Philippians 2:17
New International Version
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

New Living Translation
But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

English Standard Version
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

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

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

New King James Version
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

New American Standard Bible
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

NASB 1995
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

NASB 1977
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Legacy Standard Bible
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Amplified Bible
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Christian Standard Bible
But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

American Standard Version
Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

Contemporary English Version
Your faith in the Lord and your service are like a sacrifice offered to him. And my own blood may have to be poured out with the sacrifice. If this happens, I will be glad and rejoice with you.

English Revised Version
Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service [I offer to God] for your faith. Yet, I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you.

Good News Translation
Perhaps my life's blood is to be poured out like an offering on the sacrifice that your faith offers to God. If that is so, I am glad and share my joy with you all.

International Standard Version
Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
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 together with all of you.

New Heart English Bible
Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if I am even offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Weymouth New Testament
Nay, even if my life is to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I rejoice, and I congratulate you all.

World English Bible
Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but if I also am poured forth on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and am glad with you all,

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

Young's Literal Translation
but if also I am poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and joy with you all,

Smith's Literal Translation
But if also I am poured out upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice together with you all.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and congratulate with you all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Moreover, if I am to be immolated because of the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and give thanks with all of you.

New American Bible
But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.

New Revised Standard Version
But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yes, even if my blood be offered upon the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I am happy and rejoice with you all.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But even if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and triumph with all of you.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

Godbey New Testament
But if indeed I am poured out for a sacrifice and an offering for your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice along with you all;

Haweis New Testament
Yea, and should I become the victim, in the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Mace New Testament
and if my blood should serve as a libation to ratify your faith, I should rejoice and congratulate with you all thereupon;

Weymouth New Testament
Nay, even if my life is to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I rejoice, and I congratulate you all.

Worrell New Testament
But even if I am offered as a libation upon the sacrifice and ministry of your faith, I rejoice, and I rejoice with you all;

Worsley New Testament
But if I be even poured forth as a libation on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you all.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Shining as Stars
16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17But 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. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.…

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.

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 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?

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.

2 Corinthians 1:6
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.

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.

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.

1 Thessalonians 2:8
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

2 Corinthians 4:10-12
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. / For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. / So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

1 Corinthians 15:31
I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. / Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. / Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. ...

Hebrews 13:15-16
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. / And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

Romans 8:36
As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.


Treasury of Scripture

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

and if.

Philippians 2:30
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Philippians 1:20
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

offered.

Philippians 4:18
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 15:16
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

I joy.

2 Corinthians 7:4
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

1 Thessalonians 3:7-9
Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: …

Jump to Previous
Cause Common Congratulate Drink Faith Forth Glad Joy Life Ministration Offered Offering Poured Rejoice Sacrifice Sacrificial Service Share Work
Jump to Next
Cause Common Congratulate Drink Faith Forth Glad Joy Life Ministration Offered Offering Poured Rejoice Sacrifice Sacrificial Service Share Work
Philippians 2
1. Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12. to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16. and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God.
19. He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also.














But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering
The phrase "being poured out like a drink offering" is rich with Old Testament sacrificial imagery. In the Greek, the word for "poured out" is "σπένδομαι" (spendomai), which refers to the act of pouring out a libation or drink offering. In ancient Jewish and pagan rituals, a drink offering was poured out as a sacrifice to God or gods, symbolizing the complete giving of oneself. Paul uses this metaphor to describe his life and ministry, indicating his willingness to be completely expended for the sake of the Gospel. This reflects a deep commitment to Christ, echoing the sacrificial system where offerings were made to honor God, as seen in Numbers 28:7-10. Paul’s use of this imagery underscores his readiness to give his life for the spiritual benefit of the Philippians.

on the sacrifice and service of your faith
The "sacrifice and service" refers to the Philippians' faith and their active participation in the work of the Gospel. The Greek word for "sacrifice" is "θυσία" (thusia), which denotes an offering made to God. This suggests that the Philippians' faith is not passive but involves active service and dedication, akin to a priestly offering. The term "service" comes from the Greek "λειτουργία" (leitourgia), which is often used to describe public service or ministry. This indicates that their faith is expressed through acts of worship and service, contributing to the spread of the Gospel. Paul acknowledges their efforts as a spiritual offering, highlighting the communal aspect of faith where both the apostle and the believers are co-laborers in Christ’s mission.

I am glad and rejoice with all of you
Paul’s declaration of gladness and rejoicing is profound, especially considering his circumstances of imprisonment. The Greek word for "glad" is "χαίρω" (chairo), and "rejoice" is "συγχαίρω" (sugchairo), which means to rejoice together. Despite his trials, Paul finds joy in the faith and service of the Philippians. This joy is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in the shared fellowship and mutual encouragement found in Christ. Paul’s attitude serves as an example of finding joy in the spiritual progress and unity of the body of Christ. His rejoicing with the Philippians emphasizes the communal nature of Christian joy, which is shared among believers as they participate in God’s work together. This reflects the deep bond and affection Paul has for the Philippian church, encouraging them to continue in their faith with joy and perseverance.

