Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Philippians 2:24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Psalms 60:6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Philippians 1:21-26
We have here an account of the life and death of blessed Paul: his life was Christ, and his death was gain. Observe, 1. It is the undoubted character of every good Christian that to him to live is Christ. The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it. 2. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain: it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting gain. Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain…
Translate, "And being confident of this."
I know, &c.--by prophetical intimations of the Spirit. He did not yet know the issue, as far as human appearances were concerned (Phi 2:23). He doubtless returned from his first captivity to Philippi (Heb 13:19; Plm 1:22).
joy of faith--Greek, "joy in your faith."
Adam Clarke on Philippians 1:25
Having this confidence, I know that I shall abide - Convinced that it is necessary that I should live longer, for the spreading and defense of the Gospel, I am persuaded that I shall now be liberated. This was in fact the case, for, after having been two years in bonds at Rome, he was released.
For your furtherance - In the way of righteousness.
And joy of faith - And happiness in that way. The farther a man proceeds in the way of truth, the stronger his faith will be; and the stronger his faith, the greater his joy or happiness.
John Gill on Philippians 1:25
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide,.... In the flesh, in the body, live a little longer in the world. These words must be understood either of a certain infallible knowledge, arising from a divine revelation, and a firm persuasion and confidence founded upon that which the apostle had, of his being delivered from his bonds, and spared a little longer for further usefulness among the churches; and accordingly some have thought that he was after this set at liberty, and travelled through several countries preaching the Gospel, and after that was committed to prison and suffered death; but of this there is no sufficient proof: or rather therefore of a conjectural knowledge ar…
The Church Fathers
Truly like a father, like a servant of God, he has renounced that one of his two desires which was to be more profitable to himself alone, namely, that he should now depart and be with Christ.… He says "I shall remain," and he adds the stronger form "I shall continue." This means: "I shall stay until the completion, that is, the completion of your progress, so that you may obtain grace. Thus when you present your faith, you may receive grace from God."
In saying "I know that I shall remain and continue with you all" he means: "I know that I shall escape the present danger, so as to be once again a source of profit and encouragement to you. So you will have received what you desire." This prediction indeed came true. For he escaped the anger of Nero on the first occasion, as he shows in his letters to the blessed Timothy. … From Rome he went to Spain and took the gospel to them also, then returned and was only later beheaded.
He showed that to depart was better, persuading himself not to grieve: he showed them, that if he remained, he remained for their sake, that it proceeded not from wickedness of those who plotted against him. He subjoined also the reason, that he might secure their belief. For if this is necessary, that is, I shall by all means remain, and I will not "remain" simply, but "will remain with you." For this is the meaning of the word, "and I shall abide with," i.e. I shall see you. For what cause? "For your progress and joy in the faith." Here too he rouses them, to take heed unto themselves. If, says he, for your sakes I abide, see that ye shame not my abiding. "For your progress," I have chosen to remain, when I was about to see Christ. I have chosen to remain, because my presence advances both your faith and your joy. What then? Did he remain for the sake of the Philippians only? He stayed not for their sake only; but this he says, that he may show regard to them. And how were they to "progress" in "the faith"? That you may be more strengthened, like young fowl, who need their mother until their feathers are set. This is a proof of his great love.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Joy · Ministers should: Promote, in their people — Ministers should: Promote, in their people
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
Philippians 1:22-26
22. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
22. Quodsi vivere in carne operae pretium mihi est, etiam quid eligam ignoro. [81]
23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
23. Coarctor enim ex duobus cupiens dissolvi et esse cum Christo: multo enim hoc melius.
24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
24. Manere vero in carne, magis necessarium propter vos.
25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
25. Atque hoc confisus novi, quod manebo et perm…
The well-being of the church is more important to Paul than his own desire to be with Christ. • experience the joy of your faith: Believers are encouraged to find joy even in the midst of suffering (see 4:4; John 15:11, 20; 16:20-24; 1 Thes 5:16).
