Philippians 2:17

17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering^[a] on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Philippians 2:17 Meaning and Commentary

Philippians 2:17

Yea, and if I be offered
Or "poured out", as the drink offerings of wine or oil were; meaning the effusion of his blood, which he compares to a libation, or drink offering, which was poured upon the sacrifice; and the laying down of his life for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel: which he knew not how soon might be, though he was in some hopes of a deliverance for the present, and therefore speaks of it in an hypothetical way: yet he expected it sooner or later; and that whenever it was, it would be as the libation upon the offering.

Upon the sacrifice and service of your faith;
he had been the means of bringing them to the faith of Christ, in which they were an offering acceptable to God, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost; see ( Romans 15:16 ) ; and should he suffer and shed his blood in the cause of Christ, it would be as a libation on them, as a sacrifice; it would be for the sake of preaching the doctrine of faith, by which they were brought to believe on Christ; and it would be for the further confirmation of their faith, and as a drink offering acceptable unto God; upon all which accounts it would be matter of joy to him.

I joy and rejoice with you all;
meaning at his sufferings and death, and the advantages thereof to Christ, to his churches, and to himself.

Philippians 2:17 In-Context

15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.

16 Hold firmly the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run in vain or labor for nothing.

17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

18 In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.

Footnotes

• [a] Ex 25:29; Nm 28:7