Philippians 4:1-3
COUNSELS TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.... [ Continue Reading ]
COUNSELS TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὥστε. It seems better to regard this as drawing the conclusion from Philippians 3:17-21 than to refer it to the whole of the discussion in chap. 3. στέφ. μ. _Cf._ the combination in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, τίς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἐλπὶς ἢ χαρὰ ἢ στέφανος καυχήσεως; the meaning is best seen from chap. Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
Εὐοδ. κ. τ. λ. This direct reference to a difference of opinion between two women of prominence in the Philippian Church is probably the best comment we have on the slight dissensions which are here and there hinted at throughout the Epistle. For, as Schinz aptly puts it (_op. cit._, p. 37), “in suc... [ Continue Reading ]
ναί must certainly be read with all trustworthy authorities. Exactly parallel is Philemon 1:20. _Cf._ Soph., _Elect._, 1445, σὲ κρίνω, ναὶ σέ. ἐρωτῶ is common in N.T. = “beseech,” _e.g._, Luke 14:18. It is not so found in LXX, and this sense is very rare in late writers. γνήσιε ς. is to be read with... [ Continue Reading ]
χαίρετε expresses the predominant mood of the Epistle, a mood wonderfully characteristic of Paul's closing years. πάλιν. “He doubles it to take away the scruple of those that might say, what, shall we rejoice in afflictions?” (G. Herbert). ἐρῶ. The future of this verb is probably used here, as appar... [ Continue Reading ]
GENERAL EXHORTATIONS ON THE RIGHT SPIRIT AND THE RIGHT CONDUCT OF LIFE.... [ Continue Reading ]
τ. ἐπιεικ. “Reasonableness.” Matthew Arnold finds in this a preeminent feature in the character of Jesus and designates it “sweet reasonableness” (see _Literature and Dogma_, pp. 66, 138). The trait could not be more vividly delineated than in the words of W. Pater (_Marius the Epicurean_, ii., p. 1... [ Continue Reading ]
μ. μερ. “In nothing be anxious.” μερ. is not common in earlier prose. It is used repeatedly in LXX of anxiety (_a_) approaching dread as Psalms 37:19, (_b_) producing displeasure as Ezekiel 16:42, (_c_) of a general kind as 1 Chronicles 17:9. For the thought _Cf._4Ezr 2 27 : _Noli satagere, cum vene... [ Continue Reading ]
Hpt [30]. would put no stop at the close of Philippians 4:6. Whether there be a stop or not, this verse is manifestly a kind of apodosis to the preceding. “If you make your requests, etc., … then the peace … shall guard,” etc. ἡ εἰρ. τ. Θ. Paul's favourite thought of that health and harmonious relat... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought of this paragraph (Philippians 4:8-9) is closely connected with that of the preceding by the resumption of the phrase ἡ εἰρήνη τ. Θ. (Philippians 4:7) in a new form ὁ Θ. τῆς εἰρήνης (Philippians 4:9). The peace of God will be the guardian of their thoughts and imaginations, only they mus... [ Continue Reading ]
It is hardly possible, with Ell [41]., to refer ἃ καὶ κ. τ. λ. immediately to the preceding, without forcing the construction. ἐμάθ. κ. παρελ. plainly refer to the definite Christian teaching he had set himself to give them. παραλαμβάνω is used regularly of “receiving” truth from a teacher. ἠκ. κ. ε... [ Continue Reading ]
δέ marks the turning of Paul's thoughts to a different subject, or, as Lft [42]. admirably expresses it, “arrests a subject which is in danger of escaping”. He has not, up till now, _expressly_ thanked them for their generous gift which was, in all likelihood, the occasion of this letter. The very f... [ Continue Reading ]
DELICATE EXPRESSION OF THANKS FOR THEIR GIFT.... [ Continue Reading ]
The form of Philippians 4:11-13, from ἐγὼ γάρ, is strophic. ἐγὼ … εἶναι gives the “theme”. Philippians 4:13 marks the close. The thought is worked out between. See J. Weiss, _Beitr._, p. 29. οὐχ ὅτι. See on chap. Philippians 3:12 _supr._ καθʼ ὑστέρησιν. “As regards want.” κατὰ has the same sense as... [ Continue Reading ]
