Philippians 1:30

Having. This should be connected with “unto you it is given ... to suffer” (v. 29). The Philippians are already sharing in the gift of suffering.

Conflict. Gr. agon, “a contest,” often used of athletic or gladiatorial contests (see 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 12:1), here of conflicts with the enemy. The Philippians were enduring persecutions similar to those that had come upon Paul.

At the time of his first visit to Philippi the apostle had been beaten and imprisoned (see Acts 16:22, 23). So deeply was the incident impressed on his mind that he even mentioned it when he wrote to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:2). His Philippian friends would doubtless also have vivid memories of the ways in which Paul had suffered in their city. And in addition, they knew much of Paul’s present suffering in Rome, and Epaphroditus would soon be telling them more. The apostle shows them that their struggle was very similar to the one he had borne, and borne successfully. What he had endured, they, in Christ’s strength, could also endure.