1:19,20
There are a number of interesting things about verse 19. First, note how prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit go together. Moreover, Paul mentions their prayers first. One might think that all he needs is the work of the Holy Spirit, and if he did need prayer his own prayers would be sufficient, but instead he puts their prayers first. Prayer is in many ways a mystery, but Scripture makes it quite clear that prayer is essential, and praying for each other is essential, and there are some things that God will not do unless we pray. This is the way God has chosen to work so we should follow it.
Next, he refers to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Jesus Christ”. Before the cross Jesus said He had to return to the Father so that another counsellor could be sent. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus.
Then there is the phrase “turn out for my deliverance”. Does this mean eternal deliverance (ie salvation)? It seems unlikely. The next verse (20) makes it clear that what is uppermost in Paul’s mind is that Christ will be honoured in his body, in his life. Whether this happened through his being released or his being put to death was not his prime concern. Being faithful to Christ and proclaiming the gospel was his prime concern.
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