For unto you it is given; he adds a further argument to move them unto that he had exhorted, from God's freely bestowing, of his mere grace, what he had required of them. In the behalf of Christ; upon the account of Christ's merit and mediation; not that they could have either evangelical faith, or patience, by virtue of their own strength, Philippians 4:13. Not only to believe on him; that they did not only believe Christ, but believe on him, was not from any power of their own, 1 Thessalonians 6:37,44, but of God's free gift, Ephesians 2:8, as they had an instance amongst them in Lydia, Acts 16:14; unto her and others was this victorious grace of faith freely given by the hearing of the word, which was not unto many others that heard, Matthew 13:11 2 Thessalonians 3:2 Titus 1:1; and as the grace itself was given, so was the exercise of it. But also to suffer for his sake; upon the account of Christ, patience was given; so that to suffer, here, doth not only import a power to suffer, but actual suffering; not only the habit of faith, but the act of believing, even as the fruits of trees at the first creation were produced, as well as the trees which had a power to bear them: wherefore, if, by the grace of God, and Spirit of faith, they were empowered actually to believe, Mark 9:24 1 Corinthians 15:10 2 Corinthians 4:13, having trust through Christ God-ward, 2 Corinthians 3:4; and upon the same account they were continually enabled to suffer, not simply, but in bearing testimony to Christ, Acts 5:41 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 4:16; they might be of good comfort and courage, to the daunting of their adversaries.
Related Commentaries of Philippians 1:29
Philippians 1:29
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;