent self-consciousness of the previous words. Comp., in 2 Corinthians 11:12, his declaration of reluctance and distaste for the “boasting” of his apostolic authority and work, which was forced upon him.

By my coming to you again. — See in 1 Timothy 1:3 the evidence of the fulfilment of this confident expectation.