Philippians 1:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here, ascribing everything to God and calling suffering for Christ a grace, a bestowal, and a gift, he teaches them not to think highly of themselves. Therefore do not be ashamed of the gift. It is far more wondrous than the gift of raising the dead and working miracles. In the latter case I am the debtor, but in the former I have Christ as debtor. Therefore, since you have the gift, you must not only avoid being ashamed, but on the contrary rejoice. The Apostle calls virtues gifts, though not in the same sense as other gifts. The latter are wholly from God, while the former are also from us. Yet because God acts more even here, the Apostle says that all is His. He does not thereby reject free will, but disposes them to humility and thanksgiving.

By calling suffering for Christ a gift, Paul gives the Philippians two instructions. First, they must not be ashamed or lose heart during sufferings. Second, they must not become proud, because all this, he says, is from God. He also calls virtue a gift. He says this not because he denies free will, but in order to teach them to think modestly about themselves. Without God we can do nothing. Perhaps this gift is greater than the gift of raising the dead, because there I am a debtor, but here I have Christ as my debtor. O wonder! He grants to me and, through this very thing, remains indebted to me.

For your afflictions do not increase because of your sins. This has been granted to you as a gift: not only to believe in Jesus Christ, but also to suffer for Him,

Although Paul in many cases magnifies the mercy of God, here he speaks of a special praise for them: God granted them to suffer for Christ. God grants this only to those who love Christ. He says that it has been granted to them to suffer for Christ. This means that God the Father gives such a gift to those who love Christ, so that sufferings for Christ may be turned into merits for them. In this they can follow the example of their teacher.

The Apostle called both believing and contending gloriously gifts of God. He does not thereby reject the freedom of the will, but teaches that the will, deprived of grace, cannot by itself prosper in good. Both are needed: our zeal and God’s help. For those who have no zeal, the grace of the Spirit is not enough. Likewise, zeal deprived of grace cannot gather the riches of virtue.

Great is this gift, if through faith in Him alone we have acquired such mercy. Yet we must believe in such a way as also to suffer for Him.

Great advances are usually accomplished with great labors, and the greatest with the greatest labors of all. Therefore do not think that, by doing something insignificant and useless, you will attain the greatest rewards. Do not hope, by choosing a safe and soft life, to distinguish yourself in the first ranks of the army. The victor is proclaimed to be the one who was in dangers and raised trophies of victory. If someone even ends his life in battle, his memory will remain unending, and he will receive rewards beyond human measure. The courageous commander of Christ's army also regards sufferings for Christ as crowns, saying: "To you it has been granted by God not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." This means that. Even without mentioning the good things to come, the sufferings themselves by which we enter communion with the Master are the greatest rewards and the most beautiful crowns.

The Apostle declares that not only the beginning of our conversion, but also endurance in our faith and sufferings, are given to us by the Lord.

"For to you it has been granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me" (Phil 1:29-30). This means that the calling to Christianity, both for the Philippians and for Christians of all times and places, consists not only in holding the Christian faith and teaching. Like the Apostle Paul, they must also, through patience and sufferings for Him, serve the spread and strengthening of that faith in the world, if this is pleasing to God. For this, every Christian has the sufficient grace of God.

The Apostle inspires the Philippians to firmness in standing in the faith by the saving power of sufferings, by the superiority of faith with suffering over simple faith, and by his own example. According to Chrysostom, "He spoke well: 'not wavering,' that is, not being afraid. For the actions of enemies are such that they only frighten. He says, 'in nothing,' whatever may happen, whether dangers or plots. For such is the company of courageous people. Enemies can do nothing to them." Concerning sufferings, he seems to impress this on them: "Do not be ashamed of this gift. It is far more wondrous than the gift of raising the dead and working miracles.

Explaining why complete unanimity is required of the Philippians, the Apostle says that by the grace of God they, like the Apostle, are appointed to glorify Christ’s name. They do this not only by accepting the Gospel with faith, but also by their sufferings. Like Paul, they must endure persecutions and afflictions, of which they themselves were eyewitnesses (see Acts 16:19 and following), and about which they now hear as this epistle of the Apostle is read to them.

The Apostle points out a second source of inspiration for standing courageously against enemies: sufferings from them for the faith are a special gift of God. Faith is a gift, but faith together with suffering for it is a higher gift. Our salvation was accomplished by the death on the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. This salvation is appropriated by each person through suffering together with Christ. In all true Christians this suffering together with Christ is also arranged voluntarily, when they crucify their flesh with its passions and desires. But when someone, by a special divine sign, is brought into this co-suffering, it is higher than the voluntary kind. It is higher both because it occurs against one's will and because it is more keenly felt.