{As lights in the world} (h(9373) ph(9373)t(8872)es en kosm(9369)). As
luminaries like the heavenly bodies. Christians are the light of
the world ( Mt 5:14 ) as they reflect the light from Christ ( Joh
1:4  8:12 ), but here the word is not ph(9373) (light), but
ph(9373)t(8872)es (luminaries, stars). The place for light is the
darkness where it is needed. {Holding forth} (epechontes).
Present active participle of epech(935c). Probably not connected
with the preceding metaphor in ph(9373)t(8872)es. The old meaning of
the verb epech(935c) is to hold forth or to hold out (the word of
life as here). The context seems to call for "holding fast." It
occurs also with the sense of attending to ( Ac 3:5 ). {That I
may have} (emoi). Ethical dative, "to me as a ground of
boasting."