Philippians 2:17

Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all, and in the same manner do ye also joy and rejoice with me.

There is in view here a sacrifice, whether like that in Exodus 29:40, or like one of the animal sacrifices offered to pagan gods, is not specified; because a "drink offering" was a prominent feature of both. Russell thought that Paul had the Jewish sacrifice in mind, saying: "Paul's meaning is figurative, referring in humility to his service as the drink-offering which was added to the burnt offering."[48] However, whether the reference is "to the Jewish libation poured out beside the altar, or the pagan libation poured out over the sacrifice, makes no difference[49] The meaning is the same both ways. In either case, Paul was comparing all of his own great toils and sacrifices to the drink offering (which was the tiniest part) and their labors to the main sacrifice!

Paul was an unqualified marvel. He drew great spiritual lessons from the Olympic games, from the triumphal processions of emperors, and in this amazing passage from the temple sacrifices! However, it is very important to see that "`I be offered' is a verb in the passive voice and figurative in meaning. Paul is not offering anything, whether his own life or the Philippians' faith!"[50]

The great lesson for all in the passage was presented by Barclay as follows:

Paul was perfectly willing to make his life a sacrifice to God; and, if that happened, to him it would be all joy, and he calls on them (v. 18) not to mourn at the prospect but rather to rejoice. To him every call for sacrifice or toil was a call to his love for Christ; and therefore he met it, not with regret or complaint but with joy[51]

[48] James William Russell, op. cit., p. 290.

[49] William Hendriksen, op. cit., p. 127.

[50] R. P. Martin, op. cit., p. 120.

[51] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 46.