The Delaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Part of the Pre-amble we see above declared to all the world and England speciffically that all men were:
Created Equal
Had Unalienable Rights
These Rights included: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (AMP)
CONTEXT/STUDY
Chapter: Paul saluteth the Philippians, 1, 2; and testifieth his thankfulness to God for their uninterrupted fellowship in the gospel, 3–7; his affection for them, 8, and prayers for their spiritual improvement, 9–11. He informeth them that his bonds at Rome had turned out to the advancement of the gospel, which many were thereby induced to preach, though with different views, 12–20; that, considering how serviceable his life might be to the cause of Christ, though for himself it were happier to die, he was doubtful in his choice, 21–24; but that he knew he should soon be at liberty to visit them again for their comfort, 25, 26. He exhorteth them to walk worthy of their profession, and to be steady and unanimous in the faith, for which they had already been fellow sufferers with him, 25–30.
Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 680.
v.20 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.
According to my earnest expectation and my hope; he allegeth and explaineth the ground and certainty of his knowledge and persuasion of his enemies’ disappointment, and all succeeding well with him, trusting in the living God, 1 Tim. 4:10, who in all death-threatening afflictions hath upon his word engaged himself to support all those that hope in his mercies, Psal. 33:18, 19; 37:7, 9; 147:11. Then be sure, when his sincere servants, assisted by his Spirit, wait for his deliverance with their necks stretched out, (as the word here notes,) being raised from past experience, intensely and wistly looking for his appearance, shall be able each to say as the apostle intimates. That in nothing I shall be ashamed; negatively, he shall not be left to do any thing which may justly bring him under reproach. His well-grounded hope would not make him ashamed. Rom. 5:5, with 8:25; but upon this account he shall have wherewith to answer him that should reproach him, Psal. 119:41, 42, 46; Luke 9:26; 2 Tim. 1:12. But that with all boldness; positively, that he should continue constant in a courageous owning of the truth, and acknowledging of his Lord every way, whether he was delivered from or to death. As always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death; as in the former years of his ministry he had been supported, yea, and victorious, in freely speaking for Christ, preaching and defending of his gospel, Acts 9:27; 14:3, with as much courage as any other, Acts 4:13, 29, 31, with 2 Cor. 11:21; Gal. 6:17: so now he was humbly confident, in his present sad circumstances, Christ should be magnified. (not that himself can become greater,) i. e. before men, his glory should be rendered greater and more illustrious, and acknowledged with praise, whether he lived or died, Rom. 14:8; yea, in the earthen vessel of his body, 2 Cor. 4:11, (about which he was not solicitous, having resigned it entirely to Christ,) either in his enlargement and preaching of the doctrine of Christ, or in his being offered up and sealing it by his martyrdom.
Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 684.
DEVOTION
Source: The Price of Freedom
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