Philippians 2:15

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 "harmless," rather 'pure' [ akeraioi (G185): from a, 'not,' and kerannumi (G2767) "mix," "simple"] (Romans 16:19). SONS, [ tekna (G5043)] - "the children of God" (Romans 8:14). Imitation of our heavenly Father is the instinctive guide to du...

15_The sons of God, unreprovable_. It ought to be rendered — _unreprovable_, because _ye are the sons of God. _For God’s adoption of us ought to be a motive to a blameless life, that we may in some degree resemble our Father. Now, although there never has been such perfection in the world as to have nothing worthy of reproof, those are, nevertheless, said to be _unreprovable _who aim at this with the whole bent of their mind, as has been observed elsewhere. (129) _In the midst of a wicked generation. _Believers, it is true, live on earth, intermingled with the wicked; (130) they breathe the same air, they enjoy the same soil, and at that time (131) they were even more intermingled, inasmuch as there could scarcely be found a single pious family that was not surrounded on all sides by unbelievers. So much the more d

12-18 We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and...

Verse 15. _THAT YE MAY BE BLAMELESS_] In yourselves, and _harmless_ to others. _THE SONS OF GOD_] Showing by your holy conduct that ye are partakers of the _Divine nature_. _WITHOUT REBUKE_] Persons against whom no charge of transgression can justly be laid. _A CROOKED AND PERVERSE_] Probably referring to the _Jews_, who were the chief opponents and the most virulent enemies which the Christian Church had. _AMONG WHOM YE SHINE_] Be like the _sun_ and _moon_; bless even the perverse and disobedient by your light and splendour. Let your light shine before men; some will walk in that light, and by its shining God will be glorified. It is evident that the apostle, by φωστηρες εν κοσμω, _lights in the world_, refers to the _sun_ and _moon_ particularly, and perhaps to the _heavenly bodies_ in general....

THAT YE MAY BE BLAMELESS - That you may give no occasion for others to accuse you of having done wrong. AND HARMLESS - Margin, “sincere.” The Greek word (ἀκέραιος akeraios) means properly that which is unmixed; and then pure, sincere. The idea here is, that they should be artless, simple, without guile. Then they would injure no one. The word occurs only in Matthew 10:16; Philippians 2:15, where it is rendered “harmless,” and Romans 16:19, where it is rendered “sincere”; see the Matthew 10:16 note,

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 2:1 IF THERE BE THEREFORE, ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST. Mark the fervor of the apostle. Ὅρα πῶς λιπαρῶς πῶς σφοδρῶς πῶς μετὰ συμπαωείας πολλῆς (Chrysostom). He appeals to the Christian experience of the Philippians; if these experiences are real, as they are; facts verified in the believer's consciousness; not talk, not mere forms of speech,—then fulfill ye my joy. _Consolation_;_ _perhaps "exhortation" is the more suitable rendering in this place: if the presence of Christ, if communion with Christ, hath power to stir the heart, to stimulate the emotions, to constrain the will. If any comfort of love; comfort springing out of love. Love is the subjective result of the presence of Christ as an objective reality, and with love comes comfort. If any fellowship of the Spirit

THAT YE MAY BE BLAMELESS,.... This, and what follows, show the end to be answered, by observing the above exhortation. This respects not their being blameless in the sight of God, which the saints are not in themselves, being not without sin, though they are, as considered in Christ, clothed with his righteousness, and washed in his blood; but their being blameless before men: and this may be understood both actively and passively; actively, that they might be without blaming others; some are so unhappy in their disposition and conduct, as to be always finding fault with, and blaming all persons they are concerned with, and all things in them, and done by them, right or wrong, without any just reason; and this ought not to be, and may be prevented by doing all things, as before directed: or passively, that they might not be blamed by others justly; for no man can escape the blame and cen...

Philippians 2:1. _if there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind._ Paul did not mean to doubt that there is «any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels and mercies,» for no one knew better than he did how those blessings abound to them that are in Christ Jesus. He put it by way of argument. If there be consolation in Christ, since there is consolation in Christ, since there is comfort of love, since there is fellowship of the Spirit, be one in Christ; be not divided; love one another: «be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.»...

WORLD Greek, "kosmos", means "mankind". (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 4:8). _...

II. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S PATTERN CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Oneness of mind through self effacement (Philippians 2:1)_ 2. The humiliation and exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5) 3. Work out your own salvation (Philippians 2:12) 4. As lights in the world (Philippians 2:14) 5. The example of Paul (Philippians 2:17) 6. The example of Timotheus (Philippians 2:19) 7. The exampl