Philippians 1:20
What does Philippians 1:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Philippians 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Philippians 1:20 means
Paul’s earnest expectation and hope is to avoid shame and to exalt Christ in his body with full boldness, whether he lives or dies. His concern is not personal survival but Christ’s honor. Shame would be failing to testify or shrinking back; magnifying Christ means displaying His worth through steadfast courage. Life and death become two pathways for the same purpose: to make Jesus look great. This Christ-exalting focus interprets all outcomes. If he lives, his body serves Christ; if he dies, his death testifies to Christ’s supreme value. Either way, boldness is the means, and Christ’s glory is the end.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
KJV
King James Version · 1611According 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In the measure of my strong hope and belief that in nothing will I be put to shame, but that without fear, as at all times, so now will Christ have glory in my body, by life or by death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, and in all freedom, as always, also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be confounded: but with all confidence, as always, so now also, shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but in all boldness, as always, now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or by death.
Context
Paul explains what he means by salvation in verse 19: it is bound up with honoring Christ. Whether he is acquitted or executed, his aim is bold testimony. This sets up verse 21’s concise creed—living means Christ, dying means gain—which will lead into verses 22–26 where Paul wrestles with the personal implications of these two possibilities for himself and for the Philippians.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 7:34
and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
- 1 Peter 4:16
but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.
- Psalms 119:80
Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, That I be not put to shame. כ KAPH.
- Ephesians 6:19
and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
- Philippians 1:14
and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
- John 21:19
Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
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