Philippians 1:19

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 Timothy, (though, as before, he knew not one like-minded as he was), but almost all, (as the universal sign is elsewhere synecdochically taken, Jeremiah 6:3 Matthew 10:22 Mark 1:5), or the most part of those then employed in the ministry, who were then at liberty, and whose inclinations, probably, he had inquired into. Seek their own; did, though not simply and absolutely, yet after a sort, seek their own profit, ease, safety, pleasure, and satisfaction; called their own, in regard of their civil right, and the world's opinion, but yet at God's disposal, Haggai 2:8. These they did (as John Mark in another case) prefer to a long and tedious journey, for the service of Christ, unto Philippi. Not the things which are Jesus Christ s; so that they did postpone the glory of Christ, the safety and edification of the church there, to their own things. Wherefore he doth not mean it absolutely, that they did not seek the things For I know that this shall turn to my salvation: rendering a reason of what went before, (as the causal particle notes), he doth here oppose his knowledge to the envious preachers opinion, and his salvation to the affliction they did exercise him with; so that he was fully persuaded, that the trouble they had given, or should give to him, (though in the nature of the thing it had a tendency to take him off from the defence of the gospel, and so to hazard his soul, or, if he stood in defence of it, Nero would persecute him to death), would, upon sure ground, work for his good, Romans 8:28, even the great good, the salvation of his soul; yea, and for some time, \compare Philippians 1:25\ the safely of his life here, Acts 27:34 Hebrews 11:7. His prison should be an ark to him resting on God's promise, so that he could go on boldly and cheerfully in bearing his testimony to Christ with the helmet of salvation, Ephesians 6:17. Through your prayer; having an interest in their prayers as a means of support, which he intimates they would continue to help him with, 2 Corinthians 1:11, as much as if he had downright asked an interest in them, Hebrews 13:18. And the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ; yea, in the use hereof, that he might have a great measure of the Spirit, promised to those that ask him, Luke 11:13, he looks higher, not doubting but he shall have a renewed subsidy of grace continued to him from the same Spirit, which is in Christ Jesus his Head, Romans 8:9 Galatians 4:6; thereby he should be helped in his infirmities, Romans 8:26 1 Corinthians 12:11; and receive grace for grace, 1 Thessalonians 1:16, out of his fulness, who had not the Spirit by measure, 1 Thessalonians 3:34; whereupon, whatever his enemies conceited, he should have undersupplies secretly communicated, like those from the head to the members, which would be effectual and victorious to deliver him from every evil work, and preserve him to the heavenly kingdom, 2 Timothy 4:18. of Christ, or that they did deny Christ, for it is apparent, even when he penned this Epistle, Philippians 1:13,14, with Acts 28:14,15, and Romans 1:8, there were many that did seriously seek Christ; but comparatively, and in a sort, they did not seek the things of Christ so intently as they should, 1 Corinthians 10:24,33, but failed as others did in other cases, Matthew 26:58 2 Timothy 4:16: not as if all minding of their own things were denied to Christ's ministers, 1 Timothy 3:4,5 1 Timothy 5:8; but they did slip their necks from under the yoke, and did not mind the glory of Christ in the church of Philippi, as he did.