“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”
As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed in anything, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death — Paul's apologia (expectation, literally 'waiting-away' apokaradokia) is Christ-centered: whether acquitted or executed, his only concern is Christ's honor (doxa). 'In my body' (en tō sōmati mou) grounds dignity in embodied existence, not abstract spirituality. The either/or ('life or death') is transcended by the both/and of Christ's magnification.
Church Fathers on Philippians 1:20
None of the grievous things which are in this present life can fix their fangs upon that lofty soul, which is truly philosophic, neither enmity, nor accusations, nor slanders, nor dangers, nor plots. It flies for refuge as it were to a mighty fortress, securely defended there against all that attack it from this lower earth. Such was the soul of Paul; it had taken possession of a place higher than any fortress, the seat of spiritual wisdom, that is, true philosophy. For that…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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