Philippians 1:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

NIV: For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

NASB: For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf,

CSB: For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

NLT: For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

KJV: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

NKJV: For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

Paul clearly teaches that both believing and suffering were parts of faithful Christian living. His readers had likely already faced some persecution, and may have wondered why they had to suffer if they were faithfully living for God. Paul makes it clear that godliness and suffering often go together. There are times when we suffer, at the hands of the world, because we are following the will of God. The world hates the gospel, and it will naturally try to stamp it out (John 16:1–4). Second Timothy 3:12 says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Paul will later note in Philippians 3:8 and 10, "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Christ is worthy of whatever suffering a believer may face. In Colossians 1:24, Paul would write, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake." First Peter 2:21 notes the role of suffering in this way: "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

Philippians 1:19–30 shows Paul reflecting on two competing desires. On one hand, a believer wants to serve God and bring others to Christ through their life. On the other hand, a Christian yearns to leave suffering behind—to be with God in eternity. Paul concludes that it's better to live until God calls him home, so he can serve his fellow men. Paul also encourages the Philippians with his conviction that he will be released to see them again. His experiences, good or bad, are all adding to the glory of Jesus Christ.

In chapter 1, Paul thanks the Philippian believers for supporting his ministry. Even when Paul was jailed, or persecuted, they had been generous and loyal. Paul encourages these Christians by explaining that all of his suffering has been for a good cause. Even better, these attempts to persecute Paul have actually caused the gospel to spread. For this, Paul is grateful. He fully expects to be released, and to see the believers of Philippi again.

Chapter 1 introduces the major themes of Paul's letter. A large proportion of the passage is given to thanking the Philippian church for their loyal support of Paul. Paul also encourages them with a reminder that, good or bad, anything a Christian experiences can be used for the glory of God. This sets the tone for the rest of the letter, where Paul will continue to stress the importance of living out the Christian life. This, he says, starts with having a proper attitude and approach.

Philippians is Paul's discussion of living the Christian life. In this letter to the church of Philippi, Paul highlights themes such as joy and glory. He also puts great emphasis on how a Christian's thinking—their attitude—affects the way they live out their faith. Paul is very thankful for the support of the Philippian church, but is also concerned about the influence of various false teachers. This letter is less theological than most of his other writings, and more practical.