THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ Usherian year of the world, 4066. -Alexandrian era of the world, 5564. -Antiochian era of the world, 5554. -Constantinopolitan era of the world, 5570. -Year of the Eusebian epocha of the Creatio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 1:2. _GRACE_ BE _UNTO YOU_] Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 1:3. _UPON EVERY REMEMBRANCE_] As often as you recur to my mind, so often do I thank God for the great work wrought among you. Some think that the words should be translated, _for all your_ _kind remembrance_; referring to their kind attention to the apostle, in supplying his wants... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 1:4. _ALWAYS IN EVERY PRAYER_] I pray often for you, and have great pleasure in doing it, seeing what God has already wrought among you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL_] if we consider κοινωνια as implying spiritual _fellowship_ or _communion_, then it signifies, not only their attention to the Gospel, their readiness to continue it, and perseverance in it, but also their _unity_ and affection among themselves. Some unde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _BEING CONFIDENT_] There shall be nothing lacking on God's part to support you; and to make you wise, holy and happy; and bring you at last to his kingdom and glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _IT IS MEET FOR ME TO THINK THIS_] εστι δικαιον. It is just that I should think so, because I have you in my heart-you live in my warmest love and most affectionate remembrance. _INASMUCH AS BOTH IN MY BONDS_] Because you have set your hearts upon me in my bonds, sending Epaphroditus to m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _FOR GOD IS MY RECORD_] I call God to witness that I have the strongest affection for you, and that I love you with that same kind of tender concern with which Christ loved the world when he gave himself for it; for I am even ready _to be offered on_ _the sacrifice and service of your faith... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _THIS I PRAY_] This is the substance of all my prayers for you, _that your love_ to God, to one another, and to all mankind, _may abound yet more and more_, ετι μαλλον και μαλλον περισσευη, that it may be like a river, perpetually fed with rain and fresh streams so that it continues to swel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _THAT YE MAY APPROVE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT_] Εις το δοκιμαζειν ὑμας τα διαφεροντα· _To the end that ye may put to_ _proof the things that differ_, or the things that are in are more profitable. By the pure and abundant love which they received from God they would be able to _try_ what... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _BEING FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS_] By _righteousness_ we may understand, here, the whole work of the Spirit of God, in the soul of a believer; and by the _fruits_ of righteousness, all holy _tempers_, holy _words_, and right _actions_. And with these they are to be _filled_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _THAT THE THINGS_ WHICH HAPPENED _UNTO ME_] St. Paul was at this time a prisoner at Rome, and it appears probable that he had already been called to make a defence for himself, and to vindicate the doctrines of the Gospel; and this he had been enabled to do in such a manner that the honour... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _MY BONDS - ARE MANIFEST IN ALL THE PALACE_] In consequence of the public _defence_ which he was obliged to make, his doctrines must be fully known in the court, and throughout the whole city, as on his trial he would necessarily explain the whole. The _praetorium_, πραιτωριον, which we he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _WAXING CONFIDENT_] Finding the effect produced by the public defence which the apostle made, they were greatly encouraged, and the more boldly and openly proclaimed the doctrine of Christ crucified. _THE WORD_] The doctrine of Christ; several excellent MSS. and _versions_ add, some θεου,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _SOME - PREACH CHRIST EVEN OF ENVY AND STRIFE_] These must have been the Judaizing teachers, who insisted on the necessity of connecting the Mosaic rites with the Christian institutions; and, probably, denounced Paul to the Jews dwelling at Rome as not only an enemy to the law and the prop... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _PREACH CHRIST OF CONTENTION_] The Judaizing teachers, they also preach Christ; they acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ or promised _Messiah_, and preach him as such. _NOT SINCERELY_] ουχ αγνως. _Not chastely_, garbling the Gospel; not speaking the whole truth, but just what served thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THE OTHER OF LOVE_] Through a sincere desire, not only to make known the way of salvation to the people, but also to vindicate and help the apostle, because they considered him as appointed by God to preach and defend the Gospel. The 16th and 17th verses are _transposed_ by ABDEFG, and se... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _WHAT THEN?_] It is a matter of little importance to me _how_ Christ is preached, provided he be preached. I rejoice that any thing is known of him; and am truly glad that the Gospel is even made partially known, for this will lead to farther inquiries, and in the end be of service to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THIS SHALL TURN TO MY SALVATION_] That is: It will be the means of my temporal _safety_; of my _deliverance_; for so the word σωτηρια is here to be understood. The Jews had denounced the apostle as an enemy to Caesar; but he knew that, when the nature of the Gospel should be fully known,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _EARNEST EXPECTATION_] He had the most confident expectation that God would stand by him, so that he should be enabled, with the _utmost liberty of speech_, εν πασῃ παρῥησια, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God; and, should he have the liberty of doing so, he was utterly regardless... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _FOR TO ME TO LIVE_ IS _CHRIST_] _Whether I live or die,_ _Christ is gain to me_. While I live I am Christ's property and servant, and Christ is my portion; if I die-if I be called to witness the truth at the expense of my life, this will be gain; I shall be saved from the remaining troubl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _BUT IF I LIVE IN THE FLESH_] Should I be spared longer, I shall labour for Christ as I have done; and _this is the_ _fruit of my labour_, that Christ shall be magnified by my longer life, Philippians 1:20. _YET WHAT I SHALL CHOOSE I WOT NOT._] Had I the two conditions left to my own choi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _FOR I AM IN A STRAIT BETWIXT TWO_] Viz. the dying now, and being immediately with God; or living longer to preach and spread the Gospel, and thus glorify Christ among men. _HAVING A DESIRE TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST_] Την επιθυμιαν εχων εις το αναλυσαι. It appears to be a metaphor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _TO ABIDE IN THE FLESH_] It would certainly be gain to _myself_ to die, but it will be a gain to _you_ if I live. If I die I shall go immediately to glory; if I live I shall continue to minister to you, and strengthen you in the faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _HAVING THIS CONFIDENCE, I KNOW THAT I SHALL ABIDE_] Convinced that it is necessary that I should live longer, for the spreading and defence of the Gospel, I am persuaded that I shall now be liberated. This was in fact the case, for, after having been two years in bonds at Rome, he was rel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _THAT YOUR REJOICING MAY BE MORE ABUNDANT_] Men rejoice more in recovering a thing that was lost, than they do in a continual possession of what is of much greater value.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE AS IT BECOMETH THE GOSPEL_] The apostle considers the Church at Philippi as a _free_ or _imperial_ _city_, which possesses great honours, dignities, and privileges; and he exhorts them to act, αξιως, _worthy of_ or _suitably to_ those honours and privileges. This... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _IN NOTHING TERRIFIED BY YOUR ADVERSARIES_] So it appears that the Church at Philippi was then under persecution. _WHICH IS TO THEM_] Ἡτις αυτοις εστιν. Some very judicious critics consider ητις as referring to πιστις, the faith of the Gospel, which they, the heathen, considered to be a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN IN THE BEHALF OF CHRIST_] Ὑμιν εχαρισθη· _To you it is graciously given_; it is no small _privilege_ that God has so far honoured you as to permit you to suffer on Christ's account. It is only his most faithful servants that he thus honours. Be not therefore terrifie... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 1:30. _HAVING THE SAME CONFLICT_] When Paul preached the Gospel at Philippi he was grievously persecuted, as we learn from Acts 16:19, being stripped, scourged, thrown into prison, even into the dungeon, and his feet made fast in the stocks. This was the _conflict_ they had seen in... [ Continue Reading ]