PAUL (Παυλος). He does not mention his apostleship as he usually does. Omitted also in I and II Thess. and Philemon.TIMOTHY (Τιμοθεος). In no sense the author, but associated with Paul because with him here in Rome as in Corinth when I and II Thessalonians written and in Ephesus when I Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON (επ). Basis of the thanksgiving.ALL (παση). Note frequent use of "all" here (πασηι, παντοτε, always, παση, again, παντων υμων, you all). The use of "you all" recurs several times (Philippians 1:4; Philippians 1:7 _bis_, Philippians 1:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH JOY (μετα χαρας). Keynote of the Epistle. Paul is a happy prisoner as in Philippi when he and Silas sang praises at midnight though in prison (Acts 16:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP (επ τη κοινωνια υμων). "On the basis of your contribution" as in 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Acts 2:42. The particular kind of "partnership" or "fellowship" involved is the contribution made by the Philippians for the spread of the gospel (Philippians 1:7 συγκοινωνο... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING CONFIDENT (πεποιθως). Second perfect active of πειθω, to persuade.THIS VERY THING (αυτο τουτο). Accusative of the inner object with πεποιθως, "this thing itself."WILL PERFECT IT (επιτελεσε). Future active indicative of επιτελεω, will fully (επι-) finish. God began and God will consummat... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I HAVE YOU IN MY HEART (δια το εχειν με εν τη καρδια υμας). Or "because you hold me in your heart." Literally, "because of the holding me (or you) in the heart as to you (or me)." One accusative is the object of the infinitive εχειν, the other is the accusative of general reference. There... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WITNESS (μαρτυς μου). Same solemn oath in Romans 1:9.I LONG AFTER (επιποθω). Longing (ποθος) directed toward (επ) the Philippians. Old word, chiefly in Paul in N.T.IN THE TENDER MERCIES (εν σπλαγχνοις). Literally "in the bowels" as the seat of the affections.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY ABOUND (περισσευη). Present active subjunctive of περισσευω, may keep on overflowing, a perpetual flood of love, "yet more and more" (ετ μαλλον κα μαλλον), but with necessary limitations (river banks), "in knowledge" (εν επιγνωσε, in full knowledge) "and all discernment" (παση αισθησε). The d... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT YE MAY (εις το υμας). Either purpose or result (εις το plus infinitive as in Romans 1:11; Romans 1:20; Romans 3:26, etc.).APPROVE THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT (δοκιμαζειν τα διαφεροντα). Originally, "test the things that differ." Cf. same idiom in Romans 2:28. The verb was used for ass... [ Continue Reading ]
FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (καρπον δικαιοσυνης). Singular, collective idea, fruit of righteousness. Accusative case retained with perfect passive participle.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THINGS WHICH HAPPENED UNTO ME (τα κατ' εμε). "The things concerning me" = "my affairs" as common in Josephus.HAVE FALLEN OUT RATHER (μαλλον εληλυθεν). "Have come rather." Second perfect active indicative of ερχομα.UNTO THE PROGRESS (εις προκοπην). Late word from προκοπτω, common verb, to... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PRAETORIAN GUARD (εν ολω τω πραιτωριω). There were originally ten thousand of these picked soldiers, concentrated in Rome by Tiberius. They had double pay and special privileges and became so powerful that emperors had to court their favour. Paul had contact with one after ano... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOST OF THE BRETHREN (τους πλειονας των αδελφων). "The more part of the brethren." The comparative with the article with the sense of the superlative as often in the _Koine_.IN THE LORD (εν Κυριω). It is not clear whether this phrase is to be connected with "brethren" or with "being confide... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN OF ENVY AND STRIFE (κα δια φθονον κα εριν). "Even because of" (accusative after δια). Surely the lowest of motives for preaching Christ. Envy is an old word and an old sin and strife (ερις) is more rivalry than schism. It is petty and personal jealousy of Paul's power and prowess by the Juda... [ Continue Reading ]
