Philippians 1:8

“For God is my witness, how. long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus”

“For God is my witness”: “How deep that love is Paul indicates by an affirmation so emphatic as to take the form of. solemn oath” (Erdman p. 50). “He now shows that this is no exaggeration because it is important that the Philippians shall know how ardently he loves them. The apostle appeals to the God who cannot lie and who judges the hearts of men” (Hendriksen p. 57). “When we can learn to think, and feel, and act as our Lord would, we have captured the spirit of what Christianity is about” (Jackson p. 25). “He had not forgotten, he had not grown cold; his love had not lessened” (Lenski p. 715). “Walking at He walked (1 John 2:6) involves ‘feeling' as Christ felt, thinking as Christ thought, viewing life and brethren in the exact same way as He would view and treat them. 'Christ living in' you (Galatians 2:20), being dead to self, means that you are so in tune with the will of Christ and that you express the very same feelings and emotions that He would express in. similar situation. 'This precious paragraph in which Paul expresses his joyful gratitude for his Christian companions indicates that the strongest bonds of friendship are those which are formed by fellowship in Christian service. There are other ties by which hearts are united. Some are due to common interests and sympathies and mental attitudes. However, those which are most sacred and abiding are those which are due to. common relationship with Christ, and to an earnest cooperation in work undertaken for his sake. Then again, this glowing paragraph reminds us that friendships need to be purified. Much that is selfish and unworthy is often mistaken for love. When, however, one realizes the love of Christ, when one seeks to know the mind of Christ, when one is submissive to the will of Christ, then human affections are ennobled and strengthened” (Erdman pp. 50-51).

“How. long after you all”:”Yearn over you all” (TCNT). ‘How my love goes out to you” (Bas). “Tender Mercies”: “Literally, ‘in the bowels' as the seat of the affections” (Robertson p. 437). “Of Christ Jesus”: “With the affection of Christ Jesus Himself” (Mof). “It is an utterly selfless affection” (Bruce p. 35). “Paul's love is patterned after (cf. 1 Peter 2:5) Christ's love” (Hendriksen p. 58).