Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philippians 1:14

τοὺς πλείονας. “The majority.” There were exceptions, a minority. He has in mind what comes out below, the difference between friendly and unfriendly sections among the Roman Christians. Acts 28:15, and the Epistle to the Romans as a whole, assure us that the friendly were the majority. On the whole we gather from this passage (Philippians 1:14-18) that a new energy was moving the whole Roman mission, but that the motives in it varied; the majority of the converts were stimulated by the Apostle’s willing sufferings, a minority by opposition to his influence.

τῶν�. So connect the words (with A.V. and R.V.), not τῶν�, ἐν κ. πεποιθότας κτλ. (with Ellicott and Lightfoot). Such authorities notwithstanding, the construction they decline is an easy one in the Greek of the N. T. In classical Greek no doubt we should have τῶν ἐν κυρίῳ� or τῶν�. τῶν ἐν κ. But the law of N. T. usage is certainly looser in such “attributives”; see e.g. 1 Corinthians 10:18 (τὸν Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ σάρκα); Colossians 1:8 (τὴν … ἀγάπην ἐν πνεύματι). True, Galatians 5:10 (πέποιθα εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳ) has been compared, to justify the rendering here, “Having in the Lord confidence in my bonds”; but the difference here is that ἐν κυρίῳ, if made to begin a clause, would take an emphasis which seems to be uncalled for. (See generally Winer, N. T. Grammar, III. § xx. Winer explains as Ellicott, &c.)—The precise phrase ἀδελφὸς ἐν κυρίῳ is not found elsewhere; but it is self-evidently possible; and see 1 Corinthians 4:15 for a (practical) instance of πατὴρ ἐν Χριστῷ.

πεποιθότας τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου. Πεποιθέναι, with the dative of the person or thing trusted, is common in Greek poetry, and occasional in Hellenistic prose. In N. T. the only parallels are 2 Corinthians 10:7; Philemon 1:2. “Confiding in my bonds” is a singular expression; but the paradox is surely intentional. On St Paul as imprisoned they leaned, as men always tend to lean on a leadership proved to be strong by self-sacrifice. So led, they began working with a new assurance of their cause, and of their hope.

περισσοτέρως τολμᾶν. “More abundantly venture”; they are more lavish of effort and venture. On the bearing of such a statement on the date of the Epistle, see Introduction, ch. ii—Περισσός and its cognates are favourite words in the warm style of St Paul.

ἀφόβως. They saw the fearless Apostle teaching Christ ἀκωλύτως (Acts 28:31); why should they not venture?

τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ. The revealed account of the glory and work of the Christ of God; the Gospel. It is observable that he regards the work of “speaking the word” as the work not only of ordained messengers but of all Christians.—On the reading see critical note.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philippians 1:14

Old Testament

New Testament