Philippians 2:30

τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ. So BG2, 73 80. D2K2L, most cursives, some Greek fathers τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Vulg Christi. אAP, 17 31 47, copt syr (pesh) arm æth κυρίου. C simply τὸ ἔργον. LTTr Χριστοῦ. WH Κυρίου (marg Χριστοῦ). Ell Wordsw τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Alf Ltft simply τὸ ἔργον. Ltft says, “the authorities, being very evenly divided, neutralize each other. All alike are insertions to explain τὸ ἔργον.” But the evidence for τοῦ Χριστοῦ is surely preponderant. Tisch remarks that ΧΥ, ΚΥ, the familiar MS. abbreviations, would easily drop from the text.

παραβολευσάμενος. So אObadiah 1:2 G2, some cursives. CK2LP, most cursives, Greek fathers παραβουλευσάμενος. The versions are not decisive. In this case the rule of durior lectio fairly supports the evidence of the chief uncials. And Ltft says, “no one who has felt the nervous vigour of St Paul’s style will hesitate between παραβουλευσάμενος and παραβουλεύσαμενος.… Both words alike are very rare.” All recent editors παραβολευσάμενος.

30. διὰ τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ. On the reading, see critical notes.

μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν. Θανάτῳ or εἰς θάνατον, would be the usual construction. It is as if he were about to write μέχρι θ. ἠσθένησεν, and then varied the expression.

παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ. For the reading, see critical notes. If we read παραβουλευσάμενος, we must render, “taking bad counsel for his life,” i.e. acting with no regard for it. The text may be rendered “playing the gambler with his life” (as Lightfoot), or “hazarding his life” (R.V.). Παραβολεύεσθαι is a verb known only through this passage. Παραβάλλεσθαι is to cast a die, to venture; hence the adjective παράβολος, reckless; on which apparently this verb is formed. Lightfoot compares ἀσωτεύεσθαι, to play the spendthrift.—Connected with παράβολος is the ecclesiastical term παραβολάνος, parabolanus, a member of a “minor order” devoted to nursing the infected, and other hazardous duties. The order probably originated in Constantine’s time. It acquired later a bad reputation as a turbulent body, troublesome to magistrates for riotous interruption of public business. At the council called the Latrocinium, at Ephesus, A.D. 449, “six hundred of them appeared as the tools of the brutal Barsumas, to coerce malcontents to support his measures” (Dict. Chr. Ant., s.v.).

ἵνα�. Cp. 1 Corinthians 16:17 : τὸ ὑμέτερον ὑστέρημα αὐτοὶ�, and Colossians 1:24 : ἀνταναπληρῶ τὰ ὑστερήματα τῶν θλίψεων τοῦ Χριστοῦ, that is, the “tribulations” involved in evangelization, which the Lord had as it were left unfinished, to be completed by his followers.

St Paul here means no blame to the Philippians. Epaphroditus had come forward to do what they, as a community, could not do—travel to Rome to help St Paul in his needs, carrying with him the collection they had so lovingly made.

τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας. “Of the ministration designed for me.”