Albert Barnes Commentary Philippians 1:25

"And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;" — Philippians 1:25 (ASV)

And having this confidence. "Being persuaded of this, that my continuance on earth is desirable for your welfare, and that the Lord has a work for me to do, I confidently expect that I shall be permitted to live." The "confidence" referred to here was that his life was needful for them, and hence that God would spare him. A literal translation would be, "And being persuaded as to this, or of this" touto pepoiywv "I know," etc. The foundation of his expectation that he would live does not appear to have been any revelation to that effect, as Doddridge supposes; or any intimation he had from the palace of the intentions of the government, as some others suppose; but the fact that he believed his life to be necessary for them, and that therefore God would preserve it.

I know that I shall abide. The word know, however, (oida) should not be interpreted as denoting absolute necessity—for it appears from Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:17, that there was some ground for doubt whether he would live—but should be understood in a popular sense, as denoting good courage, and an earnest hope, that he would be permitted to live and visit them. Heinrichs.

And continue with you all. That is, that he would be permitted not only to live, but to enjoy their society.

For your furtherance and joy of faith. For the increase of your faith, and the promotion of that joy which is the consequence of faith. Wetstein has quoted a beautiful passage from Seneca (Letter 104) which strikingly resembles this sentiment of Paul. He says that when a man has contemplated death, and when for his own sake he would be willing to die, yet he should be willing to live—to return to life—for the sake of his friends; he then adds, "It pertains to a great mind to be willing to come back to life for the sake of others, which distinguished men often do."