If _there be_ therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Ver. 1. _If there be therefore_] A most passionate obtestation, importing his most vehement desire of their good agreement; whereunto he conjures them, as it were,... [ Continue Reading ]
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, _being_ of one accord, of one mind. Ver. 2. _Being of one accord, of one mind_] Hereunto those many "ones" should move us mentioned by our apostle, Ephesians 4:4,5. _See Trapp on "_ Eph 4:4 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Eph 4:5 _"_ _See Trapp on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let_ nothing _be done_ through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Ver. 3. _Let nothing be done through strife_] These are those hell hags that set the Church on fire, φιλονεικεια and φιλαρχια : if these men could be cast out of men's hearts,... [ Continue Reading ]
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Ver. 4. _Look not every man, &c._] Self is a great stickler, but must be excluded where love shall be maintained. He that is wholly set up within himself is an odious person; and the place he lives in longs for a vomi... [ Continue Reading ]
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Ver. 5. _Let this mind be in you_] We should strive to express Christ to the world, not as a picture doth a man in outward lineaments only, but as a child doth his father in affections and actions. Our lives should be as so many sermons upon... [ Continue Reading ]
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Ver. 6. _To be equal with God_] Gr. Equals, that is, every way equal; not a secondary inferior God, as the Arians would have him. _See Trapp on "_ Joh 1:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Joh 1:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Joh 1:3 _"_ _See T... [ Continue Reading ]
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Ver. 7. _But made himself. &c._] Gr. εκενωσεν, "emptied himself," suspended and laid aside his glory and majesty, and became a sinner both by imputation (for God made the iniquity of us... [ Continue Reading ]
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Ver. 8. _He humbled himself_] The Sun of righteousness went 10 degrees back in the dial of his Father, that he might come to us with health in his wings, that is, in his beams. _ B... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Ver. 9. _Wherefore God also, &c._] "Wherefore" denoteth not the cause, but the order of Christ's exaltation, as a consequent of his sufferings, as some conceive.... [ Continue Reading ]
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of _things_ in heaven, and _things_ in earth, and _things_ under the earth; Ver. 10. _That at the name_] Gr. In the name. The Papists stiffly defend the ceremony of bowing at the name of Jesus, to countenance the adoration of their deified images, al... [ Continue Reading ]
And _that_ every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ _is_ Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Ver. 11. _And that every tongue_] The heathens were wont to say, _Mutus sit oportet qui non laudarit Herculem._ Let that tongue be tied up for ever that cries not out with David, _Vivat Dominus, _ an... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Ver. 12. _Work out your salvation_] κατεργαζεσθε. The reason that men still tremble, and are still troubled with this doubt, and that fe... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of _his_ good pleasure. Ver. 13. _For it is God which worketh_] Therefore work out, &c. As _acti agentes, moti moventes, _ as the inferior orbs move, as acted by the superior. When God hath turned, and doth touch us, we must move; and while... [ Continue Reading ]
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Ver. 14. _Without murmurings_] Gr. οργης, wrath and rancour, or discontent, which makes men's lips like rusty hinges seldom to move without murmuring and complaining. _ And disputings_] Or wranglings about trifles, niceties or novelties, things wher... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 15. _Blameless and harmless_] Gr. ακεραιοι, hornless, or sincere, without mixture of deceit or guile, Israelites indeed. _ The son... [ Continue Reading ]
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Ver. 16. _Holding forth the word_] επεχοντες, as an ensign, or rather as the hand doth the torch, or the watch tower the light, and so the haven to weather beaten mariners... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. Ver. 17. _Yea, and if I be offered_] Or, be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice, &c., to seal up my doctrine, whereby I have brought you to the obedience of faith. Bishop Ridley in... [ Continue Reading ]
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Ver. 18. _For the same cause also, &c._] The hearers' affections and endeavours should exactly answer to the affections and endeavours of the preacher, as the elders of Ephesus did, Acts 20:31; Acts 20:37; and as those religious Romans did, Ro... [ Continue Reading ]
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. Ver. 19. _That I also may be of good comfort_] εμψυχω, that I may be inspirited. For when Silas and Timotheus were come from these Macedonians, Paul was pressed in spirit, a... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. Ver. 20. _Likeminded_] ισοψυχον, an alter ego to me. True friendship transformeth us into the condition of those we love, as Eusebius into his friend Pamphilus the martyr, whence he was called Eusebius Pamphili. _Amicitia sit tan... [ Continue Reading ]
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. Ver. 21. _For all seek their own_] If it were so then, what wonder if now, as was so long since foretold, 2 Timothy 3:2. Self must be shouldered out, and Christ's share studied more than our own; all private interests let fall, and al... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Ver. 22. _As a son with the father_] Happy son in such a father, 1 Timothy 1:2. If Jason the Thessalian held himself so happy in his tutor Chiron (Pindar. lib. 4, Pyth.), Alexander in his Aristotle,... [ Continue Reading ]
Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. Ver. 23. _So soon as I shall see_] For his life was now in suspense by reason of that roaring lion Nero, whom Tertullian wittily calleth _Dedicatorem damnationis Christianorum, quippe qui orientem fidem primus Ro... [ Continue Reading ]
But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Ver. 24. _Shall come shortly_] Whether ever he did come or no we know not. _Fallitur augurio spes bona saepe suo._ Good hopes are often frustrated. Howbeit the word here signifieth an "assured confidence;" and is seldom or never used bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. Ver. 25. _Necessary to send to you_] It is not meet that a pastor be long absent from his people. Moses was away but 40 days, and... [ Continue Reading ]
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. Ver. 26. _For he longed after you_] επιποθων. The word signifieth such a vehement desire as is impatient of delays. His heart was in the same place his calling was. _ And was full of heaviness_... [ Continue Reading ]
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Ver. 27. _For indeed he was sick_] Which should not have been, if St Paul could have cured him, as he did others. This shows that the apostles cured the sick... [ Continue Reading ]
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Ver. 28. _That when ye see him_] And receive him as risen from the dead. God knows how to commend his mercies to us, by threatening us with the loss of them; for _Bona a tergo... [ Continue Reading ]
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Ver. 29. _Hold such in reputation_] Or set a just price, a due estimate upon them. Horrible is the contempt that is now cast upon the ministry, by our novellers, as if they had learned of Campian to say, _Ministris eo... [ Continue Reading ]
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. Ver. 30. _Not regarding his life_] Gr. Ill providing for his life, casting away all inordinate care of it, as if he had put on that Roman resolution, _Necesse est ut eam, non ut... [ Continue Reading ]