If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, The "therefore" implies that he is here expanding the exhortation (Philippians 1:27), "In one spirit, with one mind" (soul). Four influencing motives in this verse,... [ Continue Reading ]
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. FULFIL - i:e., Make full. I have joy in you: complete it by that which is still wanting-namely, unity (Philippians 1:9). 'What wilt thou (we might suppose them, in hearing his earnest entreaty, to sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. LET NOTHING BE DONE. The italicized words are not in the Greek. Supply the ellipsis from the Greek (Philippians 2:2) [ fronountes (G5426)], 'minding nothing in the way of strife... [ Continue Reading ]
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [A B C Delta G, Vulgate, read hekastoi (G1538) skopountes (G4648) ... hekastoi (G1538); 'Aleph (') hekastos (G1538) skopountes (G4648) ... hekastos (G1538). Elsewhere in the New Testament it is only singular] 'Not l... [ Continue Reading ]
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ['Aleph (') A B C Delta f g, Vulgate, read froneite (G5426) for froneisthe] 'Have this mind in you,' etc. Pride is the most naked form of selfishness, which is the essence of sin (Muller). He does not put forward himself (see note, Philippi... [ Continue Reading ]
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Translate, 'Who subsisting [or existing-namely, originally: huparchoon (G5225), not oon (G5607)] in the form of God (God's essence is not meant, but His external self-manifesting characteristics, the form shining forth fr... [ Continue Reading ]
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND ... AND, [ heauton (G1438) ekenoosen (G2758) morfeen (G3444) doulou (G1401) laboon (G2983): genomenos (G1096)] - 'emptied Himself, taking upon Him th... [ Continue Reading ]
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN - being already, by His 'emptying Himself,' in the form of a servant, or likeness of man (Romans 8:3). "Found:" RECOGNIZED by men's senses as reall... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: WHEREFORE - the just consequence of his self-humiliating obedience (Psalms 8:5; Psalms 110:1; Psalms 110:7; Matthew 28:18; Luke 24:23; John 5:27; John 10:17; Romans 14:9;... [ Continue Reading ]
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; AT THE NAME, [ en (G1722) to (G3588) onomati (G3686)] - "In the name" (Ephesians 5:20). BOW, [ kampsee (G2578)] - 'bend' in worship. Referring to Isaiah 45:23; quoted also Roma... [ Continue Reading ]
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. EVERY TONGUE - cf. "every knee" (Philippians 2:10). In every way He shall be acknowledged [ exomologeeseetai (G1843): 'openly confess'] as Lord (no longer "servant," Philippians 2:7; Matthew 28:18). As... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. WHEREFORE - seeing that we have in Christ such a specimen of glory resulting from humble 'obedience' (Philippians 2:8) see that ye al... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. FOR. Encouragement to work: "For it is God which worketh in you," always present, though I be absent. Not, 'work out your own salvation, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: MURMURINGS, [ gongusmoon (G1112)] - secret murmurings against your fellowmen, arising from selfishness: opposed to the example of Jesus just mentioned (cf. the word, John 7:12; Acts 6:1; 1 Peter 4:9; Jude 1:16). DISPUTINGS, [ Dialogismoi (G1261)]... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS - without either the repute of, or the inclination to mischief (Alford). Outwardly "blameless;" inwardly "harmles... [ Continue Reading ]
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. HOLDING FORTH - to them, and so applying it [the common meaning of epechontes (G1907); perhaps here including also 'holding fast']. The image of light-bearers or luminar... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. YEA, AND IF, [ Alla (G235) ei (G1487) kai (G2532)] - 'Yea, if even:' implying the contingency as not unlikely. He had assumed the possibility of his being alive at Christ's coming (for in ever... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THE SAME CAUSE ALSO DO YE JOY, AND REJOICE WITH ME._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. Philippians 2:22, "Ye know the proof of him, that ... he hath served with me," implies that Timothy had been long with Paul at Philippi. Accordingly, in Acts 16:1; Acts 17... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. His reason for sending Timothy above all others: I have none so [ isopsuchon (G2473)] 'like-soulled' with myself as is Timothy (cf. Deuteronomy 13:6; Psalms 55:14): Paul's second self. NATURALLY, [ gneesios (G1103)] - 'genuin... [ Continue Reading ]
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. [ Hoi (G3588) pantes (G3956)] 'They all' (namely, who are now with me, and are eligible for the mission, Philippians 4:21: such Demas, then with him, proved to be, Colossians 4:14: cf. 2 Timothy 4:10; Philemon 1:24). SEEK THEIR OWN... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Rare praise (Nehemiah 7:2). YE KNOW THE PROOF OF HIM - his proved character (Acts 16:1; Acts 16:12). AS A SON WITH THE FATHER - `as a child to a father.' SERVED WITH ME. When the sentence was... [ Continue Reading ]
Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. SO SOON AS I SHALL SEE - literally, from afar [ afidoo (G542)].... [ Continue Reading ]
But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. ALSO MYSELF - as well as Timothy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. I SUPPOSED - `I thought it necessary.' I SUPPOSED - `I thought it necessary.' TO SEND. It was properly a sending Epaphroditus... [ Continue Reading ]
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. FOR - reason for thinking it "necessary to send" Epaphroditus: [Epeidee epipothon en] 'Inasmuch as he was longing (a continuing state) after you all.' FULL OF HEAVINESS, [ adeemonoon (G85)]... [ Continue Reading ]
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not the permanent gift of miracles anymore than inspiration: both were vouchsafed only for each occasio... [ Continue Reading ]
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. THE MORE CAREFULLY - more so than I should have done if ye had not been grieving at his sickness. I MAY BE THE LESS SORROWFUL - as sympathizing in your joy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: RECEIVE HIM. There seems something behind respecting him. If extreme affection had been the sole ground of his "heaviness," no such exhortation would have been needed (Alford). IN REPUTATION - `in honour.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. FOR THE WORK OF CHRIST - namely, the bringing of a supply to me, the minister of Christ. He was probably in delicate health in setting out from Philippi; but at all hazards he... [ Continue Reading ]