Philippians 4:1-7. With such a prospect, and such a Saviour, let them be steadfast, united, joyful, self-forgetful, restful, prayerful, and the peace of god shall be theirs 1. _Therefore_ In view of such a hope, and such a Lord. _dearly beloved_ Omit "_dearly_," which is not in the Greek; though a... [ Continue Reading ]
_I beseech_ R.V., I EXHORT. But the tenderer English word well represents the general tone here, and the Greek fully admits it as a rendering. See e.g. 2 Corinthians 12:8. Observe the repetition of the word. _Euodias … Syntyche_ Read certainly EUODIA, a feminine name. In the versions of Tyndale and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I entreat_ Better, YEA, I REQUEST, or BEG (as in our polite use of that word). _also_ Paul was doing what he could to "help" his two converts; his friend at Philippi must "help" too. _true yokefellow_ This person can only be conjecturally identified. He may have been a leading _episcopus_(Phil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice in the Lord_.] Cp. Philippians 3:1, and note. _alway_ This word is a strong argument against the rendering "_Farewell_," instead of "_Rejoice_." "_Always_" would read strange and unnatural in such a connexion. And cp. 1 Thessalonians 5:16. He leads them here above all uncertain and fluctu... [ Continue Reading ]
_moderation_ R.V., "_forbearance_"; margin, "_gentleness_"; Wyclif, "_patience_"; Tyndale and Cranmer, "_softenes_"; Geneva, "_patient mynde_"; Rheims, "_modestie_"; Lat. versions, _modestia_; Beza, _œquitas_; Luther, _Lindigkeit_. The word is full of interest and significance, and is very difficult... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be careful for nothing_ Better, in modern English, IN NOTHING BE ANXIOUS (R.V.). Wyclif, "be ye no thing bisie"; all the other older English versions are substantially as A.V.; Luther, _Sorget nichts_; Latin versions, _Nihil solliciti sitis (fueritis)_. On the etymology of the Greek verb, and on th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ An important link. The coming promise of the Peace of God is not isolated, but in deep connexion. _the peace of God_ The chastened but glad tranquillity, caused by knowledge of the God of peace, and given by His Spirit to our spirit. Cp. Colossians 3:15 (where read, "the peace _of Christ_"); J... [ Continue Reading ]
as a last spiritual entreaty, let their regenerate minds be true-thoughtful: let them remember Paul's word and practice 8. _Finally_ A phrase introducing a precept, or precepts, more or less based on what has gone before. See above, on Philippians 3:1 He begs them to give to their minds, thus "saf... [ Continue Reading ]
_Those_things &c. On the apparent egotism of this appeal, see on Philippians 3:17. R.V. renders, somewhat better, THE THINGS &c. _have doth learned_&c. Better, BOTH LEARNED &c. The verbs are aorists, and the reference is to his long-past residence at Philippi. _received_ Cp. 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1C... [ Continue Reading ]
He renders loving thanks for their Alms, brought him by Epaphroditus 10. _But_ The directly didactic message of the Epistle is now over, and he turns to the personal topic of the alms, for himself and his work, received through Epaphroditus from Philippi. _I rejoiced_ R.V., I REJOICE; taking the G... [ Continue Reading ]
_want_ Better, perhaps, NEED, as less _extreme_in meaning. The Greek word occurs elsewhere only Mark 12:44; of the great poverty of the Widow. _I_ Slightly emphatic. He implies an appeal to them to learn his secret for themselves. _have learned_ Lit., "_did learn_"; but probably the A.V. (and R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to be abased_ "To be _low_," in resources and comforts. The word is used in classical Greek of a river running low. _to abound_ as now, in the plenty the Philippians had provided. This experience, as well as the opposite, called for the skill of grace. _every where and in all things_ Lit., IN EVE... [ Continue Reading ]
_I can do all things_ More exactly, I HAVE STRENGTH FOR ALL THINGS; whether to do or to bear. The Latin versions, beautifully, render, _omnia possum_. The "all things" are, of course, not all things absolutely; he is not the Omnipotent. They are "all things" with which he has to do, as the will of G... [ Continue Reading ]
_Notwithstanding_ "Again the Apostle's nervous anxiety to clear himself interposes" (Lightfoot). We would rather call it loving care than nervous anxiety. He is tender over their feelings, as he thinks how "their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their liberality" (2 Corinthians 8:1-2), in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now_ Better, BUT. He suggests, with the same delicacy of love, that their previous gifts would have sufficed, without this gift, to witness and seal their hearts" cooperation with him. "You have done well in such participation; _but_indeed you had assured its existence before." _ye Philippians kno... [ Continue Reading ]
_even in Thessalonica_ "Even _when I was_there." Thessalonica was just 100 Roman miles (about 92 English) from Philippi, on the _Via Egnatia_. Amphipolis and Apollonia were the two intermediate road-stations, about 30 miles from each other, and apparently Paul and Silas passed only a night at each,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not_&c. Here again see the sensitive delicacy of love. This allusion to the cherished past, begun with the wish to shew that he needed no present proof of sympathy, might after all be taken to be "thanks for future" liberality. It shall not be so. _desire_ Better, with R.V., SEEK. The verb occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
_But_ He carries on the correction, begun in Philippians 4:17, of a possible misunderstanding of his warm words. He must not be thought to "spell" for future gifts, least of all now, so amply supplied as he is. _I have all_ The Greek verb is one used in connexions of payment, to express a full rece... [ Continue Reading ]
_But_ R.V., "_And_." But surely there is a slight contrast meant, to an implied wish that _he_could send back some material requital of his own to alleviate their "deep poverty" (2 Corinthians 8:2). _my God_ Words deeply characteristic of St Paul. See on Philippians 1:3 above. Bp Lightfoot well rem... [ Continue Reading ]
_God and our Father_ Better, OUR GOD AND FATHER; the ultimate Source of all faith, love, and hope in the brethren and members of His Son. _"Our":_"It is no longer [_-my"_, for the reference is now not to himself as distinguished from the Philippians, but as united to them" (Lightfoot). _glory_ Lit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salutations and Farewell 21. _Salute_ Cp. Romans 16:3-16. _saint_ See on Philippians 1:1. _in Christ Jesus_ See on Philippians 1:1. The words may grammatically be connected with either "_salute_," to which Lightfoot inclines, or "_saint_." In view of Philippians 1:1, we recommend the latter. See... [ Continue Reading ]
_chiefly_ More exactly, BUT CHIEFLY. There was something marked and emphatic about this message. _they of Cesar's household_ "Probably slaves and freedmen attached to the palace" (Lightfoot). It has been sometimes assumed that these persons, on the other hand, were members of the imperial family, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_The grace_ So every Epistle of St Paul's closes, or almost closes. In the Ep. to the Romans this benediction occurs twice; Romans 16:20; Romans 16:24. The exact form found here occurs also Galatians 6:18; Philemon 1:25. Observe the deeply implied testimony to the Divine glory of the Saviour, who is... [ Continue Reading ]