Philippians 2:16

‘Holding forth the word of life, that I may have of which to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labour in vain.'

As lights in the world (the word for ‘lights' was used of beacons) they are to ‘hold forth the word of life'. The witness is to be both practical and verbal as they offer the word of life to the world, thus like Jesus Himself becoming the light of the world (John 8:12). Elsewhere Paul calls them ‘children of light'. ‘You were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth' (Ephesians 5:8). They were there as lights so that those who walked in darkness might have the light of life (John 8:12). And it is of great importance to Paul for it will provide him with something in which he can glory in the Day of Jesus Christ, in order to demonstrate that he had not run in vain, or laboured in vain. He wants them to be such that he can be proud of them in that Day.

‘That I did not run in vain nor labour in vain.' As so often Paul calls on the sporting arena to provide his illustration. His life is like a long distance race which has involved heavy training. He does not want it to have been in vain. But is it possible that Paul really thought that his running and his labouring might be in vain? In view of Philippians 1:6 and Philippians 2:13 the answer must be ‘no' if we are considering the church as a whole, for his confidence was not in them but in God. It is thus a theoretical possibility mentioned in order to ensure that it remained theoretical. Humanly speaking it could happen and they were being urged on to ensure that it did not (although it would happen in some individuals). Divinely speaking it was not possible, except possibly for the hangers on, those whose hearts were ‘stony ground' (Mark 4:16).

Some translate as ‘hold fast the word of life' (paralleling ‘stand fast' in Philippians 1:27; Philippians 4:1) but the aim of being a witness is apparent in what follows, whether they hold if forth or hold it fast..