Philippians 1:13

For the skilful rhetorical structure of Philippians 1:13-17 see J. Weiss, Beitr., p. 17, who compares Romans 2:6-12. τὰ δεσμά is, on the whole, more common; see Luke 8:29; Acts 16:26; Acts 20:23. According to Cobet, Mnemosyne, 1858, p. 74 ff. (quoted in W-Sch [4], p. 85, n. 8), the neuter form refers to actual bonds, the masc. to the imprisonment. But there seems to be no distinction, e.g., in Attic Inscrr [5] (see Meisterhans, Gramm. d. attisch. Inschr., p. 112, n. 1025). And Sch. states that the distinction will not apply to LXX. φαν. ἐν Χ. γεν. It has become plain that he is a prisoner wholly for Christ's sake, and not on account of any breach of law. γεν. must be translated by the English perfect, for, as Moule (CT [6]) well points out, “our English thought separates present from past less rapidly than Greek”. Of course we must supply δεσμ. as predicate with φαν. γεν. ἐν ὅλῳ τ. πραιτ. is one of the most keenly contested expressions in the Epistle. Four leading interpretations are found. (1) Those forming the praetorian guard. So Lft [7], Hfm [8], Abbott, Hpt [9], Vinc. This explanation has much in its favour. Those coming up on appeal from the Provinces were handed over for surveillance to the praefecti praetorio (see Marquardt-Momms., ii. 2 3, p. 972 and n. 2). And Lft [10] (Com., pp. 99 104) has shown conclusively that the word admits of this meaning. (2) The barracks or camp of the praetorian guard. So Lips [11], Kl [12], Alf [13], De W., Myr [14], Ws [15], Von Soden. But none of these Comm [16] bring direct evidence to show that the name praetorium was ever definitely applied to the castra praetoriana, built under Tiberius at the Porta Viminalis (Tac., Ann., iv., 2). (3) The emperor's palace. So Chr [17], Th. Mps [18], Thdrt [19], Beng., Mynster (Kleine theol. Schriften, p. 184, some strong arguments), Gwynn, Duchesne. In all other passages of N.T. πραιτ. = residence of the ruler. It is said that it would be impossible for anyone writing from Rome to call the palace πραιτ. But; as Gw [20] observes, this is a provincial writing to provincials, and using the word in a familiar sense. Further, the change for the better in Paul's circumstances is connected with the knowledge that his bonds are in Christ. Is it because the authorities (emperor, etc.) have already begun to take a favourable view of his case that the preaching is allowed to prosper without hindrance and that his associates take courage? This interpretation cannot be dismissed altogether lightly. (4) The judicial authorities. So Mommsen (op. cit., p. 498) and Ramsay (St. Paul, etc., p. 357 ff.). These would be the praefecti praetorio (either one or two) with their assessors and other officials of the imperial court. Momms. quotes from a letter of Trajan to Pliny (Ep. Plin., 57 [65]), in which he decides that a criminal condemned to exile, but, in spite of this, lingering in the province, should be sent in chains ad praefectos praetorii mei, who are not the prison officials but those concerned with the hearing of cases. This explanation also would agree well with what Paul says about his bonds and the progress of the Gospel. We would hesitate to decide between (1) and (4), the context seeming to support the latter, while, perhaps, ὅλῳ favours the former. καὶ τ. λοιποῖς π. Cf. CIG., i., 1770, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς πᾶσιν φανερὰν πεποήκαμεν τήν τε ἰδίαν καὶ τοῦ δήμου τοῦ Ῥωμαίων προαίρεσιν. Apparently a vague phrase = everywhere else.

[4]-Sch. Schmiedel's Ed. of Winer.

[5]nscrr. Inscriptions.

[6] Cambridge Greek Testament.

[7] Lightfoot.

[8] Hofmann.

[9] Haupt.

[10] Lightfoot.

[11]ips. Lipsius.

[12] Klöpper.

[13] Alford's Greek Testament.

[14] Meyer.

[15] Weiss.

[16]omm. Commentators.

[17] Chrysostom.

[18] Mps. Theodore of Mopsuestia.

[19]hdrt. Theodoret.

[20] Gwynn.