Philippians 1:18-21
Context1:18 What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.
Yes, 1 and I will continue to rejoice, 1:19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance 2 through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 1:20 My confident hope 3 is that I will in no way be ashamed 4 but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. 5 1:21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
1 tn Or “But.” The conjunction ἀλλά (alla) may be emphatic or contrastive. If the former, the idea may be that Paul will continue rejoicing because of the proclamation of the gospel or because of his imminent release from prison (v. 19); if the latter, Paul is now turning his attention solely to this second reason to rejoice, viz., that he will soon be released from prison. In this latter view the clause should be translated, “But I will also rejoice since I know…”
2 tn Or “salvation.” Deliverance from prison (i.e., release) is probably what Paul has in view here, although some take this as a reference to his ultimate release from the body, i.e., dying and being with Christ (v. 23).
sn The phrase this will turn out for my deliverance may be an echo of Job 13:16 (LXX).
3 tn Grk “according to my eager expectation and hope.” The κατά (kata) phrase is taken as governing the following ὅτι (Joti) clause (“that I will not be ashamed…”); the idea could be expressed more verbally as “I confidently hope that I will not be ashamed…”
4 tn Or possibly, “be intimidated, be put to shame.”
5 tn Grk “whether by life or by death.”