PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 1 PHILIPPIANS 1:1,2 Paul saluteth the Philippians, PHILIPPIANS 1:3 and testifieth his thankfulness to God for their uninterrupted fellowship in the gospel, PHILIPPIANS 1:8 his affection for them, PHILIPPIANS 1:9 and prayers for their spiritual improvement. PHILIPPIANS 1:12... [ Continue Reading ]
The evangelical salutation, as ROMANS 1:7 EPHESIANS 1:2 2 PETER 1:2; praying for the free and undeserved favour of God the Father to them, as the fountain, JAMES 1:17 together with all inward and outward blessings, flowing thence through Christ the procurer of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
As in most of his Epistles, _\viz. ROMANS 1:8 1 CORINTHIANS 1:4 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3 EPHESIANS 1:3 COLOSSIANS 1:3 1 THESSALONIANS 1:2 2 THESSALONIANS 1:3 2 TIMOTHY 1:3\_ he begins with thanks to God; and here, MY GOD, i.e. whose I am, and whom I serve in [ Continue Reading ]
As in praising of God, the Author of all that grace they had received, in every solemn prayer, so in continuing his fervent and assiduous requests unto God always, 1 THESSALONIANS 5:17, for them all: the term _all_ being used three times emphatically: compare LUKE 2:37 ROMANS 1:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Your being joined with us and other Christians in the communion of Christ, and glad tidings of salvation by him, 1 CORINTHIANS 10:16,17 1 PETER 4:13 1 JOHN 1:3,7; evidenced by the communication of your bounty, GALATIANS 6:6 HEBREWS 13:16; your stedfastness and perseverance in all Christian duties fr... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING; i.e. having thanked God for what he had done and did for them, he expresseth his firm persuasion and charitable hope of their perseverance for the future. THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU, WILL PERFORM IT; not from any thing in themselves more than othe... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS IT IS MEET FOR ME TO THINK THIS OF YOU ALL; i.e. consonant to the law of equity and charity, ACTS 4:19 1 CORINTHIANS 13:7 COLOSSIANS 4:1, with 2 PETER 1:13. It behoves me to pass this judgment on you all, upon good grounds. BECAUSE I HAVE YOU IN MY HEART; not barely in that he had them as it... [ Continue Reading ]
Confirming what he had before written, he appeals to God in the heavens, who searcheth the heart and trieth the reins, as in some other Epistles, ROMANS 1:9 2 CORINTHIANS 1:23, with 2 CORINTHIANS 11:31 GALATIANS 1:20 1 THESSALONIANS 2:5,10; and as Job, JOB 16:19; by making a solemn protestation, or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS I PRAY: having praised God for their attainments, he returns, _\as PHILIPPIANS 1:4\_ in token of his love, to his great petition for them. THAT YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND; viz. that their love both to God and man, showed in their bounty to him, might, as a rising stream from its springing fountai... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. To the ends he subjoins, namely, THAT YE MAY APPROVE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT; that upon a due expense of circumstances in a judicious trial, upon rightly discerning the differences of things not obvious to every eye, so as to choose and approve those things that are really to be preferred, be... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; i.e. not only bringing forth some single, yea, or singular fruit, but replenished, plurally, with the fruits of righteousness, ACTS 9:36 COLOSSIANS 1:10; elsewhere called the _fruits of the Spirit,_ GALATIANS 5:22 EPHESIANS 5:9; in all goodness and trut... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WOULD YE SHOULD UNDERSTAND, BRETHREN: to obviate the insinuations which false teachers and others might make use of from Paul's sufferings, to obstruct the cordial entertainment of those glad tidings he had brought, and to discourage those who did obey the truth, he doth by this friendly compe... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 13,14. AND MANY OF THE BRETHREN IN THE LORD, WAXING CONFIDENT BY MY BONDS; and here again, contrary to the expectation of those persecutors, who designed to make havoc of the church, his innocent carriage and constancy in bearing the cross, had all influence upon the greater part of THE BRETHRE... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE POOLE ON "PHILIPPIANS 1:13... [ Continue Reading ]
He doth here tacitly answer an exception which might be made; It were better some of them were silent, than preach so boldly as to procure him hatred, and lessen his reputation; 1. By granting there was somewhat in the allegation, yet it did not conclude against this, that his suffering was advanta... [ Continue Reading ]
