Philippians 1:25

And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress ¹  and joy in the faith, ² 

Ps 60:6; Lu 22:32; Joh 21:15-17; Ac 11:23; Ac 14:22; Ac 20:25; Ro 1:11,12; Ro 5:2; Ro 15:13; Ro 15:18,29; 2Co 1:24; Eph 4:11-13; Php 2:24; 1Pe 1:8

¹ tn Grk “for your progress.”

² sn Paul’s confidence in his release from prison (I know that I will remain and continue with all of you) implies that this Roman imprisonment did not end in his death. Hence, there is the likelihood that he experienced a second Roman imprisonment later on (since the belief of the early church was that Paul died under Nero in Rome). If so, then the pastoral letters (1-2 Tim, Titus) could well fit into a life of Paul that goes beyond any descriptions in the book of Acts (which ends with Paul’s first Roman imprisonment). Some have argued that the pastorals cannot be genuine because they cannot fit into the history of Acts. But this view presupposes that Paul’s first Roman imprisonment was also his last.