HOLDING FAST THE WORD OF LIFE: logon zoes epechontes (PAPMPN): (Phil 1:27; Ps 40:9; 71:17; Mt 10:27; Lk 12:8; Ro 10:8-16; Rev 22:17) (Jn 6:63,68; Acts 13:26; 2Ti 2:15, 16, 17; Heb 4:12; 1Pet 1:23; 1John 1:1)

Lightfoot has “holding out” (as offering); others, however, render “holding fast,” persevering in the Christian faith and life — connecting with being “blameless and harmless” in Phil 2:15.

John MacArthur feels that...

Holding fast is from epecho, which is perhaps better rendered “holding forth,” as in the King James Version. The terms Paul normally used for the idea of holding fast, or holding on to, were echo or katecho (cf. 1 Cor. 11:2; 15:2; 1Thess. 5:21; 1Tim. 1:19; 3:9; 2Ti 1:13). The context of the present text also makes clear that the point is not believers’ remaining faithful to (i.e., holding onto) God’s truth, but rather their sharing with others (holding out) the redeeming word that brings eternal life. (MacArthur, J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press)

Holding fast (1907) (epecho from epí = upon + écho = have, hold) means literally have or hold upon. To hold fast. To hold firmly to (hold firmly to a particular belief) To direct towards. To give attention to. To hold out, then to hold one's mind toward. To observe.

It is found in the phrase in secular Greek "held straight for the beach".

In this verse the present tense calls for them to hold fast to the Word continually, continuing to believe it. The context also allows for the interpretation of the continuing to hold forth the Word of Life as described in next section.

Epecho can also mean to have hold out towards as an offer (e.g., as used in secular Greek of offering someone food or wine).  Holding out like a torch.

When used of the mind it mean to fix the mind upon, give heed to, keep close watch on, pay attention (cf 1Ti 4:16). In this use the idea is that of a constant state of readiness.

In some contexts epecho means to direct one's mind or attention to a particular object or event, to notice or to watch  (cf Luke 14:7, Acts 3:5) direct one’s mind to a thing,

Finally epecho can mean to stay or remain in a place beyond some point of time and so to stay on or remain. It can also mean to keep back or detain a person = hold oneself back. (cf Acts 19:22; Ge 8:10; 2Chr 8:5)

Epecho is found 5 times in the NAS (Luke; Acts 2x; Philippians;1 Timothy) and is translated: give...attention, 1; holding fast, 1; noticed, 1; pay close attention, 1; stayed, 1.

Here are the NT uses of epecho...

And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out (epecho) the places of honor at the table; saying to them, (Lk 14:7)

And he began to give (epecho) them his attention, expecting (epecho) to receive something from them. (Acts 3:5)

(Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey) And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he (Paul) himself stayed (epecho) in Asia for a while. (Acts 19:22) (Comment: here the meaning of epecho conveys the idea of to hold upon a place, to wait in a place, and so to stay)

Pay close attention (present imperative) (hold himself to strict account) to yourself and to your teaching (Comment: note personality before teaching); persevere  (present imperative)  in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1Ti 4:16)

Epecho is found 12 times in the Septuagint (LXX) :Gen. 8:10, 12; Jdg. 20:28; 1 Ki. 22:6, 15; 2 Ki. 4:24; 2 Chr. 18:5, 14; Job 18:2; 27:8; 30:26; Jer. 6:11

Note that in Phil 2:14-16, Paul emphasizes three characteristics of those who would be "lights" in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation.

(1) Uncomplaining spirit
(2) In contact with the people of this world, but not contaminated by them
(3) Holding to and holding forth the word of God

Word of Life (in Greek placed first for emphasis) is the Scripture and in context specifically refers to the gospel which, when believed, produces spiritual and eternal life (cf. Eph 2:1).

"Word of Life" means that it is the Word which is life (genitive of apposition) and which gives life (genitive of source). In other words the Gospel is not like just any word but is a word which has life in itself and which leads to life. Paul makes it clear that this "Word of life", the gospel, is unique and supernatural writing to the Colossians that...

