Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

the Lord gives him more years to live on earth, he looks forward to additional supergrace blessings;
if the Lord brings him home, he looks forward to dying grace and the blessings he might give to
others near the end of his life.
The phrase “Christ shall be magnified in my body” is a technical phrase, not a poetic phrase to be
tossed about by self-righteous believers. Carnal and reversionistic believers do not magnify Christ in
their person. Believers who go to church once a week on Sunday and spend little time in the Word of
God do not magnify Christ in their person. This is an experiential sanctification term, and it is
reserved for those who have reached spiritual maturity. Only believers who have saturated their
souls with the Bible and have applied doctrinal rationales on a continuous basis for years can apply
this technical phrase to themselves. You must pass through every stage of spiritual growth, from
being a spiritual baby to being an infant, from childhood to adolescence, and from being a young
man to becoming wise. There is no shortcut.
REVELANT OPINIONS
The eyes of those who avail themselves but little of the light of truth, who look at God but seldom,
will be able to look at Him only from afar; whilst those whose eyes have been much accustomed to
the light, will stand in the foremost circles, and there with ravished hearts gaze on the infinite glory.
Some will have an abundant entrance, while others will be saved only as "through fire". (J.S. Exell)
The outcome of Paul's trial would bring a life or death penalty, and apparently there could be no
further appeals from its verdict. (H. Kent) Christ becomes the subject and Paul is simply the
instrument by which the greatness of Christ shines out: behind the passive voice the activity of God
is implied, with Paul being the instrument in the divine hands. (P. O’Brien) The apostles were not
omniscient in relation to their own future lot; they lived in faith and hope. (B. Caffin)
The believer who progresses beyond supergrace will pass through no-man’s land, a period of intense
pressures and rigorous testing for blessing before reaching ultra-supergrace. The most advanced
stage of spiritual growth (Matt. 5:10-14), ultra-supergrace is characterized by continual, maximum,
satanic and human opposition. But because the ultra-supergrace believer is sustained with doctrine
and totally occupied with Christ (Phil. 1:20-21), these concentrated pressures merely serve to
heighten his happiness and contentment through increased dependence on the Lord. The mantle of
opposition is offset by divine blessing. The ultra-supergrace believer not only glorifies God but
pleases Him as well. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) God sometimes accomplishes an admirable work by means
of wicked and depraved instruments. (J. Calvin)
The word “hope” denotes one of the three main Christian virtues. It refers to a settled assurance of
heart caused by a firm conviction that what is believed will come to pass. (R. Gromacki) Paul does
not say, that I shall magnify Christ; the verb is again a future passive, again the Spirit is the implied
agent, he will use Paul as the instrument to magnify Christ. This is Paul’s earnest expectation and
hope. (R. Lenski) The Apostle Paul expresses spiritual strength as he contemplates his life and
eventual death. He views living and dying in terms of his shared destiny and personal relationship
with Jesus Christ. If you have spiritual strength from a dynamic spiritual life, you, too, can answer
all questions of living and dying with this same assurance. The ten problem-solving devices will