OF LOVE (εξ αγαπης). Out of love to Paul as well as to Christ. Put Philippians 1:1 here as a flash-light.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF FACTION (εξ εριθειας). Out of partisanship. From εριθευω, to spin wool, and that from εριθος, a hireling. The papyri examples suit the idea of selfish ambition (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_). See 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20.NOT SINCERELY (ουχ αγνως). "Not purely," that is with... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN? (τ γαρ?). Sharp problem put up to Paul by the conduct of the Judaizers.ONLY THAT (πλην οτ). Same idiom in Acts 20:23. Πλην is adverb πλεον (more besides). As a preposition πλην means "except." This essential thing Paul sees in spite of all their envy and selfishness that Christ is pr... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL TURN (αποβησετα). Future middle indicative of αποβαινω, old verb, to come from, to come back, to turn out.TO MY SALVATION (εις σωτηριαν). For his release from prison as he strongly hopes to see them again (Philippians 1:26). Lightfoot takes the word to be Paul's eternal salvation and it mu... [ Continue Reading ]
EARNEST EXPECTATION (αποκαραδοκιαν). In Paul alone from αποκαραδοκεω (in papyri). See on Romans 8:19 for only other example.SHALL BE MAGNIFIED (μεγαλυνθησετα). Future passive indicative of μεγαλυνω, old verb, to make great, from μεγας (great). See Acts 19:17.IN MY BODY (εν τω σωματ μου). See... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR TO ME (εμο γαρ). Fine example of the ethical dative. Paul gives his own view of living.TO LIVE IS CHRIST (το ζηιν Χριστος). No copula (εστιν), but το ζηιν (the act of living present active infinitive) is the subject as is shown by the article το. Living is coextensive with Christ.GAIN (κε... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THIS IS THE FRUIT OF MY WORK (τουτο μο καρπος εργου). There is no ε (if) here in the Greek, but τουτο (this) seems to be resumptive and to repeat the conditional clause just before. If so, κα just after meansTHEN and introduces the conclusion of the condition. Otherwise τουτο introduces the... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM IN A STRAIT (συνεχομα). "I am held together." Present passive indicative of the common compound verb συνεχω, to hold together, to hem together as in Luke 8:45. "I am hemmed in on both sides" (Lightfoot).BETWIXT THE TWO (εκ των δυο). "From the two (sides)." Pressure to live on, pressure to... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FLESH (εν τη σαρκ). So B D G, but Aleph A C do not have εν. Unnecessary with επιμενω, to abide by (common verb).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ABIDE WITH YOU ALL (κα παραμενω πασιν υμιν). Common Pauline idiom to repeat the simple verb (μενω) as a compound (παραμενω, future active indicative), old verb, to remain beside followed by locative case. See same idiom in χαιρω, συνχαιρω (Philippians 2:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
IN CHRIST JESUS IN ME (εν Χριστω Ιησου εν εμο). "In Christ Jesus" as the basis for the glorying (καυχημα), "in me" as the instance in point.THROUGH MY PRESENCE (δια της εμης παρουσιας). The word so often used of the second coming of Christ, but here in its ordinary sense as in Philippians 2:12;... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR MANNER OF LIFE (πολιτευεσθε). Old verb from πολιτης, citizen, and that from πολις, city, to be a citizen, to manage a state's affairs, to live as a citizen. Only twice in N.T., here and Acts 23:1. Philippi as a colony possessed Roman citizenship and Paul was proud of his own possession o... [ Continue Reading ]
AFFRIGHTED (πτυρομενο). Present passive participle of πτυρω, old verb, to frighten. The metaphor is of a timid or scared horse and from πτοεω (πτοα, terror). "Not startled in anything."BY THE ADVERSARIES (υπο των αντικειμενων). These men who were lined up against (present middle participle of α... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BEHALF OF CHRIST (το υπερ Χριστου). Literally, "the in behalf of Christ." But Paul divides the idea and uses the article to again both with πιστευειν and with πασχειν. Suffering in behalf of Christ is one of God's gifts to us.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONFLICT (αγωνα). Athletic or gladiatorial contest as in 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7. The Philippians saw Paul suffer (Acts 16:19-40; 1 Thessalonians 2:2) as now they have heard about it in Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]