Philippians 2:16
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Paul doesn't just want to see that his labor bore fruit; he wants to rejoice in it. The original Greek suggests he's looking forward to having a specific reason for boasting in Christ's day, a pride that comes not from personal achievement but from the evidence of transformed lives pointing back to God's work.
holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging the Philippian believers to live lives that shine brightly, like stars in the darkness, by steadfastly holding onto the gospel message. He does this so that, when Christ returns, he will have a reason to be immensely proud of them, knowing his efforts in ministry and their response to it were not in vain.
Paul urges the Philippians to 'hold fast' to something vital. What is it, and why is it called the 'word of life'?
Paul uses the powerful phrase "holding fast to the word of life." This isn't just about passively receiving information; the original Greek implies actively applying it, like holding onto something precious or applying a principle.
The Gospel as Life-Giving
The "word of life" refers to the gospel message. It's called this because:
When Christians "hold fast" to this word, they are meant to be like lights, reflecting its truth and life into a dark world. It's about embodying the message you've received.
Paul speaks of pride and joy in the 'day of Christ.' What does this future day mean for him, and what causes his potential joy?
The "day of Christ" refers to the future judgment or the return of Christ. For Paul, this isn't a day of fear, but a day of ultimate accounting and celebration.
The Goal of Ministry
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Paul's potential joy on that day is directly tied to the Philippians' faithfulness. He expresses it in terms of his ministry not being in vain:
His pride isn't in his own accomplishments, but in seeing God's work completed in and through others, proving the effectiveness of the gospel message he shared.
Understand the original words
logos zoes · Greek Noun phrase
Refers to the message of the Gospel, which is the source of spiritual life, salvation, and eternal existence for the believer. It is the living, active revelation of God that empowers and sustains the life of the church.
hemera Christou · Greek Noun phrase
Refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when He will return to judge the living and the dead and establish His kingdom. It is the climactic moment of history and the goal of the Christian life.
This passage uses the same 'running a race' metaphor to emphasize the need for disciplined effort in spiritual pursuits, directly paralleling Paul's concern about his labor being in vain.
Galatians 2:2Paul here speaks of running 'in vain' concerning his ministry to the Galatians, showing this concern for the effectiveness of his work was a recurring theme and not specific to Philippi.
1 Thessalonians 2:19Paul expresses a similar sentiment, referring to the Thessalonian believers as his 'hope, joy, and crown of boasting' in the 'day of our Lord Jesus,' connecting the believers' faithfulness to his own spiritual reward.
John 15:5This verse highlights the essential connection between believers and Christ ('apart from me you can do nothing'), underscoring that any 'fruit' or 'labor' in ministry is only possible and effective through abiding in Him, which aligns with Paul's desire not to have labored in vain.
Matthew 5:16Jesus instructs his followers to 'let their light shine before others' so that they may give glory to God, echoing the idea in Philippians 2:15-16 that believers, by holding forth the word of life, serve as lights whose conduct brings honor and confirms the effectiveness of the Gospel.
vincentPhilippians 2:16: "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
Holding forth (ἐπέχοντες)The verb means literally to hold upon or apply. Hence to fix attention upon, as Luke 14:7; Acts 3:5; 1 Timothy 4:16. In Acts 19:22, stayed: where the idea at bottom is the same - kept to. So in Sept., Job 27:8, of setting the heart on gain. Job 30:26, "fixed my mind on good." In Genesis 8:10, of Noah waiting. In classical…
barnesPhilippians 2:16: "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
Holding forth the word of life - That is, you are under obligation to hold forth the word of life. It is a duty incumbent on you as Christians to do it. The "word of life" means the gospel, called the "word of life" because it is the message that promises life; or perhaps this is a Hebraism, denoting the living, or life-giving word. The gospel stand…
Paul doesn't just want to see that his labor bore fruit; he wants to rejoice in it. The original Greek suggests he's looking forward to having a specific reason for boasting in Christ's day, a pride that comes not from personal achievement but from the evidence of transformed lives pointing back to God's work.
Paul is urging the Philippian believers to live lives that shine brightly, like stars in the darkness, by steadfastly holding onto the gospel message. He does this so that, when Christ returns, he will have a reason to be immensely proud of them, knowing his efforts in ministry and their response to it were not in vain.
Paul is urging the Philippian believers to live lives that shine brightly, like stars in the darkness, by steadfastly holding onto the gospel message. He does this so that, when Christ returns, he will have a reason to be immensely proud of them, knowing his efforts in ministry and their response to it were not in vain.
"holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." — Paul doesn't just want to see that his labor bore fruit; he wants to rejoice in it. The original Greek suggests he's looking forward to having a specific reason for boasting in Christ's day, a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
