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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Philippians 1:20 - 1:20
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
20. κατὰ τὴν κτλ. “The supply of the Spirit” will evidence itself in the “magnification of Christ in his body.” That the Lord will be so “magnified” is his eager expectation. Thus, the “supply of the Spirit” will be “according to,” correspondent to, that expectation.
ἀποκαρᾱδοκία. “Longing expectation”; the outstretched head of the watcher is almost visible in the word. It is not classical, and occurs elsewhere in N. T. only Rom 8:19. Ἀποκαραδοκεῖν occurs in Polybius (cent. iii–ii. B.C.), and in Aquila’s version (circ. A.D. 150) of Psalms 37 (LXX., Psa 36:7).—The hope of bringing glory to Christ was to the Apostle the possessing and animating interest of life.
αἰσχυνθήσομαι. i.e. practically, “I shall be disappointed,” as one who has reckoned badly, to his own shame. See Psalms 25 (LXX., 24):3, πάντες οἱ ὑπομένοντές σε οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῶσι: Rom 5:5; 2Ti 1:12.
ἐν … παρρησίᾳ. Ἐν here, as very frequently in N. T., indicates accompaniment, as of a condition (so here) or of a means; representing thus the Hebrew bêth as a prepositional prefix. Such (classically) unlikely phrases as ἐν σάλπιγγι (1Th 4:16), ἐν μαχαίρᾳ (Mat 26:52), fall under this description.—Παρρησία. The word here naturally keeps its literal meaning, boldness of speech, for he is thinking of his testimony to his Lord. It sometimes glides into the meaning of more general security, confidence, openness; e.g. Joh 7:4; Heb 10:19; Heb 10:35.
ὡς πάντοτε καὶ νῦν. “As always, so now”; with an emphasis on “now.” Cp. 1Jn 2:18, καὶ νῦν ἀντίχριστοι πολλαὶ γεγόνασιν.
μεγαλυνθήσεται. i.e. practically, “shall be glorified,” shall be so manifested as to be praised. He will be enabled to make his Lord bright and great to eyes which otherwise would see little of Him.
ἐν τῷ σώματί μου. Because the body is the soul’s necessary vehicle for all action on others. Through the body alone could others “see” how the man had peace and power in his Master, living or dying; through the words of his lips, the looks of his face, the action or patience of his limbs. Cp. Rom 12:1, and 2Co 4:10.
εἴτε διὰ ζωῆς εἴτε κτλ. We gather that he wrote at a time of suspense regarding the issue of his trial. Wonderfully did his relation to Christ, ὡς πάντοτε καὶ νῦν, make the suspense itself an occasion of peace and joy. See just below.