“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ — the divine passive ('began... will bring to completion') assures that God's work is not contingent on human effort alone but guaranteed by God's faithfulness. The 'day of Jesus Christ' (eschatological consummation) is the terminus: God's work begun in conversion extends to final resurrection and glorification. This verse combats anxiety about spiritual progress and establishes the certainty upon which rejoicing rests.
Church Fathers on Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.” See how he also teaches them to be unassuming. For since he had witnessed a great thing of them, that they may not feel as men are apt to do, he presently teaches them to refer both the past and the future to Christ. How? By saying, not, “Being confident that as you began you will also finish,” but what? “He which began a good work in you will perfect…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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