SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:17
Y aun si soy derramado en libacin sobre el sacrificio y servicio de vuestra fe, me gozo y congratulo por todos vosotros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:17
Verse 17. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service] The metaphor appears to be still carried on. As it was customary for the weather-beaten mariner, when he had gained his port, to offer a sacrifice, qusia, to God, of some particular animal which he had vowed while in his state of danger, and this was considered to be a religious service, leitourgia? the apostle, pursuing the idea, states himself to be willing to become the libation, (for so much the word spendomai imports,) that was to be poured upon the sacrifice. Parkhurst observes that the apostle compares the faith of the Philippians to the sacrificial victim, and his own blood shed in martyrdom to the libation, i.e. the wine poured out on occasion of the sacrifice. Raphelius observes that Arrian uses the phrase spendein epi th qusia for pouring out the libation after the sacrifice. The apostle had guided them safely into port; their faith in the atoning death of Christ was their sacrifice; and he was willing that his blood in martyrdom should be poured out as a libation on that sacrificial offering.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Yea, and if I be offered , etc.] Or poured out, as the drink offerings of wine or oil were; meaning the effusion of his blood, which he compares to a libation, or drink offering, which was poured upon the sacrifice; and the laying down of his life for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel: which he knew not how soon might be, though he was in some hopes of a deliverance for the present, and therefore speaks of it in an hypothetical way: yet he expected it sooner or later; and that whenever it was, it would be as the libation upon the offering. Upon the sacrifice and service of your faith ; he had been the means of bringing them to the faith of Christ, in which they were an offering acceptable to God, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost; (see Romans 15:16); and should he suffer and shed his blood in the cause of Christ, it would be as a libation on them, as a sacrifice; it would be for the sake of preaching the doctrine of faith, by which they were brought to believe on Christ; and it would be for the further confirmation of their faith, and as a drink offering acceptable unto God; upon all which accounts it would be matter of joy to him. I joy and rejoice with you all ; meaning at his sufferings and death, and the advantages thereof to Christ, to his churches, and to himself.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-18 - We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to ou salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken an engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his goo work in us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not fin fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, an direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the light-house warn mariners to avoid rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. Le us try thus to shine. The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Running, denotes earnestness an vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, an close application. It is the will of God that believers should be muc in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers have great reason to rejoice with them. (Php 2:19-30)
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλ 235 ει 1487 και 2532 σπενδομαι 4689 5743 επι 1909 τη 3588 θυσια 2378 και 2532 λειτουργια 3009 της 3588 πιστεως 4102 υμων 5216 χαιρω 5463 5719 και 2532 συγχαιρω 4796 5719 πασιν 3956 υμιν 5213
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. I am offered (spendomai). Lit., I am poured out as a libation. The figure is that of a sacrifice, in which the Philippians are the priests, offering their faith to God, and Paul's life is the libation poured out at this offering. Compare 2 Cor. xii. 15; 2 Tim. iv. 6. Ignatius:
"Brethren, I am lavishly poured out in love for you" (Philadelphia, 5.). Upon the sacrifice, etc. (epi). The image is probably drawn from heathen rather than from Jewish sacrifices, since Paul was writing to converted heathen. According to Josephus, the Jewish libation was poured round and not upon the altar; but the preposition ejpi used here, was also used to describe it. At all events, ejpi may be rendered at, which would suit either. Sacrifice and service (qusia kai leitourgia). Sacrifice, as uniformly in the New Testament, the thing sacrificed. Service, see on ministration, Luke i. 23, and ministered, Acts xiii. 2. In the Old Testament, used habitually of the ministry of priests and Levites; also of Samuel's service to God; 1 Sam. ii. 18; iii. 1. Of service to men, 1 Kings i. 4, 15. In the apostolic writings this and its kindred words are used of services to both God and man. See Rom. xiii. 6; xv. 16; Luke i. 23; Rom. xv. 27; 2 Corinthians ix. 12; Philip. ii. 25.
Of your faith. Offered by you as a sacrifice to God.
Rejoice with (sugcairw). There seems to be no sufficient reason for rendering congratulate.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:17 {And if I am offered} (ei kai spendomai). Though I am poured out as a libation. Old word. In N.T. only here and #2Ti 4:6. Paul pictures his life-blood as being poured upon (uncertain whether heathen or Jewish offerings meant and not important) the sacrifice and service of the faith of the Philippians in mutual service and joy (both cairw and suncairw twice in the sentence). Joy is mutual when the service is mutual. Young missionaries offer their lives as a challenge to other Christians to match their money with their blood.
