1:20a

I eagerly expect and hope: There are two ways to interpret the Greek here:

(1) expect and hope are two related but separate concepts. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) expect and hope are parts of the same concept, where one part modifies the other. You could translate this as “I eagerly and hopefully expect…” (NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

Interpretation (1) has stronger support in commentaries and English versions and is recommended.

eagerly expect: The Greek term that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eagerly expect can also mean “eagerly desire.” However, most scholars agree that the meaning here is “eagerly expect.”

hope: The word hope here refers not to what Paul wished for but to what he confidently expected.

I will in no way be ashamed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translated as ashamed can mean one of two things:

(1) “put to shame, disgraced.” Paul hoped he would not do anything that would bring him into disgrace. He wanted to be approved by God. Specifically, he trusted that he would continue to please God by glorifying Christ. (New American Standard Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) “feel ashamed.” Paul hoped that he would never be ashamed of Christ and the gospel. He expected that he would continue to be bold in proclaiming the gospel of Christ.

The Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version and NET Bible are ambiguous here. But it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul did not want to disappoint God. He trusted God would give him courage to keep on doing what was right (see the rest of 1:20). In this way God would protect him from disgrace.

1:20b

will have complete boldness: This is literally “in all boldness.” It may be necessary for you to translate boldness or “courage” with a verb or adjective. For example:

will be brave enough to…

boldness: Most commentators agree that the boldness Paul was concerned about was the boldness to speak about Christ during his trial. You could translate this as:

I will speak boldly/bravely.

1:20c

now as always: This means that Paul hoped to go on speaking as boldly for Christ as he had in the past.

Christ will be exalted: The Greek does not say who would exalt Christ, and there are two ways to understand what Paul was saying here:

(1) God, Christ himself, or the Spirit would bring honor to Christ through Paul. People would praise and honor Christ when they saw how Paul served God while he was alive or by the way he died because he believed in Christ. In this way God would glorify Christ through Paul’s body. (Revised English Bible)

(2) It was Paul himself who would exalt Christ. For example:

with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ (Good News Translation)

Most translations do not explicitly say who would exalt Christ. If you can use the passive (be exalted), that would be appropriate. But if you must use an active verb with an explicit subject, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of commentators and say, “God will exalt Christ.”

in my body: The phrase in my body is a figure of speech meaning “through all I do.” Paul wanted to honor Christ whether he lived or died. In many languages it may not be possible to translate literally and give this meaning. If that is true in your language, you could translate this phrase:

in everything I say and do
-or-
with my whole being

1:20d

by life or by death: By this phrase Paul explained what he meant by “in my body.” He included two ideas:

(a) If I continue to live, I want to honor Christ by the way I live.

(b) If I die, I want to honor Christ by the way I die.

General Comment on 1:20

In some languages it may be necessary to reorder the words of 1:20. This can help to clarify what Paul meant here:

I earnestly expect and hope that I will be brave enough to continue to glorify Christ by the way I live and the way I die, as I always have done, so that I will not be ashamed.

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