Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed _is_ not grievous, but for you _it is_ safe. Ver. 1. _Rejoice_] Or farewell in the Lord. _Salutem in sospitatore._ To write the same things to you] So 1 Corinthians 5:9; John 15:1,5. Some gather out of Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Ver. 2. _Beware of dogs_] That is, seducers and sectarians, who though dead dogs, yet will be barking at godly ministers. And though the dogs of Egypt would not move their tongues against Israel, Exodus 11:7, yet these greedy dogs, Is... [ Continue Reading ]
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Ver. 3. _For we are the circumcision_] Such as have our luxuriancies lopped off, our unruly passions mortified, Colossians 2:11, casting them away as a wretched foreskin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Ver. 4. _Confidence in the flesh_] That is, in external privileges, which yet profit not those that rest in them. An empty title yields but an empty comfort at last.... [ Continue Reading ]
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, _of_ the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Ver. 5. _A Hebrew of the Hebrews_] That is, by both father's and mother's side. Some think that hereby he argueth the ancientness of his stock and lineage, as b... [ Continue Reading ]
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Ver. 6. _Concerning zeal_] A blind misguided zeal. _See Trapp on "_ Rom 10:2 _"_ If zeal be not qualified with knowledge all will be on fire, as the _primum mobile, _ first easily swayed, they say, w... [ Continue Reading ]
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Ver. 7. _Loss for Christ_] Christ is to be sought and bought at any hand, at any rate. This is to play the wise merchant, Matthew 13:44,46. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:44 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:45 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:46 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea doubtless, and I count all things _but_ loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them _but_ dung, that I may win Christ, Ver. 8. _And do count them but dung_] Dog's dung (as some interpret the word σκυβαλα, _... [ Continue Reading ]
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Ver. 9. _And be found in him_] Out of whom all are lost in the wilderness of worldly lusts, and woefully wander; yet not so wide, a... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Ver. 10. _And may know him_] Not notionally only (for so a man may do out of every catechism), but practically; not apprehensively only, but affectively; not with tha... [ Continue Reading ]
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Ver. 11. _I might attain to the resurrection_] That is (by a metonomy of the subject for the adjunct), that perfection of holiness that accompanieth the estate of the resurrection. True grace never aims at a pitch, but aspireth to pe... [ Continue Reading ]
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Ver. 12. _But I follow after_] Gr. Διωκω, I persecute, I follow hot footed with utmost eagerness. By this then he signifieth how greed... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but _this_ one thing _I do_, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Ver. 13. _I count not myself_] _Si dixisti satis est, periisti._ Satiety is a dangerous disease, and the next step to a dec... [ Continue Reading ]
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Ver. 14. _I press toward, &c._] The ark of the covenant was but a cubit and a half high; so were likewise the wheels of the caldron. Now we know that a cubit and a half is but an imperfect measure, which shows (saith... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Ver. 15. _As many as be perfect_] Comparatively, or conceitedly so. _ God shall reveal_] Different measures of knowledge and holiness are given to the saints at... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Ver. 16. _Let us walk by the same rule_] To wit, of the word; and then you may say, Lord, if I be deceived, thou hast deceived me. Or it may be rendered thus, Let us proceed by one rule; for th... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. Ver. 17. _Be followers together of me_] _Longum iter per praecepta, brevius per exempla._ Everything in a minister should be exemplary, τυπος. We must propound to ourselves the highest pitch and the be... [ Continue Reading ]
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, _that they are_ the enemies of the cross of Christ: Ver. 18. _And now tell you weeping_] _Non tam atramento quam lachrymis chartas inficiebat Paulus._ _a_ Paul was a man of many tears, and might well say here, as Master F... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose end _is_ destruction, whose God _is their_ belly, and _whose_ glory _is_ in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Ver. 19. _Whose god is their belly_] A scavenger, whose living is to empty, is to be preferred before him that liveth but to fill privies; as they do that make their gut their go... [ Continue Reading ]
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 20. _For our conversation_] Our civil conversation, or our burgessship, _a_ while we live by heaven's laws, and go about our earthly businesses with heavenly minds; this a carnal man cannot skil... [ Continue Reading ]
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Ver. 21. _Like unto his glorious body_] Which is the standard. _See Trapp on "_ 1Co 15:38 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ 1Co 15:44 _"_ Now... [ Continue Reading ]