John Calvin Commentary Philippians 1:28

"and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;" — Philippians 1:28 (ASV)

And in nothing terrified. The second thing which he recommends to the Philippians is fortitude of mind, that they may not be thrown into confusion by the rage of their adversaries. At that time, the most cruel persecutions raged almost everywhere, because Satan strove with all his might to impede the commencement of the gospel, and was the more enraged in proportion as Christ powerfully put forth the grace of his Spirit. He exhorts, therefore, the Philippians to stand forward undaunted, and not be alarmed.

Which is to them a manifest proof. This is the proper meaning of the Greek word, and there was no consideration that made it necessary for others to translate it as cause. For the wicked, when they wage war against the Lord, already by a trial-fight, as it were, give a token of their ruin; and the more fiercely they insult the pious, the more they prepare themselves for ruin.

The Scripture, assuredly, nowhere teaches that the afflictions which the saints endure from the wicked are the cause of their salvation. Instead, Paul in another instance, too, speaks of them as a manifest token or proof (2 Thessalonians 1:5), and instead of ἔνδειξιν, which we have here, in that passage he uses the term ἔνδειγμα.

This, therefore, is a choice consolation: that when we are assailed and harassed by our enemies, we have an evidence of our salvation. For persecutions are, in a manner, seals of adoption to the children of God, if they endure them with fortitude and patience; the wicked, in turn, give a token of their condemnation, because they stumble against a stone by which they will be bruised to pieces (Matthew 21:44).

And that from God. This is restricted to the last clause, so that a taste of the grace of God may allay the bitterness of the cross. No one will naturally perceive the cross as a token or evidence of salvation, for these are things that are contrary in appearance. Hence Paul calls the attention of the Philippians to another consideration—that God by his blessing turns into an occasion of welfare those things that might otherwise seem to render us miserable.

He proves it from this: that the endurance of the cross is the gift of God. Now it is certain that all the gifts of God are salutary to us. He says, To you it is given, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him. Hence, even the sufferings themselves are evidences of the grace of God; and, since this is so, you have from this source a token of salvation.

Oh, if this persuasion were firmly established in our minds—that persecutions are to be reckoned among God’s benefits—what progress would be made in the doctrine of piety! And yet, what is more certain than that it is the highest honor conferred upon us by Divine grace that we suffer for his name—either reproach, or imprisonment, or miseries, or tortures, or even death—since in that case he adorns us with his marks of distinction?

But more people will be found who would rather ask God to withdraw gifts of that nature than embrace the cross with alacrity when it is presented to them. Alas, then, for our stupidity!