Philippians 1:20-30
(Philippians 1:21-30)
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- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
- V.XII.4, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
- Chapter XXVIII, De Spectaculis, Tertullian (c. 197)
- IV.13, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter IX, On Patience, Tertullian (c. 202)
- I.5, To His Wife, Tertullian (c. 206)
- Chapter XII, Exhortation to Chastity, Tertullian (c. 210)
- Chapter XIII (Tertullian cites this as Thessalonians), Scorpiace, Tertullian (c. 213)
- I.VII.5, II.XI.5, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
- I.17, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
- On the Mortality -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
- Commentary by St John Chrysostom:
Homily IV.
- "...ofttimes it happens that a man who possesses a little and poor city, chooses not to depart to another place, preferring his own rest."
- From the Geneva Notes.
- "We must continue even to the end, with great confidence, having nothing before our eyes except for Christ's glory alone, whether we live or die."
- Christ is
Best: Or, Saint Paul's Strait, Richard Sibbes, 1630.
- "St Paul's desire was spiritual; not after happiness, so much as holiness."
- From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
- "Death is a great loss to a carnal, worldly man, for he loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes; but to a true believer it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery. It delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to possess the chief good."
- From
Wesley's
Notes.
- "To depart - Out of bonds, flesh, the world. And to be with Christ - In a nearer and fuller union. It is better to depart; it is far better to be with Christ."
- From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "According to my earnest expectation--The Greek expresses, "expectation with uplifted head (Lu 21:28) and outstretched neck." Ro 8:19 is the only other place in the New Testament that the word occurs. TITTMANN says, in both places it implies not mere expectation, but the anxious desire of an anticipated prosperous issue in afflictive circumstances. The subject of his earnest expectation which follows, answers to "my salvation" (Php 1:19)."
- From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
- "Whatever may come, whether his bonds lead to death or life, his trust is that the Spirit will give him such boldness that Christ shall be magnified. There is no anxiety about himself, only that he may glorify Christ."
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
- Commentary,
Philippians 1:21-30, Troy Toftgruben, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
- "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2017.
- Commentary,
Philippians 1:21-30, Christian A. Eberhart, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
- "If he reminded the congregation in Philippi to be unified, did this not imply that there were divisions?"
- "Smile, Though Your Heart Is Aching," Alyce M. McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, 2014.
- "Paul can smile and say 'thank you' to God -- especially in prison -- because he has learned to set and reset his focus on the presence of Christ and his mission as Christ's servant.
- "Paul," sermon discussion from Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Blog.
- "And how long was the whole great circus to last? Paul said, why, until we all become human beings at last, until we all 'come to maturity,' as he put it; and then, since there had been only one really human being since the world began, until we all make it to where we're like him, he said - 'to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ' (Ephesians 4:13). Christs to each other, Christs to God. All of us. Finally. It was just as easy, and just as hard, as that."
- Commentary,
Philippians 1:21-30, Susan Eastman, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
- "They know they are headed for salvation, and that even their suffering is a sign of God's choice of them and their service of Christ."
- "A Privileged Faith," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
- "The second thing which strikes me here is that suffering seems to be given higher rank here than belief."
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
-
"First
Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary,"
Pentecost 15, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
- "Paul is writing to the Christians at Philippi from a situation of imprisonment. They know about this. Paul is not engaging in pious speculation when he contemplates his options. He faces real danger."
- "To Live Is Christ," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
- Commentary,
Philippians 1:21-30, Troy Toftgruben, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
- Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Bassler, Jouette M.,
"Grace: Probing the Limits," Interpretation, 2003.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Burghardt, William, S.J.,
"Gospel Joy, Christian Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see
Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Croy, N. Clayton,
"'To Die Is Gain' (Philippians 1:19-26):does Paul Contemplate Suicide?"
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Dailey, Thomas F., "To
Live or Die, Paul's Eschatological Dilemma in Philippians 1;19-26,"
Interpretation, 1990.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Droge, Arthur J., "Mori
Lucrum: Paul and Ancient Theories of
Suicide," Novum Testamentum,
1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Jaquette, James L.,
"Life and Death, ADIAPHORA,
and Paul's Rhetorical Strategies," Novum Testamentum,
1996. (Section on this text begins on page 46.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Krentz, Edgar, "Civic
Culture and the Philippians," Currents in Theology and Mission,
2008.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Meyer, Ben F., "Did
Paul's View of the Resurrection of the Dead Undergo Development?"
Theological Studies, 1986.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Reeves, Rodney R., "To
Be Or Not To Be? That Is Not the Question: Paul's Choice in Philippians
1:22," Perspectives in Religious Studies,
1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Bassler, Jouette M.,
"Grace: Probing the Limits," Interpretation, 2003.
- Sermons:
- With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
- "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," September 21, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Exodus 16:2-15 and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, Philippians 1:21-30 and A Friend for All Seasons by Julia Hubery, Matthew 20:1-16 and A Friend for all Seasons by Julia Hubery. 2011.
- Faith Formation Journeys, Philippians Children Sermons Series #1, 2011.
- Drama:
- Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Clip Art, Philippians 1:23-24, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
- Hymns and Music:
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Philippians 1:21, 27. The Cyber Hymnal.
- Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of Philippians
