If there be therefore any consolation — In the grace of Christ. If any comfort — In the love of God. If any fellowship of the Holy Ghost; if any bowels of mercies — Resulting therefrom; any tender affection towards each other.... [ Continue Reading ]
Think the same thing — Seeing Christ is your common Head. Having the same love — To God, your common Father. Being of one soul — Animated with the same affections and tempers, as ye have all drank ill to one spirit. Of one mind — Tenderly rejoicing and grieving together.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do nothing through contention — Which is inconsistent with your thinking the same thing. Or vainglory — Desire of praise, which is directly opposite to the love of God. But esteem each the others better than themselves — (For every one knows more evil of himself than he can of another:) Which is a g... [ Continue Reading ]
Aim not every one at his own things — Only. If so, ye have not bowels of mercies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who being in the essential form — The incommunicable nature. Of God — From eternity, as he was afterward in the form of man; real God, as real man. Counted it no act of robbery — That is the precise meaning of the words, — no invasion of another's prerogative, but his own strict and unquestionable r... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet — He was so far from tenaciously insisting upon, that he willingly relinquished, his claim. He was content to forego the glories of the Creator, and to appear in the form of a creature; nay, to he made in the likeness of the fallen creatures; and not only to share the disgrace, but to suffer the... [ Continue Reading ]
And being found in fashion as a man — A common man, without any peculiar excellence or comeliness. He humbled himself — To a still greater depth. Becoming obedient — To God, though equal with him. Even unto death — The greatest instance both of humiliation and obedience. Yea, the death of the cross... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore — Because of his voluntary humiliation and obedience. He humbled himself; but God hath exalted him — So recompensing his humiliation. And hath given him — So recompensing his emptying himself. A name which is above every name — Dignity and majesty superior to every creature.... [ Continue Reading ]
That every knee — That divine honour might be paid in every possible manner by every creature. Might bow — Either with love or trembling. Of those in heaven, earth, under the earth — That is, through the whole universe.... [ Continue Reading ]
And every tongue — Even of his enemies. Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord — Jehovah; not now "in the form of a servant," but enthroned in the glory of God the Father.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore — Having proposed Christ's example, he exhorts them to secure the salvation which Christ has purchased. As ye have always — Hitherto. Obeyed — Both God, and me his minister. Now in my absence — When ye have not me to instruct, assist, and direct you. Work out your own salvation — Herein le... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is God — God alone, who is with you, though I am not. That worketh in you according to his good pleasure — Not for any merit of yours. Yet his influences are not to supersede, but to encourage, our own efforts. Work out your own salvation — Here is our duty. For it is God that worketh in you... [ Continue Reading ]
Do all things — Not only without contention, Philippians 2:3, but even without murmurings and disputings — Which are real, though smaller, hinderances of love.... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye may be blameless — Before men. And simple — Before God, aiming at him alone. As the sons of God — The God of love; acting up to your high character. Unrebukable in the midst of a crooked — Guileful, serpentine, and perverse generation — Such as the bulk of mankind always were. Crooked — By a... [ Continue Reading ]
Here he begins to treat of the latter clause of Philippians 1:22. Yea, and if I be offered — Literally, If I be poured out. Upon the sacrifice of your faith — The Philippians, as the other converted heathens, were a sacrifice to God through St. Paul's ministry, Romans 15:16. And as in sacrificing, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Congratulate me — When I am offered up.... [ Continue Reading ]
When I know — Upon my return, that ye stand steadfast.... [ Continue Reading ]
I have none — Of those who are now with me.... [ Continue Reading ]
For all — But Timotheus. Seek their own — Ease, safety, pleasure, or profit. Amazing! In that golden age of the church, could St. Paul throughly approve of one only, among all the labourers that were with him? Philippians 1:14, Philippians 1:17. And how many do we think can now approve themselves to... [ Continue Reading ]
As a son with his father — He uses an elegant peculiarity of phrase, speaking partly as of a son, partly as of a fellowlabourer.... [ Continue Reading ]
To send Epaphroditus — Back immediately. Your messenger — The Philippians had sent him to St. Paul with their liberal contribution.... [ Continue Reading ]
He was full of heaviness — Because he supposed you would be afflicted at hearing that he was sick.... [ Continue Reading ]
God had compassion on him — Restoring him to health.... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may be the less sorrowful — When I know you are rejoicing.... [ Continue Reading ]
To supply your deficiency of service — To do what you could not do in person.... [ Continue Reading ]