Philippians Chapter 2 verse 16 Holy Bible
holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.
read chapter 2 in ASV
Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect.
read chapter 2 in BBE
holding forth [the] word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ's day, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain.
read chapter 2 in DARBY
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.
read chapter 2 in KJV
read chapter 2 in WBT
holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn't run in vain nor labor in vain.
read chapter 2 in WEB
the word of life holding forth, for rejoicing to me in regard to a day of Christ, that not in vain did I run, nor in vain did I labour;
read chapter 2 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 16. - Holding forth the word of life. Holding out to others. Meyer translates "possessing," and others, as Bengel, "holding fast. This clause should be taken with the first clause of Ver. 15, "That ye may be blameless," etc., he the words, "among whom," etc.. he being parenthetical. That I may rejoice in the day of Christ; literally, for matter of boasting to me against the day of Christ. He boasts or glories in their salvation. "The day of Christ," says Bishop Lightfoot, "is a phrase peculiar to this Epistle, more commonly it is ' the day of the Lord.'" That I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain; translate, did not. The verbs me aorist. He looks back upon his finished course (comp. Galatians 2:2).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Holding forth the word of life.--This translation seems correct, and the reference is to the comparison above. There may, indeed, be (as has been supposed) a reference, involving a change of metaphor, to the holding forth of a torch, for guidance, or for transmission, as in the celebrated torch race of ancient times. But this supposed change of metaphor is unnecessary. The "luminaries" hold forth their light to men, and that light is the "word of life." Note the same connection in John 1:4, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."The word of life.--The phrase "the word of life" is remarkable. Here it signifies, of course, the gospel of Christ. But the gradual progress of this expression should be noted. Of Him His disciples declared that He "has the words" (i.e., the expressed words; see Note on Ephesians 6:17) "of eternal life" (John 6:68); He Himself goes further, and declares that His words are themselves spirit and life (John 6:63); here the gospel, as giving that knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ which is "eternal life" (John 17:3), is a "word of life;" and all these lead up to the final declaration that He Himself is "the Word of life" (1John 1:1). . . .
