¹³But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. ¹⁵For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Despite all the hardship he had endured, what kept Paul going? He had the same faith as the psalm writer whom he now quotes: “I believe, therefore I spoke.” In other words, faith cannot remain silent no matter the obstacles. That was Paul’s mantra for ministry; that was arguably his life verse for ministry—“I must speak out because of what I believe to be true!”

Paul actually quotes from the Septuagint (LXX) version of Psalm 116:10. Our English translations taken from the Hebrew sound different, but Paul’s use of the LXX reading fits the sense of the entire psalm. So we understand Paul’s usage of the Septuagint (as is often used in the NT quotes from the OT) as correct divine interpretation of the meaning of the verse.

Paul really believed that when he died he would afterward be raised again from the dead. So the prospect of dying in the process of proclaiming what he believed (which included the resurrection) had no ultimate determinative value in whether he continued to preach the message. He lived what he believed, and therefore He preached what he believed. It all comes back to his belief.

This is the kind of faith that propelled Abraham to offer up his son Isaac to God. Many people wrongly believe Abraham was being tested whether he would sacrifice his son, and reconciling that with the promise that God gave to him about that son. There is no indication whatsoever in the Genesis 22 text that Abraham hesitated in any way to follow the Lord’s command. The real test was whether Abraham’s faith was connected not just to blind obedience, but whether Abraham’s obedience was connected to his faith in what he knew about God. Listen carefully to the writer of Hebrews explain this:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. (Heb. 11:17–19)

Paul likewise believed in a God who can and will raise the dead. Therefore, he continued to preach so that the gospel of grace would spread.

Lord, I am willing to sacrifice personal loss for the spread of Your gospel.