This distinction he did amplify and explain here, by particularly showing the ill motive, manners, and end of the worst sort of preachers, from an ill affection of hatred, emulation, and wrath, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:20 GALATIANS 5:20; with an intemperate zeal to render Paul suspected and despicable in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Then intimating the genuine principle and good end of the better sort, who were moved from a prevailing affection to God, the edification and salvation of souls; cordially joining with Paul in carrying on the same design that he did, who was appointed of God, ACTS 23:11 1 THESSALONIANS 3:3; both by... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN? NOTWITHSTANDING, EVERY WAY, WHETHER IN PRETENCE, OR IN, TRUTH, CHRIST IS PREACHED: q.d. It doth not follow, that these different intentions of the preachers should hinder the spreading of the gospel, and therefore it should not abate either your confidence or mine in the cause of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
He doth here further commend Timothy, compared with the generality of those who with him did attend the ministry of the gospel at Rome, where it seems (whatever the papists pretend) Peter did not then preside as metropolitan. When he saith ALL, he doth not necessarily imply every individual besides... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO MY EARNEST EXPECTATION AND MY HOPE; he allegeth and explaineth the ground and certainty of his knowledge and persuasion of his enemies disappointment, and all succeeding well with him, trusting IN THE LIVING GOD, 1 TIMOTHY 4:10, who in all death-threatening afflictions hath upon his wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Some read it: For Christ is my gain in life and in death; or: For Christ is to me both in life and in death advantage. Both acknowledge it to be brought in as a reason of Paul's hope in life and death; and of his indifferency, in submission to God's pleasure, in life and death, intimating it was all... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF I LIVE IN THE FLESH, THIS IS THE FRUIT OF MY LABOUR: some, from the various use of the Greek particles, render this first clanse interrogatively; But whether to live in the flesh were worth the while? Or more profitable? (understand, than to die). The apostle having intimated the equality and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM IN A STRAIT BETWEEN TWO; because he knew not what to choose for the best, he was held in suspense, LUKE 12:50 ACTS 18:5, as one drawn both ways with weighty reasons, which he amplifies with respect to himself and the church, that Christ might be honoured in both: his love to the enjoyment o... [ Continue Reading ]
However, with respect to the church, by his staying here in this mortal body he persuades himself, knowing the subtlety of false apostles, who would enter in as _grievous wolves,_ ACTS 20:29, it was necessary to strengthen them and other churches in the faith of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVING THIS CONFIDENCE; viz. being persuaded of what went immediately before, how useful the continuance of his life, for a further time in this world, would be to the church of Christ, and particularly to them, he determines (as should seem) with more than probable conjecture; though, upon supp... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, in confidence of being again with them, and staying with them, he expresseth an admirable affection to them, that he can be content for a time to be deprived of the glorious sight of Christ, that he might see and serve them, and that under persecution; that they might, upon his return to them,... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE AS IT BECOMETH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: q.d. In the mean time, whatever becomes of me, that which is for your part solely incumbent on you, who are brought into the fellowship of the gospel, is to demean yourselves truly agreeable to that state. The original phrase, as aft... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN NOTHING TERRIFIED BY YOUR ADVERSARIES: the original word which the apostle useth, imports, they should not be appalled or affrighted, as men and horses are apt to be when furiously charged by their deadly enemies, but stoutly receive them, keeping their ground, MATTHEW 10:28 LUKE 12:32. WHICH... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN; he adds a further argument to move them unto that he had exhorted, from God's freely bestowing, of his mere grace, what he had required of them. IN THE BEHALF OF CHRIST; upon the account of Christ's merit and mediation; not that they could have either evangelical faith, or... [ Continue Reading ]
And be heartened to partake with him in the like trials he sustained when amongst them, ACTS 16:19, and which he now was enduring at Rome, PHILIPPIANS 1:13; an example of suffering unto them, if they would but await the blessed issue of his agony.... [ Continue Reading ]