οἶδα κ. τ. λ. καί must be read with all good authorities. The one καί must be correlative to the other, unless he intended to continue the sentence without the second οἶδα (see an excellent note on καί in N.T. in Ell [56]. _ad loc._ He defines somewhat too minutely). Examples of the infinitive after... [ Continue Reading ]
π. Ισχ. It is difficult to decide whether π. is accusative or merely adverbial. _Cf._ James 5:16 (where apparently ἰσχύει has the accusative), and Wis 16:20, ἄρτον … ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἔπεμψας … πᾶσαν ἡδονὴν ἰσχύοντα. For the other alternative see Hom., _Odyss._, 8, 214. ἐνδυν. _Cf._ Ephesians 6:10, ἐνδυνα... [ Continue Reading ]
πλήν. See on chap. Philippians 3:16. “All the same, I rejoice in your kindness.” καλῶς. Hort (on 1 Peter 2:12) points out that καλός “denotes that kind of goodness which is at once seen to be good”. συνκ. (the preferable spelling). In classical usage (almost confined to Demosth.) this verb has the g... [ Continue Reading ]
δέ marks the transition to his first experience of their generosity. “But this is no new thing, for you have always been generous. You know this as well as I do” (καὶ ὑμεῖς). φιλιππής. (A Latin form, see Ramsay, _Journal of Theol. Studies_, i., 1, p. 116.) He singles them out from all the other Chur... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR EARLIER AND LATER GENEROSITY AND ITS DIVINE REWARD.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὅτι κ. τ. λ. We are greatly inclined to take ὅτι here, as in Philippians 4:15, as dependent on οἴδατε. “Ye know … that at the beginning … that even in Thessalonica,” etc. Thessalonica was a city of far greater wealth and importance than Philippi. καί might, however, emphasise the fact that they bega... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ δόμα. It is not the actual gift put into Paul's hands which has brought him joy, but the giving (δόσις, Philippians 4:15) and the meaning of that giving. It is the truest index to the abiding reality of his work. καρπὸν … πλεονάζοντα … λόγον. We believe that Chr [64]. is right in regarding these... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀπέχω. The use of this word adds much force to the thought, when we bear in mind that it was the regular expression in the Papyri to denote _the receipt of what was due, e.g._, Faijûm Pap., Sept. 6, A.D. 57: ἀπέχω παρʼ ὑμῶν τὸν φόρον τοῦ ἐλα [ι] ουργίου ὧν ἔχετε [μο] υ ἐν μισθώσει. (Dsm [66]., _NBS_... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ δὲ Θεός κ. τ. λ. God's treatment of them corresponds to their treatment of Paul. They had ministered to his χρεία. so that he could say πεπλήρωμαι. That was the side of the reckoning which stood to their credit. Here is the other side. “My God shall repay what has been done to me His servant for t... [ Continue Reading ]
Doxology. _Doxologia fluit ex gaudio totius epistolae_ (Beng.). On the phrase τοὺς αἰῶνας τ. αἰώνων see the excellent note in Grimm-Thayer _ad loc._... [ Continue Reading ]
Perhaps this last paragraph may have been written by the Apostle's own hand (so Von Soden and Laurent, _op. cit._, p. 9). _Cf._ Galatians 6:11. ἐν Χ. Ἰ. These words are to be taken in close connexion with ἀσπάσασθε. _Cf._ 1 Corinthians 16:19, ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἐν Κυρίῳ πολλὰ Ἀκύλας. ἀδελφοί. Perhaps th... [ Continue Reading ]
GREETINGS AND BENEDICTION.... [ Continue Reading ]
μάλιστα. If by this time, as is probable (see _Introduction_), Paul had been removed from his lodging to one of the state prisons near the palace, it is plain that Christians of the Imperial household would have special opportunities of close intercourse with him. οἱ ἐκ τῆς Κ. οἰκίας. See esp [73].... [ Continue Reading ]
Probably μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ought to be read with all the chief authorities instead of πάντων. Myr [76]., however, supposes that these words have been inserted from Galatians 6:18, to which he would also attribute ἡμῶν _supr._, which is probably spurious. [76] Meyer.... [ Continue Reading ]