Philippians 1:20

In my body - however it may be disposed of. How that might be, he did not yet know. For the apostles did not know all things; particularly in things pertaining to themselves, they had room to exercise faith and patience.

Some read the whole expression thus: To me, living and dying, Christ is gain; that is, "I desire no more, neither while I live nor when I die, but to win Christ and be found in him." It might be thought, if death were gain to him, he would be weary of life, and impatient for death. If I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

According to my earnest expectation and my hope,....

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. We have here an account of the life and death of blessed Paul: his life was Christ, and his death was gain. It is the undoubted character of every good Christian that to him to live is Christ.

Or, "in nothing be disappointed in my hope, but that I may fully obtain it" [ESTIUS]. So "ashamed" is used in Ro 9:33. all boldness--"all" is opposed to "in nothing," as "boldness" is the opposite to "ashamed." so now also--when "my body" is "in bonds" (Php 1:17). Christ--not Paul, "shall be magnified." life, or by death--Whatever be the issue, I cannot lose;

Earnest expectation - He had the most confident expectation that God would stand by him, so that he should be enabled, with the utmost liberty of speech, εν πασῃ παρῥησια, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God; and, should he have the liberty of doing so, he was utterly regardless what the issue might be relative to himself. Whether life or death, was to him perfectly equal, and perfectly indifferent, providing Christ were magnified - his person, nature, doctrine, etc., shown to be, what they really are, most noble, most excellent, most necessary, and most glorious.

According to my earnest expectation - The word used here occurs but in one other place in the New Testament; see it explained in the notes at Rom 8:19. The earnest desire and hope which Paul had was not, primarily, that he might be released; but it was that, in all circumstances, he might be able to honor the gospel, living or dying. To that he looked as a much more important matter than to save his life. Life with him was the secondary consideration; the main thing was, to stand up everywhere as the advocate of the gospel, to maintain its truth, and to exhibit its spirit. That in nothing I shall be ashamed - That I shall do nothing of which I shall have occasion to be ashamed. That in these heavy trials, I may not be left to deny the truth of the Christian religion; that, even before the emperor, I may maintain its principles; and that the dread of death may not lead me to do a dishonorable thing, or in any way so to shrink from an avowal of my belief, as to give me or my friends occasion of regret. But that with all boldness - By my speaking the truth, and maintaining my principles with all boldness; see the 2Co 7:4 note; Eph 6:19-20 notes. Christ shall be magnified - Shall be held up to the view of man as the true and only Saviour, whatever becomes of me. Whether it be by life - If I am permitted to live. He was not yet certain how the case would terminate with him. He had not been put on his trial, and, whether that trial would result in his acquittal or not, he could not certainly know. But he felt assured that, if he was acquitted, the effect would be to honor Christ. […]