SUFFICIENT COURAGE
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Paul was well aware of the dangers he faced and the likely end that he was approaching. These were not new situations, but his circumstances in Rome would have constantly reminded him that his life was in the hands of his Roman captors—except that he knew that his life was always and ultimately in the hands of God. He lived with both realities, and he was prepared to die in light of both realities. What he sought through his fellow believers’ prayers and God’s provision of “the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19) was to have “sufficient courage” to represent God well whatever his fate might be—whether he lived and continued preaching, or he died as a martyr for the faith. But if Christ had already been exalted “to the highest place” (Philippians 2:9), how much courage would be “sufficient” for Paul to add to such complete exaltation? Clearly, this was about Paul wanting to live up to his identity as a follower of Christ—living a life of what other translations have termed “complete boldness” or “continuing to be bold” so that Christ would be honored in places where He was not yet acknowledged.
It was the Holy Spirit as the source of Paul’s courage that would add to Christ’s glory. If Paul could die for his faith as courageously as he had lived for it, it would be another witness to Christ’s power over death. These were not new dangers, and this was not a new task, but he sought the Philippian believers’ prayers for him to continue in faithfulness as he approached what he expected would be the end of his life, which would require further courage.
