Philippians 1:29
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For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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. "To believe on Him," is to believe in, and trust through, Him to obtain eternal salvation. Suffering for Christ is not only not a mark of God's anger, but a gift of His grace.
Open source ↗He begins with the inscription and benediction (Phi 1:1, Phi 1:2). He gives thanks for the saints at Philippi (Phi 1:3-6). He speaks of his great affection and concern for their spiritual welfare (Phi 1:7, Phi 1:8), his prayers for them (Phi 1:9-11), his care to prevent their offence at his sufferings (Phi 1:12-20), his readiness to glorify Christ by life or death (Phi 1:21-26), and then concludes with a double exhortation to strictness and constancy (Phi 1:27-30).
Open source ↗1:29 the privilege of suffering: What the world considers dishonorable, Christians consider an honor because it is for him—it honors Christ.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.