To what does “that from God” refer?

Explanation:  

Paul encourages the Philippians to stand firm in the faith assuring them that opposition to the gospel is a sign of their opponent’s destruction and of their salvation (Philippians 1:27–28). Paul adds, and this from God. The demonstrative this likely refers to salvation. That is, Paul is saying that the gospel is a sign of destruction and salvation, a salvation that is from God. We can deduce that this is Paul’s meaning because when he refers to salvation, he likely has in mind something similar to what he says in Philippians 1:19.³ There he explains that by the Philippians’ prayers and the Spirit of Christ, his imprisonment and suffering for the gospel will turn out for his salvation. Now he says something similar in Philippians 1:28. That is, he says that salvation, as in, deliverance from opposition and eternal salvation, is from God.

Counterargument:

It could be that Paul has in mind that salvation is from God, but we have to admit that Philippians 1:28 is distant from Philippians 1:19. That is, by the time we reach Philippians 1:28 it seems that Paul has in mind the Philippians’ call to live according to the gospel and stand firm against opposition. Now, if Paul has a new train of thought in mind, then we should interpret Philippians 1:28 in light of its immediate context, not in light of Philippians 1:19. And when we do this, it is likely that the sign is the gift from God. That is, Paul is saying that opposition leads to destruction and salvation, this destruction and salvation is a sign, and this sign is from God.⁴

Response to counterargument:

That Philippians 1:19 stands a few verses outside of Philippians 1:28 does not mean that it does not influence our understanding of Philippians 1:28. Further, even if Paul does begin a new theme in Philippians 1:27, the theme is not entirely distinct from what he wrote a line or two before. In fact, we expect a writer’s train of thought to flow logically, so it makes sense that there would be a thematic connection between Paul’s deliverance and the deliverance that the Philippians can count on. Thus, given that he uses the same noun, salvation, in both Philippians 1:19 and Philippians 1:27, most likely he has in mind a similar meaning in both contexts. And what is he sure about in Philippians 1:19? That because of the prayers of the Philippians and the Spirit of Christ, he will be saved. Likewise, the Philippians can be sure that when they stand firm for the gospel, salvation will come from God.

Explanation:

Paul knows from personal experience that by standing firm for the gospel, the Philippians will endure opposition. That is why he calls them to stand firm in one Spirit and one mind, striving for the gospel (Philippians 1:27). At the same time, he wants to reassure them that they have assistance in their time of need, for the salvation they require is from God (Philippians 1:28). Thus, Paul not only calls the Philippians to stand firm for the gospel as though they had the personal strength to endure persecution, but he reminds them that the ability to stand firm, that is, salvation from opposition, is from God.⁵

Counterargument:  

It could be that Paul offers reassurance in the sense that salvation is from God, or he might be assuring them that the whole process of persecution, suffering, perseverance, and salvation is from God.⁶ That the whole process of persecution, suffering, and salvation is from God would help the Philippians recognize God’s sovereignty over every event in the universe. This would encourage the Philippians to stand firm.

Response to counterargument:

This objection contends that Paul intends to explain meticulous providence in Philippians 1:28 as a way to reassure the Philippians. The problem with this claim is that he does not seem to make an explicit theological statement in Philippians 1:28 but is comforting the Philippians, given the persecution they are likely to face. Thus, his remarks are likely closer to pastoral encouragement than doctrinal statements. Of course, if he is giving pastoral advice, it is unlikely that he would tell the Philippians that the persecutions are from God. More likely, he would contend that the persecutions are due to opposition to the gospel, which is instigated by the devil. But not to worry, because salvation is from God.

It is hard to see what the weakness of this view might be. We know that salvation is from God, and Paul is encouraging the Philippians to stand firm through the power of God. The Greek grammar presents some ambiguity in that that from God could point back to a number of things, but ambiguity is a feature of language that cannot always be avoided. If Paul were to remove all ambiguity on every occasion, his writing would be difficult and laborious. So while the Greek leaves open other possibilities, this view offers the most natural interpretation.

Explanation:

Paul encourages the Philippians to stand firm for the faith of the gospel, not frightened by their opponents. Standing firm in the face of opposition is a sign for the opponents of their destruction and of the Philippians’ salvation, and this is from God. When Paul says, this from God, it is not right away clear what this refers to. Our instinct might be that it refers to salvation, but salvation in the original is a feminine noun, so if the demonstrative (this) refers to salvation, we expect the demonstrative to be in the feminine form. Instead, we find the demonstrative in the neuter form. When the demonstrative is neuter, it can be used generically to refer to a complex of ideas. Likely, Paul has in mind that the whole complex of ideas, including conflict, destruction, perseverance, and salvation, is from God.⁹

Counterargument:

We agree that the neuter demonstrative is used to refer to a clause or phrase generally and not a specific noun that it does not match in gender.¹⁰ We also agree that it is most intuitively the case that what is from God is salvation. Fortunately, we can hold that the demonstrative this refers to a phrase without referring to a specific noun, while holding that it is salvation that is from God. That is because Paul likely intends for the demonstrative to refer back, not to the noun salvation but to the phrase but of your salvation. That is, Paul is saying that your salvation is from God. Of course, he uses the neuter form of the demonstrative because the neuter form is used to refer to phrases, and but of your salvation is a phrase.¹¹

Explanation:

We want to know what Paul refers to when he says, and this from God. We can deduce what Paul refers to because he follows up Philippians 1:28 with a purpose clause. The purpose clause explains what is previously stated, and in this case it is linked with and this from God. In other words, Paul elaborates on why God would send persecution, suffering, perseverance, and salvation to the Philippians. He would do this because it has been granted to the Philippians that they suffer for the sake of Christ.¹² Thus, the persecution, suffering, perseverance, and salvation are gifts from God so that the Philippians would have the honour of suffering for Christ.

Counterargument:

There is a problem with this view. The problem is that it is not clear that the purpose clause refers to and this from God. Rather, it could just as easily refer to do not be frightened in anything… That is, Paul is encouraging the Philippians to stand firm in the faith and not be frightened in anything by their opponents, because it has been granted to them by God to suffer for the sake of Christ.

The weakness of this view is that it cannot explain why Paul would comfort the Philippians by telling them that God sent persecution and suffering on them. Rather, it makes more sense for Paul to comfort the Philippians by encouraging them to stand firm because God sends them salvation.