(17) If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith.--The striking metaphor of the original is here imperfectly represented. It is, If I am being poured out--if my life-blood is poured out--over the sacrifice and religious ministration of your faith. The same word is used in 2Timothy 4:6, where our version has, "I am now ready to be offered." The allusion is to the practice of pouring out libations or drink-offerings (usually of wine) over sacrifices, both Jewish and heathen. Such libation was held to be a subsidiary or preparatory element of the sacrifice. In that light St. Paul regards his own possible martyrdom, not so much as having a purpose and value in itself, but rather as conducing to the self-sacrifice of the Philippians by faith--a sacrifice apparently contemplated as likely to be offered in life rather than by death.

The sacrifice and service of your faith.--The word here rendered "service," with its kindred words, properly means any service rendered by an individual for the community; and it retains something of this meaning in 2Corinthians 9:12, where it is applied to the collection and transmission of alms to Jerusalem (comp. Romans 15:27; and see below, Philippians 2:25; Philippians 2:30), and in Romans 13:6 and Hebrews 1:7, where "the powers that be" and the angels are respectively called "ministers of God." But the great preponderance of New Testament usage appropriates it to priestly service (see Luke 1:23; Romans 15:16; Hebrews 8:2; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:21; Hebrews 10:11), which is obviously its sense here. The simplest interpretation of the whole passage would be to consider the Philippians merely as priests, and to suppose "sacrifice" to describe the chief function, and "ministration" the general function, of their priesthood. But the word "sacrifice," though it might etymologically mean the act of sacrifice, has universally in the New Testament the sense, not of the act, but of the thing sacrificed. Accordingly, here it would seem that, following afar off the example of the great high priest, the Christian is described as at once sacrifice and priest, "offering" (see Romans 12:1) "his own body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God," and with it the "sacrifice of praise" and the "sacrifice of doing good and communicating" (Hebrews 13:15-16, and below, Philippians 4:18). This union of sacrifice and ministration, being the work "of faith," is in St. Paul's view the thing really precious; his own death the mere preparation for it, in which he rejoices "to spend and be spent" for them. . . .

Verse 17. - Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith. He again compares the advantages of life and death, as in Philippians 1:20-25. In the last verse he was speaking of the possibility of looking back from the day of Christ upon a life of prolonged labor. Here he supposes the other alternative. The form of the sentence, the particles used (λειτουργία), and the indicative verb, all imply that the apostle looked forward to a martyr's death as the probable end of his life of warfare: Yea. he if I am even offered, as seems likely, and as I expect. Offered; the word means "poured out" as a libation or drink offering. St. Paul regards his blood shed in martyrdom as a libation poured forth in willing sacrifice. See 2 Timothy 4:6, Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, "I am already being poured forth: the libation is commencing, the time of my departure is at hand." Compare also the similar words of Ignatius, 'Rom.' 2, and the words of the dying Seneca (Tacitus, 'Annals,' 15:64). Some think that the apostle, writing, as he does, to converted heathen, draws his metaphor from heathen sacrifices: in those sacrifices the libation was a much more important element than the drink offering in the Mosaic rites; and it was poured upon the sacrifice, whereas the drink offering seems to have been poured around the altar, not upon it. On the other hand, the preposition ἐπὶ is constantly used of the Jewish drink offering, and does not necessarily mean upon, but only "in addition to," or "at;" the drink offering being an accompaniment to the sacrifice. Service (λειτουργία). This important word denotes in classical Greek

(1) certain costly public offices at Athens, discharged by the richer citizens in rotation;

(2) any service or function In the Greek Scriptures it is used of priestly ministrations (Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:21; comp. also Romans 15:16). In ecclesiastical Greek it stands for the order of the Holy Communion, the ancient liturgies; it is sometimes used loosely for any set form of public prayer. The analogy of Romans 12:1, Where St. Paul exhorts Christians to present their bodies a living sacrifice, suggests that here the Philippians are regarded as priests (comp. 1 Peter 3:5), offering the sacrifice of their faith, their hearts, themselves, in the ministrations of the spiritual priesthood; St. Paul's blood being represented as the accompanying drink offering. Others, comparing Romans 15:16, where also sacrificial words are used, regard St. Paul himself as the ministering priest, and understand the metaphor of a priest slain at the altar, his blood being shed while he is offering the sacrifice of their faith. I joy, and rejoice with you all. Meyer, Bengel, and others prefer "congratulate" as the rendering of συγχαίρω "I rejoice with you."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
Ἀλλὰ (Alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

I am being poured out like a drink offering
σπένδομαι (spendomai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4689: To pour out as a libation. Apparently a primary verb; to pour out as a libation, i.e. to devote.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sacrifice
θυσίᾳ (thysia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2378: Abstr. and concr: sacrifice; a sacrifice, offering. From thuo; sacrifice.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

service
λειτουργίᾳ (leitourgia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3009: From leitourgeo; public function ('liturgy') or almsgiver).

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

faith,
πίστεως (pisteōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

I am glad
χαίρω (chairō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5463: A primary verb; to be 'cheer'ful, i.e. Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation, be well.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

rejoice with
συνχαίρω (synchairō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4796: To rejoice with, congratulate. From sun and chairo; to sympathize in gladness, congratulate.

all
πᾶσιν (pasin)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

of you.
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Letters: Philippians 2:17 Yes and if I am poured out (Philipp. Phil. Php.)
Philippians 2:16
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