2:16a

hold forth the word of life: There are two ways to understand this phrase:

(1) It means to hold forth the word of life, to proclaim it so that others can know God. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, King James Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It means to hold on to the word of life, to continue believing it so that the believer will not fail to trust God. (Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

Interpretation (1) fits better in this context, and it is recommended that you follow it.

the word of life: This means the message that brings/gives eternal life.

2:16b

This clause refers back generally to all the things Paul taught in 2:14–16a.

in order that I may boast: The notes on 2:16c explain what Paul would boast about. Two ways to show how this clause joins to 2:16a could be:

⌊ Do this⌋so that I can be proud.
-or-

⌊ If you do this⌋then I can boast.

boast: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as boast here means “to be proud of someone or something” or “to be very happy and confident about something or someone.” This Greek word occurs also in 1:26, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “exultation,” and in its root form in 3:3, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “glory.”

Some languages may have more than one word for boast. People may use a different word depending on whether they think boasting is a good thing or a bad thing to do. For example, in English, the word boast usually has a negative meaning, but the phrase “be proud of” is more positive. Paul obviously felt that it was good for him to boast here. Therefore, if your language has more than one word for boasting, choose the one with the positive meaning.

the day of Christ: See note on 1:6b.

2:16c

Paul told here what he would boast about. If the Philippian believers remained faithful to God, he would be able to boast that his work among them had made a difference in how they thought and acted. In some languages the translator may need to use a direct quote. For example:

I will not have to say, “I taught them in vain.”

that I did not run or labor in vain: Paul meant that he would be proud that his hard work had proved useful or profitable. It had not been a waste of effort.

run: This does not literally mean run. Paul was using the metaphor of a person running a race in order to receive a prize (see also Hebrews 12:1 and Philippians 3:12–14). He meant making great efforts to faithfully teach the good news. Paul would be proud when he knew that the ones he taught had been faithful to Christ.

labor: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as labor means “to work hard, toil.” It implies that Paul struggled and suffered and became weary while he was taking the gospel to the Philippians.

in vain: The phrase in vain means “in vain, with no good results.”

General Comment on 2:16c

Notice that Paul used two negatives in the same phrase (“not…in vain”). This is not possible in every language. Sometimes it is necessary to restate the phrase a positive way. The second meaning line in the Display for 2:16c gives one example of how to do this. Another way could be:

…that I finished the race and that my work was successful.

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