Philippians 1:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

NIV: Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

NASB: Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

CSB: Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

NLT: Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

KJV: And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

NKJV: And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

Paul doesn't merely hope that he will remain alive to continue ministering. He is "convinced of this." He gives two specific reasons why he feels this way, as they apply to the Philippian believers. First, though the Philippian church was growing more and more mature, Paul could continue to serve them. His purpose is to assist the Philippians to great maturity. While it is not noted in the New Testament whether Paul ever returned to Philippi again, Paul appears confident he would return (Philippians 1:26).

Second, Paul would remain for their "joy in the faith." Faith involves both growth and joy. First Peter 1:8–9 says, "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." The continued presence of a man like Paul would certainly encourage the people he had been ministering to.

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 4/29/2024 4:21:45 PM