Albert Barnes Commentary Philippians 1:7

"even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace." — Philippians 1:7 (ASV)

Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all. "There is a reason why I should cherish this hope for you, and this confident expectation that you will be saved. That reason is found in the evidence you have given that you are sincere Christians. Having evidence of that, it is proper for me to believe that you will finally reach heaven."

Because I have you in my heart. The margin reads, Ye have me in your. The Greek can support either, though the former translation is the most obvious. The meaning is that he was warmly attached to them and had experienced many proofs of their kindness. Therefore, there was a propriety in his wishing for their salvation.

Moreover, their conduct toward him in his trials had convinced him that they were motivated by Christian principle, and it was proper for him to believe that they would be kept for eternal life.

Both in my bonds. While I have been a prisoner—referring to the care they had taken to minister to his needs (Philippians 4:10, 14, 18).

And in the defence. Greek: apology. He probably refers to the time when he made his defense before Nero and vindicated himself from the charges brought against him (See Barnes on 2 Timothy 4:16).

Perhaps he means here that on that occasion he was abandoned by those who should have stood by him, but that the Philippians showed him all the attention they could. It is not impossible that they may have sent some of their number to sympathize with him in his trials and to assure him of the church's unabated confidence.

And confirmation of the gospel. In my efforts to defend the gospel and to make it known (Philippians 1:17). The allusion is probably to the fact that in all his efforts to defend the gospel, he had been sure of their sympathy and cooperation. Perhaps he refers to some assistance he had derived from them in this cause, which is now unknown to us.

Ye all are partakers of my grace. The margin reads, "Or, with me of grace." The meaning is that as they had participated with him in the defense of the gospel, and as in all his troubles and persecutions they had made common cause with him, it followed that they would partake of the same tokens of Divine favor.

He expected that the Divine blessing would follow his efforts in the cause of the gospel, and he says that they would share in his blessing.

They had shown all the sympathy they could in his trials; they had nobly stood by him when others forsook him. He anticipated, as a matter of course, that they would all share in the benefits that would flow to him in his efforts in the cause of the Redeemer.