Philippians 1:29
in Philippians 1For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:
KJV
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
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This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
16 notes on this verseFor the things which are seen are temporal"-he is speaking of troubles; "but the things which are not seen are eternal"-he is promising rewards. But writing in bonds to the Thessalonians, he certainly affirmed that they were blessed, since to them it had been given not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for His sake.
This site's exposition
without being frightened in any way
on Philippians 1:28-30
Standing without fear before those who oppose you is itself a clear sign, endeixis, courtroom evidence, of their destruction but of your salvation. That sign is from God.
This site's exposition
not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him
Suffering for Christ is counted here among the things God gives. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the verb means granted as a gift of grace. Matthew Henry reads faith and suffering as two gifts given on behalf of Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
But the apostle, writing to us with reference to the endurance of afflictions, says, "And this is of God, that it is given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Although he extols the grace of Christ on many occasions, he offers a special kind of honor to the Philippians in this passage. He says: "God has allowed you to suffer for Christ." He does not propose this distinction to any but true lovers of …
It was therefore within his purpose that he gave to us the gift of trusting in him. This was an incomparable gift. It is only by faith in him that we are blessed with so great a reward. We are to believe in such a …
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer in his behalf." Again does he teach them moderation of spirit by referring all to God, and saying that sufferings in behalf of Christ are of grace, the gift of grace, a free gift. Be not then ashamed of the gift of grace, for it is more wonderful than the power of raising the dead, or working miracles; for there I am a debtor, but here I have Christ for my debtor. Wherefore ought we not only not to be ashamed, but even to rejoice, in that we have this gift. Virtues he calls gifts, yet not in like sort as other things, for those are entirely of God, but in these we have a share. But since even here the greatest part is of God, he ascribes it entirely to Him, not to overturn our free will, but to make us humble and rightly disposed.
Not only the beginning of our conversion but also the continuance of it through the endurance of suffering for it are gifts given to us by the Lord.
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
The second reason is that you should believe in him: "For by grace you have been saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8), which is the great and first gift; but also suffer for his sake, which is a greater gift, namely, that you should act for …
Calling suffering for Christ a gift, Paul gives the Philippians two following instructions: first, that they should not be ashamed and should not lose heart during sufferings; second, that they should not be proud, because all this, he says, is from God. He also calls …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Here are two precious gifts given, and both on the behalf of Christ:-- 1. Faith is God's gift on the behalf of Christ, who purchased for us not only the blessedness which is the object of faith, but the grace of faith itself: the ability or disposition to believe is from God.
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,.... For the sake of his Gospel, for the good of his interest, and the glory of his name.
They are not only the servants of Christ, but the servants of the church for his sake. Ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake, 2 Cor. iv. Observe, The Christians here are called saints; set apart for God, or sanctified by his Spirit, either by visible profession or real holiness.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For--rather, a proof that this is an evident token from God of your salvation, "Because," &c. it is given--Greek, "it has been granted as a favor," or "gift of grace." Faith is the gift of God (Eph 2:8), not wrought in the soul by the will of man, but by the Holy Ghost (Joh 1:12, 13). believe on him--"To believe Him," would merely mean to believe He speaks the truth.
Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ - Ὑμιν εχαρισθη· To you it is graciously given; it is no small privilege that God has so far honored you as to permit you to suffer on Christ’s account. It is only his most faithful servants that he thus honors. Be not therefore terrified by your enemies; they can do nothing to you which God will not turn to your eternal advantage. We learn from this that it is as great a privilege to suffer for Christ as to believe on him; and the former in certain cases (as far as the latter in all cases) becomes the means of salvation to them who are thus exercised.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For unto you - Unto you as Christians. This favor is granted unto you in your present circumstances. It is given - God concedes to you this privilege or advantage. In the behalf of Christ - In the cause of Christ, or with a view to honor Christ. Or, these things are brought on you in consequence of your being Christians. Not only to believe on him - It is represented here as a privilege to be permitted to believe on Christ.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτι | hoti | For | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐχαρίσθη | echaristhe | it has been granted | G5483 → | |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | concerning | G5228 → | 155 times |
| Χριστοῦ, | christou | Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| μόνον | monon | only | G3440 → | |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πιστεύειν, | pisteuein | to believe, | G4100 → | |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | concerning | G5228 → | 155 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πάσχειν | paschein | to suffer | G3958 → |
ὅτιFor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἐχαρίσθηit has been granted
echaristheG5483 →
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ὑπὲρconcerning
huperG5228 →155 times
Χριστοῦ,Christ,
christouG5547 →523 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
μόνονonly
mononG3440 →
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
αὐτὸνHim
autonG846 →5565 times
πιστεύειν,to believe,
pisteueinG4100 →
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ὑπὲρconcerning
huperG5228 →155 times
αὐτοῦHim
autouG846 →5565 times
πάσχεινto suffer
pascheinG3958 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
it leads to
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 1:6–8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Matthew 5:10–12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 6:22–23
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
- James 1:12
Through
Romans 5:3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
it leads to
- James 1:2–3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- James 1:2–3
Through
1 Peter 4:13But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
it leads to
- Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 8:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Philippians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.30; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.29; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Cassian, CONFERENCES 3.15.2; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 4; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Scorpiace; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.