Philippians 2:17

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Philippian believers while anticipating his own execution, framing his impending death as a final act of worship. He speaks to them in the immediate aftermath of urging them to hold forth the word of life.

The words — σπένδομαι (spendomai) translates literally as "I am being poured out," depicting Paul's life as a liquid ritual offering. It rests on the dative θυσίᾳ (thusia), "sacrifice," rather than a genitive form.

The thread — The poured-out offering motif reappears in 2 Timothy 4:6, while the broader theme of spiritual sacrifice runs through Hebrews 13:15 and Romans 15:16.

Why it lands — The text states that Paul rejoices because his potential death supports the Philippians' faith, and it commands readers to share that joy instead of mourning his suffering.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἀλλ᾽all᾽but εἰeiif καὶkaieven σπένδομαιspendomaiI am being poured out ἐπὶepion τῇtēathe θυσίᾳthusiasacrifice καὶkaiand λειτουργίᾳleitourgiaon [the] service τῆςtēsof the πίστεωςpisteōsfaith ὑμῶν,humōnof you,χαίρωchairōI am glad καὶkaiand συγχαίρωsugchairōI rejoice with πᾶσινpasinall ὑμῖν·huminyou;

King James Version

Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Cross-references

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
Romans 15:16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
1 John 3:16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.