Philippians 1:28

Textus Receptus:
και μη πτυρομενοι εν μηδενι υπο των αντικειμενων ητις αυτοις μεν εστιν ενδειξις απωλειας υμιν δε σωτηριας και τουτο απο θεου

King James:
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.

Comments:
in nothing terrified: Paul's admonition here is harmonious with his testimony in chapter 4:6-7.

by your adversaries: Literally, the word implies those who are laid out or stretched out against them. The implication of this verse, especially in the context of the next two verses, is that the faithful Christian will have adversaries and occasion to suffer, in keeping with 1 Peter 2:21.

to them an evident token of perdition: Those who oppose the believer will use suffering as evidence that the Christian is wrong, just as the enemies of Christ did at the foot of the cross in, for instance, Matthew 27:39-44.

but to you of salvation: To those who are suffering on account of their faithfulness to Christ, the suffering is not a reason to question and doubt, but a reason to have confidence that they really are being faithful to Christ. John 15:18-21.

and that of God: Whatever adversity would bring terror would be based on transient influences, while salvation comes from the Eternal God. This point is the same one Jesus makes in Matthew 10:28.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Also, do not be frightened by anything coming from those who lie in wait to cause you problems. They think whatever adversity faces you is evidence of your impending ruin. But you see both the adversity and the potential damage from it as a reminder that while whatever you have in this world will perish, your deliverance from the adversity, the ruin, and the world comes from the Eternal God.

Philippians 1:27

Textus Receptus:
μονον αξιως του ευαγγελιου του χριστου πολιτευεσθε ινα ειτε ελθων και ιδων υμας ειτε απων ακουσω τα περι υμων οτι στηκετε εν ενι πνευματι μια ψυχη συναθλουντες τη πιστει του ευαγγελιου

King James:
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Comments:
becometh: Literally, the word means "worthy" and is also used in Ephesians 4:1 where Paul charges Christians to "walk" in a manner "worthy" of their calling as disciples. It is also used in Colossians 1:10 where he charges believers to walk worthy of the Lord by begin fruitful and 1 Thessalonians 2:12 where he tells the disciples to walk worthy of God. The idea is not that believers can earn their title, but that their goal must be to bring the appearance of their lives into conformity with the reality of the most important thing in their lives.

as it becometh the gospel of Christ: The measure of conformity here is not other believers or a list of rules, but the good news believers proclaim to the lost. In other words, Paul tells disciples to live (as citizens) in a manner that measures up to the message of deliverance and hope they declare to the lost.

whether I come...or else be absent: The content and context of this statement is similar to chapter 2:12. Although Paul is certainly not Jesus, the similarity to passages like 2 Corinthians 5:9 is unmistakable.

one spirit...one mind: This ideal harmony obviously points down five verses to the imperative of chapter 2:2.

Expanded Paraphrase:
But do not depend on my coming alone. Instead, live in a manner that will show your value as those whose lives have been transformed by the good news of Christ. The result of your obedience so motivated will be that whether I am present or not I and everyone else will still hear that you are remaining steadfast in harmony with Christ and each other, united in the purpose of leading people through your testimony toward faith in that good news.

Philippians 1:26

Textus Receptus:
ινα το καυχημα υμων περισσευη εν χριστω ιησου εν εμοι δια της εμης παρουσιας παλιν προς υμας

King James:
That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Comments:
your rejoicing...for me: Paul speaks of the same kind of rejoicing (or boasting) in 2 Corinthians 1:14. In that passage (verses 12-14), as here, the scriptures make it clear that it is good for believers to celebrate Christ by celebrating each other. Similarly, Paul uses this word again in Philippians 2:15-17 ("rejoice" in verse 16) to say that the Philippians' faithfulness will provide him an opportunity to boast or express his exuberant confidence in Christ.

by my coming to you again: Paul often speaks of his coming, presence, and absence in parallel to the Lord's coming, presence, and absence. That is, as Jesus instructed the disciples about their obedience in His absence (but presence through the Holy Spirit) in John 14-16, so Paul urges Philippian believers to be faithful in his absence as they were in his presence in chapter 2:12. There is nothing more significant about this observation than the fact that every disciple-making believer is a representative of Christ, as passages like 1 Corinthians 11:1 make obvious, and therefore a testimony (good or bad) for God's faithfulness.

Expanded Paraphrase:
I believe God will bring me to you again so that you will overflow with confident joy in Jesus Christ as a testimony to His faithfulness, but as a result of what he does through me, allowing me to come to visit and disciple you again.