Philippians 2:1-4
EXHORTATION TO UNITY OF SPIRIT AND LOWLINESS.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXHORTATION TO UNITY OF SPIRIT AND LOWLINESS.... [ Continue Reading ]
εἴ τις κ. τ. λ. “If exhortation in Christ, if the appeal of love, if fellowship in the spirit, if compassion and pity have any effect.” οὖν probably refers back to Philippians 1:27. παράκλησις has the two senses of “exhortation” and “consolation”. But the whole context, supported by such passages as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Semper in discordiis aperta est janua Satanae ad spargendas impias doctrinas, ad quas repellendas optima munitio est consensus_ (Calv.). πληρ.… ἵνα. The ἵνα clause seems exactly = Latin _gerund. Cf._ an infinitive used in the same way in Acts 15:10, τί πειράζετε τὸν Θεὸν ἐπιθεῖναι κ. τ. λ., also Po... [ Continue Reading ]
μηδέν. Probably, _sc._, φρονοῦντες, although no addition is necessary. This is the prevalent thought in the Apostle's mind. ἐριθείαν. It is no wonder that Paul should warn against this danger, seeing it was one of his most grievous vexations at Rome. ἤ. Read with best authorities μηδὲ κατά (see crit... [ Continue Reading ]
The authorities are pretty evenly balanced in the case of the alternative readings ἕκαστος and ἕκαστοι (see crit. note). Probably edd. are right in preferring the latter, both on account of the variety of its witnesses and its aptness in the context. Besides, as the more difficult, it would be very... [ Continue Reading ]
γάρ ought probably to be rejected with the best group of MSS. φρονείσθω, as the harder reading, has much in its favour, but φρονεῖτε is far better attested, τοῦτο φρονεῖτε κ. τ. λ. The ordinary translation runs, “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. This means the supplying either... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CONDESCENSION AND EXALTATION OF CHRIST. As to form, Philippians 2:5-10 appear to be constructed in carefully chosen groups of parallel clauses, having an impressive rhythm (see J. Weiss, _Beitr._, pp. 28 29).... [ Continue Reading ]
ὅς. The discussions as to whether this refers to the pre-existing or historical Christ seem scarcely relevant to Paul's thought. For him his Lord's career was one and undivided. To suggest that he did not conceive a pre-existence in heaven is to ignore the very foundations of his thinking. Probably... [ Continue Reading ]
In the discussion of this _crux interpretum_ it is impossible, within our limits, to do more than give a brief outline of the chief legitimate interpretations, laying special emphasis on that which we prefer and giving our reasons. As regards literature, a good account of the older exegesis is given... [ Continue Reading ]
A question arises as to punctuation. W.H. punctuate as in the text. Calvin, Weiffenb. and Haupt would place a comma after γενόμ. and a colon after ἄνθρωπος of Philippians 2:8. This would coordinate these three clauses and make a new sentence begin with ἐταπείνωσεν. The division does not seem natural... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ seems to introduce a break. The Apostle goes on to describe the depth of the self-renunciation. No doubt there is here especially before Paul's mind the contrast between what Christ “ _is_ in Himself and what He _appeared_ in the eyes of men” (Lft [1]). σχήμ. = Lat. _habitus_, the external beari... [ Continue Reading ]
διὸ … καί. On account of His great renunciation and obedience. An exemplification of His own maxim: “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted”. καί marks the correspondence between His lowliness and God's exaltation of Him. ὑπερύψ. This goes back beyond the ἐταπείν. to the ἐκέν. (So Kl [1].) It rem... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐν τῷ ὀνόμ. Ἰ. Perhaps the best explanation is that of Weiffenb. (_op. cit._, p. 51), “On the ground of this name (κύριος),” _i.e._, because of what it means for every worshipper. Of course, the worship is rendered to Him as Lord. Abbott (_Notes on St. Paul's Epistles_, p. 93) compares Psalms 63:4,... [ Continue Reading ]
Κύριος. See on Philippians 2:6 _supr._ This is the characteristic confession of the Apostolic Church. It is most significant that Κύριος has no article, which shows that it has become virtually one of Christ's proper names. See Simcox, _Lang. of N.T._, p. 49, and _cf._ Acts 2:36, “Know assuredly tha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TO BE LED IN A SPIRIT OF AWE AND WATCHFULNESS, AS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S WORKING. On Philippians 2:12-13 see two important discussions, Schaeder, _Greifswalder Studien_, pp. 231 260, and Kühl, _SK_ [2]., 1898, pp. 557 580. Philippians 2:12. ὥστε. With what does it link the follo... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ must certainly be omitted with all the best authorities. “For _God_ is He that works,” etc. The emphasis lies on Θεός for two reasons. First, in the matter of attaining salvation they have to do _not_ with Paul, but with God. Second, they must enter upon this momentous course not lightly, but “wit... [ Continue Reading ]
γογγ. Many Comm [7]. understand γογγ. and διαλογ. as referring to God. This interpretation appears farfetched and unnecessary. The whole discussion preceding has turned on the danger to their faith in being disunited. Is it not natural that when he speaks of “grumblings” and “discussions” he should... [ Continue Reading ]
