Paul would join them in their joy even if his labor for others should cause him to lose his life. Compare on Rom. 8:18.

 Gr. leitourgia, in the NT a “public religious service” (see on Luke 1:23).

 Gr. thusia, the “sacrifice” itself, not the act of sacrificing. In this instance the reference is to the Christian faith of the Philippians that they, as Christian priests (see 1 Peter. 2:9), present to the Lord.

 Gr. spendō, “to make a libation,” “to pour out a drink offering” (see on Num. 15:4-9; 2 Tim. 4:6; see Num. 28:7). Paul sees the Philippians as offering their faith to God, and his own life as the libation, or drink offering, poured upon the sacrifice. He was willing to give his blood to accompany the faithful Philippian witness, if it would contribute to the furtherance of the gospel. The apostle to the Gentiles possessed the love than which there is no greater (John 15:13), but he did not believe there was any particular virtue in the giving of his life except as it should encourage the Philippians to further self-sacrifice, or as it might cause some to investigate the faith to which he held so tenaciously.