Paul rejoices to live or die for Christ
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Paul has rejoiced to see his imprisonment advance the cause of the gospel. Now in that same spirit of rejoicing he continues, “What has happened to me will turn out for my
deliverance.” The English translations have a difficult time trying to catch the real sense of what the apostle is saying here. Dr. Beck probably comes the closest by translating, “[These things . . .] will turn out victoriously for me.” From the moment he became a Christian to the time he wrote these words as a prisoner, the apostle Paul had one great passion: to glorify Christ. As he surveyed the situation in which he now found himself, he was confident that no matter how it would finally turn out for him, whether he lived or died, Christ would be glorified. For Paul that was reason for joy.
Paul’s confidence that Christ would be glorified through him was not just an overconfident boast. He based it on the Philippians’ prayers for him and the help that the Holy Spirit would give. The apostle knew that not only the Philippian congregation but all of Christendom was praying for him so that he might give a good confession before his Roman judges. Prayer for one another is an important part of believers’ partnerships in the gospel, and Jesus assures believers that such prayers are heard and answered.
Furthermore, Paul was confident that the Holy Spirit would be with him to supply him with all that was necessary for glorifying Christ. Jesus had promised the original disciples that when they were hauled before earthly judges, the Spirit would be with them to put the right words into their mouths. Paul knew that promise of Jesus also held true for him. The Spirit was indeed using Paul and the public testimony he gave at his trial to glorify Christ.
Paul had experienced the Spirit’s help at his first hearing. He was sure the Spirit would continue to be with him, to equip him with a courageous faith and the right words so that he could fearlessly continue to confess Christ before his judges and before all of Rome. Christ would be glorified as a result of his testimony, so Paul could say that his
imprisonment and trial and everything connected with it would turn out victoriously for him—even if he would be condemned and put to death.
The first phase of Paul’s trial appears to have gone well. Every indication pointed to a favorable outcome, but he realized that the verdict could still go against him and could even result in his execution. But even that grim prospect could not diminish the apostle’s joy, for he knew that the Spirit would use either his life or his death to glorify Christ.
If Paul lived, if he was acquitted and released, he would continue his apostolic labors and do and suffer even more for Christ. If he died, he would go to the Lord with an unshaken faith and a song in his heart. He would give the ultimate testimony of martyrdom as evidence of his commitment to the cause of Christ. Either way, it would be evident to everyone what the Lord, by his grace, can accomplish in his children.