Philippians 1:28

“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, etc.] Not by Satan, though a roaring lion, for Christ is greater than he; nor by the world which Christ has overcome; nor by false teachers, though men of art and cunning; nor by violent persecutors, who can do no more than kill, the body; let not the power, the rage, the cunning, or the violence of one or the other, move, discourage, or affright from a close attachment to the Gospel and the truths of it: which is to them an evident token of perdition; when men wilfully oppose themselves to the truth, and show a malicious hatred to it, and hold it in unrighteousness, and either turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, or persecute it with rage…”

“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. to you of salvation--The oldest manuscripts read, "of your salvation"; not merely your temporal safety.”

“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries - Adversaries, or opponents, they had, like most of the other early Christians. There were Jews there who would be likely to oppose them (compare Acts 17:5), and they were exposed to persecution by the pagan. In that city, Paul had himself suffered much Acts 16:0; and it would not be strange if the same scenes should be repeated. It is evident from this passage, as well as from some other parts of the Epistle, that the Philippians were at this time experiencing some form of severe suffering. But in what way, or why, the opposition to them was excited, is nowhere stated. The meaning here is, “do not be alarmed at anything which they can do.…”

“Which - Namely, their being adversaries to the word of God, and to you the messengers of God. Is an evident token - That they are in the high road to perdition; and you, in the way of salvation. Philippians 1:29”

“1:28 a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved: As translated, the persecutors would be convicted by the Philippians’ example. The same Greek phrase could also be translated a sign to them that you are going to be destroyed, but a sign to you that you are going to be saved. By that interpretation, the persecutors would remain blind to the truth (cp. 2 Cor 2:15-16).”

“in: Isa 51:7, Isa 51:12; Mat 10:28; Luk 12:4-7, Luk 21:12-19; Act 4:19-31, Act 5:40-42; Th1 2:2; Ti2 1:7, Ti2 1:8; Heb 13:6; Rev 2:10 an: Th2 1:5, Th2 1:6; Pe1 4:12-14 but: Mat 5:10-12; Rom 8:17; Ti2 2:11, Ti2 2:12 and that: Gen 49:18; Psa 50:23, Psa 68:19, Psa 68:20; Isa 12:2; Luk 3:6; Act 28:28 Philippians 1:29”