Philippians 1:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

NIV: for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

NASB: for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

CSB: because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

NLT: For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

KJV: For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

NKJV: For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Paul is confident of his future release from Rome. Prisoners in Rome could be held only for so long, without formal charges, before being released. It's possible that Paul's antagonists had nothing solid against him and were content to interfere by having him placed under house arrest. We are not told what specific legal or social reasons Paul might have had for this conclusion. However, we are given reasons for his confidence. These include the prayers of the Philippian believers and the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Prayer and God were the power behind his expectation of future release.

Was Paul released? It is clear he was, though it is not directly mentioned in the New Testament. The book of Acts seems to have been completed shortly after his release since it mentions "two full years" as the duration of his house arrest (Acts 28:30–31). This is approximately the maximum time a Roman could be jailed without being formally charged by his accusers. The Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) were all written after his release, sometime between AD 62 and 67.

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.

Accessed 5/20/2024 11:22:58 AM