"the gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world also it (the gospel) is constantly bearing fruit (note what specifically is bearing fruit) and increasing, even as it (the gospel) has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it (the gospel) and understood the grace of God in truth" (see note Colossians 1:6)

When the angel released Peter from prison (where he was being held for preaching the gospel), the angel commanded Peter...

"Go (present imperative) your way, stand and speak (present imperative) to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:20) (Comment: Regardless of opposition or difficulties, the Lord expected Peter -- and all His spiritual children --to take a stand once and for all and to speak all the words of this life with boldness -- cf Acts 4:31).

Vine feels that...

“The word of life” is not here the Living Word, the Person (as in 1 John 1); only John uses logos in that sense; it is the message, the gospel. It is called the word of life because it ministers spiritual life and imparts the knowledge of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, which the Lord said “is life eternal” (John 17:3). (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

Vincent adds that "the word of life" is...

the word ‘which has in itself a principle as well as a message of life’; or, as Meyer, “the divinely efficacious vehicle of the spirit of life.” (Regarding the Greek word for "life", zoe, Vincent adds)... "Zoe is the correlative of salvation. With quickening from the death of sin the believer enters upon ‘newness of life’ (Ro 6:4, 11). This life, as to its quality, is that which shall be lived with the exalted Christ. Now it is hidden with Christ, because the exalted Christ is still hidden (note Colossians 3:3; cp note Colossians 1:5). But it will be manifested in glory when Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested (note Colossians 3:4). Then will come the change into ‘the likeness of the body of his glory’ (note Philippians 3:21), and “mortality” will be “swallowed up of life” (2Cor. 5:4) (Vincent, M. R. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Philippians and to Philemon. New York: C. Scribner's Sons)

Jesus said that

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63) (Peter added) "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." (John 6:68)

SCRIPTURAL DESCRIPTIONS
OF THE WORD OF GOD

Scripture has numerous descriptions of "The Word" as shown in the following list (based on the NASB translation) which is worth studying if you have time... (This list would be a fruitful Meditation  [See also Primer on Biblical Meditation])

THE WORD IS A "WORD..."

...of all the good words Jos 23:14, 15
...of Thy lips Ps 17:4-note
...of the kingdom Mt 13:19
...of this salvation Acts 13:26,  13:44
...of God 1Sa 9:27, et al
...of the Lord Acts 13:48, et al
...of His Grace Acts 14:3, 20:32
...of the Gospel Acts 15:7
...of promise Ro 9:9-note
...of faith Ro 10:8-note
...of Christ Ro 10:17-note
...of the Cross 1Cor 1:18
...of reconciliation 2Cor 5:19
...of truth 2Co 6:7, Col 1:5-note, 2Ti 2:15-note, Jas 1:18-note
...of life Php 2:16-note
...of Life 1Jn 1:1
...of God's message 1Th 2:13-note
...of His power Heb 1:3-note
...of righteousness Heb 5:13-note
...of the oath Heb 7:28-note
...of exhortation Heb 13:22-note
...living and abiding 1Pe 1:23-note
...of My perseverance Rev 3:10-note

Metaphors (what is a metaphor?) for the Word of God...

Scripture Is like a Counselor - Ps. 119:24-note
Scripture Is like Fire - Jer 5:14; 23:29
Scripture Is like Gold -  Ps 19:9, 10-note
Scripture Is like a Hammer - Jer 23:29
Scripture Is like a Heritage - Ps 119:111-note
Scripture Is like Honey - Ps 19:9, 10-note; Ps 119:103-note
Scripture Is like a Lamp - Ps 119:105-note
Scripture Is like a Light - Ps 119:105, Ps 119:130-note; 2 Pe 1:19-note
Scripture Is like Milk - 1Cor 3:1, 2, 3; Heb 5:11, 12, 13-note; 1Pe 2:2-note
Scripture Is like a Mirror - Jas 1:23, 24, 25-note (cp 2Co 3:18)
Scripture Is like Rain - Isa 55:10, 11
Scripture Is like a Seed - 1Pe 1:23-note
Scripture Is like Snow - Isa 55:10,11
Scripture Is like Solid Food -  Heb 5:11, 12-note, Heb 5:14-note
Scripture Is like a Sword - Eph 6:17-note; Heb. 4:12-note
Scripture Is like Water - Eph 5:25, 26-note

