In his letter to the Philippians Paul shows himself to be an accountant, striking a balance. He knows what really counts and what does not. For him to live is Christ and to die is gain. What was gain to him he counts as loss, because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. And he encourages the Philippian believers by saying that their gift causes their credit to increase (4:17). May the Lord help us to look at things in this way and to make our day count for eternity, some way or other.

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The ESV reads ‘deliverance’, which might suggest Paul is referring to a possible release from prison, but this option has some contextual difficulties. In the next verse he says that this ‘deliverance’ can mean either life or death and that it does not matter to him, as long as Christ is glorified. I want to suggest that this deliverance and ‘not be at all ashamed’ are the same thing, so that this ‘deliverance’ or ‘salvation’ (KJV) is more like a vindication by the Lord, whatever the actual outcome of his trial may be. Even if the Roman judge will sentence him to death he does not want to be ashamed. In other words, with the support of the Philippian believers’ prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ he will not deny his faith. This seems the more likely interpretation, also because of Paul’s mention of the help of the Spirit in this matter. It is not clear how the Spirit would help him to get out of prison (by giving him wisdom to defend himself during his interrogation? See Matth. 10:16-20), but it does make sense to expect the Spirit to help him to persevere in his faith, whatever happens to him, and to let the Lord be glorified in his body.

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