Philippians 2:17

“Nay, although I should even be offered (lit. ‘poured out as a libation') upon the sacrifice and sacred service,” etc. εἰ καί leaves abundant room for the possibility, as distinct from καὶ εἰ, which barely allows the supposition. See esp [2]. Hermann on Viger, no. 307. The metaphor of this verse has given rise to much discussion. It is admitted that σπένδ. = to be poured out as a drink offering. Cf. 2 Timothy 4:6, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι. But what is the meaning of ἐπί ? Is it “upon,” “over,” or “in addition to,” “concurrently with”? Ell [3]. and others, holding that the Apostle refers to Jewish sacrificial usages in which, it is said, the drink-offering was poured, not over the sacrifice but round the altar, decide for the latter sense. Paul's life would be a sacrifice additional to that of their faith. But, in writing to the Philippians, it is far more likely that he should illustrate from heathen ritual in which the libation took so prominent a place. In that case we have an apt parallel in Hom., Il., xi., 775, σπένδων αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐπʼ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσι, where ἐπί can scarcely mean anything but “upon”. After all, the decision between the two does not affect the sense. The offering of Paul in either case, instead of being a cause of sadness and despair, is really the climax of their sacrifice, the libation which crowns it. Zahn (op. cit., p. 296 297), followed by Hpt [4]., joins ἐπί with χαίρω in the sense of “I rejoice on account of the sacrifice,” etc. This is certainly attractive, but seems too bold in view of the order of the words. τῇ θυσίᾳ κ. λειτ. τ. πίστ. Here, again, unnecessary difficulties have been raised over the question whether Paul or the Philippians are to be regarded as offering the sacrifice. There is no evidence that the Apostle wishes to strain the metaphor to the breaking point. He has been urging them to preserve their Christian faith pure and unfaltering. That will be a joy to him in the day of Christ. But now another thought crosses his mind. What if in his Christian labours he should fall a victim? The idea gives a sacrificial cast to his thinking, and he regards their faith (i.e., virtually, their Christian profession and life), on the one hand, as a θυσία, an offering presented to God (cf. Romans 12:1), and, on the other, as a λειτουργία, a sacred service, the presenting of that offering. (For the ritual use of λειτ. in Egyptian Papyri see Dsm [5]., BS [6]., pp. 137 138). “Even although I should fall a victim to my labours in the cause of Christ, I rejoice because your faith is an accomplished fact. I rejoice on my own account (χαίρω) because I have been the instrument of your salvation. I also share in the joy (συγχαίρω) which you experience in the new life you have received.” This paraphrase, perhaps, expresses the real force of the words in their close connexion with the context. We can see no ground for translating συγχαίρω (with Lft [7]. and others) as “congratulate,” a translation which surely misses the point of the language. Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26.

[2] especially.

[3] Ellicott.

[4] Haupt.

[5] Deissmann (BS. = Bibelstudien, NBS. = Neue Bibelstudien).

[6] Bibelstudien

[7] Lightfoot.