Related Resources:

Memorizing His Word

Delighting in the Word of God - See discussion of delight

Quotations - Scripture or the Word of God

Inductive Study on the Power of God's Word

SO THAT IN THE DAY OF CHRIST I HAVE CAUSE TO GLORY: eis kauchema emoi eis hemeran Christou : (Phil 1:26; 2Cor 1:14; 1Th 2:19)

Day of Christ (see discussion of this "day" at note 1 and/or note 2) in the present context refers to Christ's return and His subsequent judgment of believers (see note on Bema Seat of Christ)

Paul voiced a similar thought in other letters...

(To the Corinthian saints) just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud (kauchema; KJV = "we are your rejoicing")) as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. (2Cor 1:14) (Comment: "A crown of rejoicing" awaits those who will be greeted by people won to Christ, in part through their witness, in the day when Christ returns.)

(To the saints in Thessalonica) For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation (kauchesis)? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? (1Thes 2:19) (Comment: Paul is alluding to the wreath given to winners in the Olympic games. Since the Thessalonian believers had come to Christ as a result of Paul's ministry there, their presence in the Christian host when Christ returns would be a great reward to Paul--his crown of rejoicing. The same, no doubt, will apply for all who have the joy of seeing those whom they have had a part in leading to Christ -- via praying, giving, sending, going, witnessing, etc -- in our Lord's presence when He comes again.)

To glory (2745)  (kauchema) refers to a boast.

Edwards writes...

"Rejoice" or "boast" can speak of a pride which is not sinful; rather the satisfaction of a job well done for the Lord. I think this is the thought here. As these believers continue down the path of maturity, fulfilling their design in life, Paul will have great satisfaction in the day of Christ. The satisfaction will stem from the fact that he has not labored or run "for emptiness." (Philippians)

In this section although not specifically stated, Paul clearly has in mind the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema or Judgment Seat of Christ for believers), where he would see the fruits of his ministry.

He feels a responsibility not only to see souls saved but also to present every man perfect in Christ (see notes Colossians 1:28). The success of the saints at Philippi in working out their own salvation and proclaiming the gospel to others will be a cause of boasting to Paul.

BECAUSE I DID NOT RUN IN VAIN NOR TOIL IN VAIN: hoti ouk eis kenon edramon (1SAAI) oude eis kenon ekopiasa (1SAAI): (Isa 49:4; 1Cor 9:26; Gal 2:2; 4:11; 1Thes 3:5)

Paul like any good spiritual financier desires that his costly "investments" will yield a good return. He does not want his investment in their lives to yield nothing and so he appeals to them. He cannot run their race but in a sense is seeking to motivate them out of love for him to run their race with endurance, to fight the good fight, to keep the faith and to finish their course that they might receive the award awaiting all those who have loved the Lord's appearing and have lived accordingly (see note 2 Timothy 4:8)

Deissmann alluding to the fact that Paul was a weaver of tent-cloth has the following thought regarding Paul's frequent use of the word "labor" writing that the

frequent references to “labour in vain” are a trembling echo of the discouragement resulting from a width of cloth being rejected as badly woven and therefore not paid for." (Deissmann, A., & Strachan, L. R. M. Light From the Ancient East. Page 317. London: Hodder & Stoughton)

Run (5143) (trecho) literally refers to moving forward rapidly and so to run. In the Septuagint it was used to describe the running of a warrior in battle. Trecho means to progress freely and advance rapidly. The idea is to spend one’s strength in performing or attaining something.

Trecho - 20x in 17v - Matt 27:48; 28:8; Mark 5:6; 15:36; Luke 15:20; 24:12; John 20:2, 4; Rom 9:16; 1 Cor 9:24, 26; Gal 2:2; 5:7; Phil 2:16; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 12:1; Rev 9:9. NAS = ran(7), run(7), running(3), runs(1), rushing(1), spread rapidly(1).

