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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Philippians 1:22 - 1:26
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Paul's complete trust in his Savior's gracious will:
v. 22. but if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor; yet what I shall choose I wot not.
v. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better;
v. 24. nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
v. 25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith,
v. 26. that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
Here is a wonderful example of childlike trust and faith, the entire passage being an exposition of the words: He knoweth best! The apostle's words are convincing and inspiring: But if the living in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, then also what I shall choose I know not. No matter what may happen to him, Paul has become a partaker of the true life in and with Christ. It is merely a question of degree between the two. And the lower degree, the physical, earthly life, gives opportunity for service in the kingdom of Christ. This service will tend to yield fruit of his labor to the apostle. If God gives the increase as in the past, his hard work will not be in vain, but will redound to the glory of God and the welfare of many souls, thus yielding the most splendid fruit. For that reason the apostle does not know, he is in a dilemma, he is undecided which to choose. It is an unselfish weighing of advantages, and the apostle wishes to be impartial and remain where his presence will do the most good at this time: For I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire toward departing and being with Christ; for by much more this would be useful, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Both sides of the question offered great advantages and therefore pressed heavily upon him. On the one side he had the earnest desire to depart, to leave this earthly life behind, since all difficulties would then be overcome forever, so far as he was concerned. He would be with Christ, he would awake with His likeness, Psa_17:15, and there was no doubt in his mind that this would be by far, beyond all comparison, the better for him. It was evidently the side which most appealed to him, since he emphasizes it in such an extraordinary way. But there was also the other side, that of his congregations, to be considered. For himself, for his own person, the apostle expected nothing in the world; he had found out abundantly what this world has to offer; but their interests, their welfare weighs heavily upon his mind. Desire lies on the side of death; obligation lies on the side of life. For their sake, in. their interest, the greater necessity is his staying in the flesh, his remaining in this world, to continue his work among them and in their behalf
The latter consideration, that of service, finally decided the matter: And having this confidence, I know that I shall stay and remain with you all for your progress and joy of the faith, that your glorying may exceed in Christ Jesus in me through my advent again to you. This conviction, that his life was still needful to them, decided the question in favor of living. A careful weighing of all facts has effected in him the full persuasion and conviction: he knows that he will remain. His present imprisonment will not culminate in his death. His life will be spared: a conviction based also upon prophetical knowledge. He knew that he would live, that he would continue and remain in this physical, earthly life with them all, side by side with them in Christian life and labor. Thus his remaining has a definite purpose, a specific object, namely, their progress and the joy of their faith. By his teaching and preaching they were to be furthered in the knowledge of Christ so as to make constant progress in their faith, to grow in the knowledge of their Savior. This would incidentally result in the joy of their faith. Their true rejoicing would be in Christ. The greater and surer the faith, the firmer the joy of this faith. They would thus have ample reason for praise and thanks giving, but always in Christ Jesus, from whom and in whom all good gifts and blessings are possible. But their glorifying would also be over Paul, on his account, because of his coming again to them. Theirs was not a mere outward joy of loving friends and acquaintances, but the love of pupils for their teacher who had brought them the words of eternal life, the love of converted souls for the agent of their conversion. Had they received so much spiritual food, so many spiritual blessings in the past, they might expect a further abundance after his return to them. Thus would that communion, that most intimate fellowship, again be established, followed by the most glorious blessings, for which all glory must ever be given to the great Giver of all blessings.