γένησθε. “That ye may become.” A high ideal before Paul's mind to be reached by a gradual process. ἄμεμπτοι. οὐ μικρὰν γὰρ προσάγει κηλῖδα ὁ γογγυσμός (Chr [9]). Perhaps ἄμεμ. refers to the judgment of others, while ἀκέραιοι denotes their intrinsic character (so Lft [10]). _Cf._ Matthew 10:16, where... [ Continue Reading ]
λ. ζωῆς. For the connexion between this expression and φωστῆρες see John 1:4, ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. When Paul speaks of “life” as belonging to the Christian he means not merely the new power of holy living imparted to him, but the real presence of a truly Divine life which, although largely... [ Continue Reading ]
MUTUAL REJOICING IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE.... [ Continue Reading ]
“Nay, although I should even be offered (lit. ‘poured out as a libation') upon the sacrifice and sacred service,” etc. εἰ καί leaves abundant room for the possibility, as distinct from καὶ εἰ, which barely allows the supposition. See esp [2]. Hermann on _Viger_, no. 307. The metaphor of this verse h... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ δʼ αὐτό. Adverbial use = ὡσαύτως. _Cf._ Matthew 27:44. συγχαίρ. This is, of course, a different joy from that which he shares with them. It is their joy in his obtaining the martyr's crown.... [ Continue Reading ]
Clemen (_Einheitlichkeit d. paulin. Briefe_, p. 138) seeks to prove that Philippians 2:19-24 do not belong to this context. This is to forget the flexibility and rapid transitions natural to a friendly letter. The last paragraph, in spite of its joyful tone, ended with a note of anxious foreboding f... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS PURPOSE TO SEND TO THEM TIMOTHY, A GENUINE FRIEND OF THEIR COMMUNITY.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἰσόψυχον. “Compounds with ἰσο - usually mean not merely ‘like,' but ‘as good as,' or ‘no better than' ” (Jebb on Soph., _O.T._, 478). To whom does it refer? De W., Myr [9], Vinc. and others refer it to Paul. But surely it can only apply to Timothy. At least the relative sentence seems to necessitate... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ πάντες … ζητ. This verse has roused surprise. Where were all Paul's faithful brethren in the Lord? Has he no one but Timothy to fall back upon? It must be borne in mind that we have to do with a simple letter, not a treatise, or history of Paul's work. The Apostle speaks in an outburst of strong... [ Continue Reading ]
δοκιμήν. “Approvedness.” That character which emerges as the result of testing. _Cf._ James 1:12. ὡς πατ. τέκ. κ. τ. λ. A mixed construction, the result of refined feeling. Paul first thinks of Timothy as his son in the Gospel, serving him with a son's devotion. But before the sentence is finished,... [ Continue Reading ]
μέν. He emphasises the coming of Timothy as distinct from his own. ὡς ἄν. _Cf._ Romans 15:24, 1 Corinthians 11:34. “As soon as I shall have thoroughly ascertained my position.” This temporal use of ὡς ἄν seems foreign to classical prose. It almost means “according as I shall”. ἄν marks the uncertain... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐν Κυρίῳ. See on Philippians 2:19. Every mood of Paul's inner life he desires to regulate by the mind and will of Christ. ὅτι. “When an _action_ is to be produced, πείθειν takes the infinitive, when _belief_, ὅτι (of objective knowledge) sometimes infinitive” (Gildersl. on Justin M., _Apol._, i., 8,... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse opens a passage which Clemen (_op. cit._, pp. 138 141) assigns to the second of the two letters into which he proposes to divide the Epistle. See our _Introduction_. The Apostle, as a matter of fact, passes most naturally from the two visits which he half promises to the return of Epaphro... [ Continue Reading ]
NEWS OF EPAPHRODITUS: A CORDIAL WELCOME FOR HIM AT PHILIPPI BESPOKEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐπειδή. Only three times elsewhere in Paul. The difference between it and ἐπεί is tersely stated by Ell [7]. (_ad loc._), who notes that it “involves the quasi-temporal reference which is supplied by δή, and thus expresses a thing that at once ensues (temporarily or causally) on the occurrence or re... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ γὰρ κ. τ. λ. “For truly he _was_ sick,” etc., καὶ intensifying the force of ἠσθέν. θαν. The more common construction of παραπλ., backed by a preponderating weight of authority, favours the dative. The endings - ου and - ω were frequently interchanged in the MSS. (see Ws [9]. _TK_ [10]., p. 18).... [ Continue Reading ]
σπουδ. The more regular form is the inferior reading σπουδαιότερον, which is due to some copyist. But that in - ως is also found in classical Greek. See W-Sch [11]., p. 98. It is quite possible that we have here, as frequently in later popular Greek, a comparative with superlative force (see Blass,... [ Continue Reading ]
Behind these words must lie some unknown circumstances which affected the feelings of the Philippians towards Epaphrod. It is not sufficient to suppose (with Ws [13].) that they would be disappointed because he had not stayed long enough at Rome. The πάσης χαρᾶς and ἐντίμους surely point to some ali... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ ἔργον κ. τ. λ. The true reading is very difficult to determine with such a conflict of authorities. We are inclined to believe that τὸ ἔργ. stood alone as in C. This is certainly the hardest reading of all to account for. At a very early date additions like Χριστοῦ, Κυρίου, etc., would be sure to... [ Continue Reading ]