In the phrase "I did not run in vain..." Paul speaks as if looking back over his life from that future day when he is standing at the Judgment Seat in the Day of Christ. The word picture ("run in vain") is an athletic metaphor taken from the Greek stadium in which races were run in order to receive a temporal prize. Here Paul alludes to the eternal prize even as he did in his letter to the Corinthians where he wrote...

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. (1Cor 9:24-27) (click note on "Running to Win")

Vain (2756) (kenos [word study]) means empty, fruitless, without usefulness, of things that will not succeed and  that are to no purpose

In Galatians Paul spoke of the possibility of "running in vain" writing that...

it was because of a revelation that I went up (Christ sent him to Jerusalem, see Gal 1:12); and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. (Galatians 2:2)

Comment: Paul's fear was that the Galatians might compromise with the teaching of the Judaizers and their "gospel" which was really not the true gospel. He feared that he might discover he was like an athlete who had run in vain by seeing that all the spiritual effort in his ministry past and present as futile

Toil (2872) (kopiao [word study] from kópos = strike or cut and then to labor, fatigue. Kopos is used in secular Greek of “a beating,” “weariness” as though one had been beaten and “exertion” was the proper word for physical tiredness induced by work, exertion or heat) means to to exhibit great effort and exertion, to the point of sweat and exhaustion. To physically become worn out, weary or faint. To engage in hard work and can imply difficulties and trouble. Kopiao was sometimes used to refer to athletic training and was a word in common use among the down-trodden masses of the Roman world.

Kopiao - 23x in 21v - Matt 6:28; 11:28; Luke 5:5; 12:27; John 4:6, 38; Acts 20:35; Rom 16:6, 12; 1 Cor 4:12; 15:10; 16:16; Gal 4:11; Eph 4:28; Phil 2:16; Col 1:29; 1 Thess 5:12; 1 Tim 4:10; 5:17; 2 Tim 2:6; Rev 2:3. NAS = diligently labor(1), grown weary(1), hard-working(1), labor(3), labored(4), labors(1),toil(4), wearied(1), weary(1), work hard(1), worked(2), worked hard(1), workers(1), working hard(1).

Paul voiced a similar concern over those in Galatia writing...

I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. (Galatians 4:11)

Comment: Paul was unable to fathom how the Galatians could so quickly forget their former bondage in unbelief and so easily surrender their new freedom and blessings in Christ which would  make all the life-threatening, sacrificial service he had given on their behalf utterly worthless! Everything he had done -- all the travel, illness, loneliness, struggles, even stoning at Lystra, was for nothing if they reverted to their old slavery!

On the other hand Paul also wrote to the church at Corinth...

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be (present imperative) steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1Cor 15:58)

Comment: Our work for the Lord, if it is truly for Him and done in His power -- "in the Lord" -- cannot fail to accomplish what He wants accomplished. Every good work believers do in this life abiding in the Lord, the Vine -- John 15:5 -- has eternal benefits that the Lord Himself guarantees

Paul mentions a related idea --“shared my struggle” -- in Phil 4:3 (see note) using a different word, sunathleo.
 

The work described by kopiao was left one so weary it was as if the person had taken a beating. Kopiao speaks not so much of the actual exertion as the weariness which follows the straining of all one's powers to the utmost.

This church had not yielded to disappointment, ingratitude, or criticism, but had remained faithful to the Lord, loyal to His Word and to the work to which He had called them.

Paul uses kopiao to describe the quality of labor involved in ministering for the Lord (Ro 16:6,12, 1Co 4:12, 15:10, 16:16, Gal 4:11 Php 2:16 Col 1:29 1Thes 5:12 1Ti 4:10 5:17).

Paul wanted to look back on his ministry and see that all his efforts were worthwhile

If the Philippians would continue to hold forth the Word, Paul would have ground for glorying when the Lord Jesus comes for His saints, for he would not have run his Christian race in vain nor would he have bestowed exhausting labor on the Philippians in vain, for the results of his efforts in Philippi would be apparent in the soul-winning activities of the saints there.

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In Our Daily Walk F B Meyer has the following devotional entitled "Shining Lights"...