"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." 🙏
The second evening at Le Faou, on the Rade de Brest. And the verse Le brings tonight opens with a word she already knows.
"Eagerly expect." Apokaradokia. Romans 8:19, at Henvic on September 5: the earnest expectation of the creation. The neck craned forward, watching the horizon.
There, all creation strained toward the revealing of the sons of God. Here, Paul strains toward the same horizon from a prison cell. Same posture. Same word. And Le is back in Finistère to meet it a second time.
"Christ will be exalted in my body." Megalynthēsetai — magnified. Made to look as large as He is. It is Mary's word in the Magnificat: my soul doth magnify the Lord. A magnifying glass adds nothing to what it holds — it only lets you see what is already there. Paul asks to be that lens.
"Whether by life or by death." He genuinely does not specify which. Either will serve. The only thing he asks for is that Christ be seen large in him, either way.
"Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife... supposing to add affliction to my bonds: What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."
"Quelques-uns, il est vrai, prêchent Christ par envie et par esprit de dispute... croyant ajouter de l'affliction à mes liens. Qu'importe? De toute manière, que ce soit pour l'apparence, que ce soit sincèrement, Christ n'est pas moins annoncé: je m'en réjouis, et je m'en réjouirai encore."
Philippiens 1:15-18 · Louis SegondA remarkable thing for a man in chains to write. Some were preaching specifically to make his imprisonment harder. And Paul does not defend himself. He simply counts the score differently than they do.
They are competing. He is not in the contest.
Le, thirteen days ago on Sword Beach: I am not in a competition to know more than anybody. I'm running the race God set before. Paul, in prison, reaches the same freedom.
"Qu'importe?" — What then? Two words that dismantle an entire rivalry.
"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
"Selon ma ferme attente et mon espérance, je n'aurai honte de rien, mais maintenant comme toujours Christ sera glorifié dans mon corps avec une pleine assurance, soit par ma vie, soit par ma mort; car Christ est ma vie, et la mort m'est un gain."
Philippiens 1:20-21 · Louis Segond"Earnest expectation." Ma ferme attente. Apokaradokia — Romans 8:19, at the end of the earth. The craned neck. The watched horizon.
"In nothing I shall be ashamed." Je n'aurai honte de rien. Romans 5:5: hope maketh not ashamed. Romans 10:11, which Le read on September 7: whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. The third time this thread has surfaced in this journal.
"With all boldness." Avec une pleine assurance. Parrēsia — open-faced speech. The freedom of someone with nothing to hide. Not bravado. Frankness.
"To live is Christ, and to die is gain." Christ est ma vie, et la mort m'est un gain. Le — Romans 14:8, at Sword Beach: whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. Same structure, both directions covered. There: we are His. Here: both outcomes are good. There is no losing option left.
And verse 23: I am in a strait betwixt two. Synechomai — pressed hard from both sides. Not indecision. Two goods squeezing him.
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ... that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries... For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."
"Seulement, conduisez-vous d'une manière digne de l'Évangile de Christ... que vous demeurez fermes dans un même esprit, combattant d'une même âme pour la foi de l'Évangile, sans vous laisser aucunement effrayer par les adversaires... car il vous a été fait la grâce, par rapport à Christ, non seulement de croire en lui, mais encore de souffrir pour lui."
Philippiens 1:27-29 · Louis Segond"Let your conversation be as it becometh." Conduisez-vous d'une manière digne. Politeuesthe — "live as citizens." Philippi was a Roman colony; they knew exactly what that word cost and conferred. Paul is saying: you hold a different citizenship. Carry yourselves like it.
"In nothing terrified." Sans vous laisser effrayer. Ptyromenoi — a word used of animals, especially horses, shying and bolting at a sudden fright. Don't spook.
Le — Job 39, which you read on September 1: he mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The war horse that does not shy. Paul is asking the Philippians to be exactly that horse.
"Unto you it is given." Il vous a été fait la grâce. Echaristhē — from charis. Granted as a favour. Gifted. And both halves come that way — the believing AND the suffering.
Le, eight days ago: what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Even this was received. 🙏
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."
Philippians 1:20 · Le Faou, Finistère · September 26, 2026 · The craned neck, the open face, and Christ magnified either wayEarnest Expectation
Apokaradokia — the craned neck of Romans 8:19, met again in Finistère. Creation strains; the prisoner strains too.
Magnified
Megalynthēsetai — Mary's word. A lens adds nothing; it only lets you see what is there. Paul asks to be that lens.
Don't Spook
Ptyromenoi — the word for a horse shying. Job 39's war horse mocks at fear. Paul asks for the same nerve.
It Was Given
Echaristhē — granted as grace. Both the believing and the suffering. Even this was received.