Philippians 1:1

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 Creation, 4290.

-Year of the Julian period, 4772.

-Year of the minor Jewish era of the world, 3822.

-Year of the Greater Rabbinical era of the world, 4421.

-Year from the Flood, according to Archbishop Usher, and the English Bible, 2410.

-Year of the Cali yuga, or Indian era of the Deluge, 3164.

-Year of the era of Iphitas, or since the first commencement of the Olympic games, 1002.

-Year of the Nabonassarean era, 809.

-Year of the era of the Seleucidae, 374.

-Year of the Spanish era, 100.

-Year of the Actiac or Actian era, 93.

-Year from the birth of Christ, 66.

-Year of the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 62.

-Year from the building of Rome, according to Varro, 814.

-Year of the CCXth Olympiad, 2.

-Jesus, high priest of the Jews.

-Common Golden Number, 6.

-Jewish Golden Number, 3.

-Year of the Solar Cycle, 15.

-Dominical Letter C.

-Jewish Passover, April 10th.

-Easter Sunday, April 11th.

-Epact, or the moon's age on the 22d of March, or the Xth of the Calends of April, 25.

-Year of the reign of Nero Caesar, the sixth emperor of the Romans, 9.

-In the first year of Albinus, governor of the Jews.

-Year of Vologesus, king of the Parthians, 12.

-Year of Domitius Corbulo, governor of Syria, 3.

-Roman Consuls; P. Marius Celsus, and L. Asinius Gallus, from Jan. 1st to July 1st; and L. Annaeus Seneca the philosopher, and Trebellius Maximus, for the remainder of the year.

CHAPTER I.

Paul, in conjunction with Timothy, addresses himself to

the saints at Philippi, and gives them his apostolical

benediction, 1, 2.

Thanks God for their conversion and union, and expresses his

persuasion that God will continue his work among them, 3-6.

Tells them of his strong affection for them, and prays that

they may be filed with the salvation of God, 7-11.

Shows them how much his persecution had contributed to the

success of the Gospel, 12-14.

Informs that there were some at Rome who preached the Gospel

from unworthy motives; yet he was convinced that this, which

was designed to injure him, should turn to his advantage,

15-19.

Mentions his uncertainty whether he should be liberated or

martyred, and his perfect readiness to meet either; yet, on

the whole, expresses a hope that he should again visit them,

20-26.

Exhorts them to a holy life, and comforts them under their

tribulations, 27-30.

NOTES ON CHAP. I.

Verse Philippians 1:1. Paul and Timotheus] That Timothy was at this time with the apostle in Rome we learn from Philippians 2:19, and also that he was very high in the apostle's estimation. He had also accompanied the apostle on his two voyages to Philippi, see Acts 16 and Acts 20, and was therefore deservedly dear to the Church in that city. It was on these accounts that St. Paul joined his name to his own, not because he was in any part the author of this epistle, but he might have been the apostle's amanuensis, though the subscription to the epistle gives this office to Epaphroditus. Neither in this epistle, nor in those to the Thessalonians and to Philemon does St. Paul call himself an apostle; the reason of which appears to be, that in none of these places was his apostolical authority called in question.

Bishops and deacons] επισκοποις. The overseers of the Church of God, and those who ministered to the poor, and preached occasionally. There has been a great deal of paper wasted on the inquiry, "Who is meant by bishops here, as no place could have more than one bishop?" To which it has been answered: "Philippi was a metropolitan see, and might have several bishops." This is the extravagance of trifling. I believe no such officer is meant as we now term bishop.