and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;
terrified--literally, said of horses or other animals startled or suddenly scared; so of sudden consternation in general. which--your not being terrified. evident token of perdition--if they would only perceive it (Th2 1:5). It attests this, that in contending hopelessly against you, they are only rushing on to their own perdition, not shaking your united faith and constancy.
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. (9) We ought not to be discouraged but rather encouraged by the persecutions which the enemies of the Gospel imagine and practise against us: seeing that the persecutions are certain witnesses from God himself both of our salvation, and of the destruction of the wicked.
The apostle concludes the chapter with two exhortations: - I. He exhorts them to strictness of conversation (Phi 1:27): Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ. Observe, Those who profess the gospel of Christ should have their conversation as becomes the gospel, or in a suitableness and agreeableness to it.
Commenting on Philippians 1:27-30