The prospect that Paul might receive a death sentence soon arose again in his thinking. He described his present life as the pouring out of a drink offering in Israel"s worship (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6; Numbers 15:1-10; Numbers 28:4-7). After the priest offered a lamb, a ram, or a bull as a burnt offering, he poured wine beside the altar. This was the last act in the sacrificial ceremony, all of which symbolized the dedication of the believer to God in worship. The pouring out of the wine pictured the gradual ebbing away of Paul"s life that had been a living sacrifice to God since his conversion. [source][source][source]
The phrase "sacrifice and service of (or coming from, NIV) your faith" is a figure of speech (hendiadys) meaning the sacrificial service arising from your faith. [source][source][source]
Even if Paul would die, he could rejoice that he had made a contribution to the Philippians" sacrificial service to God. He viewed himself and them as priests offering sacrifices to God, namely, themselves and their works (cf. Hebrews 13:15). [source][source][source]
". . . his apostolic sufferings and the Philippians" sacrificial gifts to him because he is an apostle combine to form a perfectly complete sacrifice to God." [1][source]
Context Summary
Philippians 2:12-18 - Lights In The World
The sublime visions of the Apostle of the glory of the divine Redeemer are always linked with practical exhortation. Do nothing through pride and vainglory. Look on the things of others. Count others better than yourself. Work out what God is working in. Your heart is God's workshop! His Spirit is there, striving against selfishness, pride, impurity, and vanity, but you must consolidate each holy impulse in speech and act. Be careful of every such movement in your soul; it will become clearer and more definite as you yield to it, and it will be corroborated by outward circumstances, which God will open before you. But exercise fear and trembling, just as the young pupil of a great master will be nervously careful not to lose one thought or suggestion which he may impart.
In this manner you will become as a lighthouse on a rockbound coast, shining with blameless and beneficent beauty among your companions. Light is silent, but it reveals. Light is gentle, but it is mighty in its effects. Light departs when the sun is down, but it may be maintained by various luminaries until dawn again breaks. As we shine, we shall be consumed, but the sacrifice will not be in vain. [source]
Chapter Summary: Philippians 2
1Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility; 12to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world, 16and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God 19He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also
Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:17
And if I am offered [ει και σπενδομαι] Though I am poured out as a libation. Old word. In N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 4:6. Paul pictures his life-blood as being poured upon (uncertain whether heathen or Jewish offerings meant and not important) the sacrifice and service of the faith of the Philippians in mutual service and joy (both χαιρω chairō and συνχαιρω sunchairō twice in the sentence). Joy is mutual when the service is mutual. Young missionaries offer their lives as a challenge to other Christians to match their money with their blood. [source]
I am offered [σπένδομαι] Lit., I am poured out as a libation. The figure is that of a sacrifice, in which the Philippians are the priests, offering their faith to God, and Paul's life is the libation poured out at this offering. Compare 2 Corinthians 12:15; 2 Timothy 4:6. Ignatius: “Brethren, I am lavishly poured out in love for you” (Philadelphia, 5). [source]
Upon the sacrifice, etc. [ἐπί] The image is probably drawn from heathen rather than from Jewish sacrifices, since Paul was writing to converted heathen. According to Josephus, the Jewish libation was poured round and not upon the altar; but the preposition ἐπί used here, was also used to describe it. At all events, ἐπί may be rendered at, which would suit either. [source]
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:17
Though I am poured out as a libation. Old word. In N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 4:6. Paul pictures his life-blood as being poured upon (uncertain whether heathen or Jewish offerings meant and not important) the sacrifice and service of the faith of the Philippians in mutual service and joy (both χαιρω chairō and συνχαιρω sunchairō twice in the sentence). Joy is mutual when the service is mutual. Young missionaries offer their lives as a challenge to other Christians to match their money with their blood. [source]
Lit., I am poured out as a libation. The figure is that of a sacrifice, in which the Philippians are the priests, offering their faith to God, and Paul's life is the libation poured out at this offering. Compare 2 Corinthians 12:15; 2 Timothy 4:6. Ignatius: “Brethren, I am lavishly poured out in love for you” (Philadelphia, 5). [source]
The image is probably drawn from heathen rather than from Jewish sacrifices, since Paul was writing to converted heathen. According to Josephus, the Jewish libation was poured round and not upon the altar; but the preposition ἐπί used here, was also used to describe it. At all events, ἐπί may be rendered at, which would suit either. [source]
Sacrifice, as uniformly in the New Testament, the thing sacrificed. Service, see on ministration, Luke 1:23, and see on ministered, Acts 13:2. In the Old Testament, used habitually of the ministry of priests and Levites; also of Samuel's service to God; 1 Samuel 2:18; 1 Samuel 3:1. Of service to men, 1 Kings 1:4, 1 Kings 1:15. In the apostolic writings this and its kindred words are used of services to both God and man. See Romans 13:6; Romans 15:16; Luke 1:23; Romans 15:27; 2 Corinthians 9:12; Phlippians 2:25. [source]
Offered by you as a sacrifice to God. [source]
There seems to be no sufficient reason for rendering congratulate. [source]