Paul. The official designation is omitted, as in 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philemon. It is not easy to explain the use or omission of the title apostle in all cases. Here, and in Philemon and 1 Thessalonians, its omission may be accounted for by the general, unofficial, personal, affectionate charac... [ Continue Reading ]
Grace - peace. The combination of the Greek and Oriental salutations spiritualized : grace expressing God's love to man, and peace the condition resulting therefrom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Every remembrance [π α σ η τ η μ ν ε ι α] Better, as Rev, all my remembrance. Prayer [δ ε η σ ε ι]. Rev., better, supplication. See on Luke 5:33. For you all. Connect with every prayer of mine. Request [τ η ν δ ε η σ ι ν]. Rev., better, my supplication. The article refers to every supplication. W... [ Continue Reading ]
For your fellowship [ε π ι τ η κ ο ι ν ω ν ι α υ μ ω ν]. Connect with I thank God. For fellowship, see on 1 John 1:3. The word sometimes has the meaning of almsgiving, contributions, as Romans 14:26; Hebrews 13:16. Though here it is used in the larger sense of sympathetic cooperation, yet it is no d... [ Continue Reading ]
Being confident [π ε π ο ι θ ω ς]. With a slightly causative force : since I am confident. Hath begun - will perform [ε ν α ρ ξ α μ ε ν ο ς - ε π ι τ ε λ ε σ ε ι]. The two words occur together, 2 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:3. Both were used of religious ceremonials. So Euripides : "But come! Brin... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as [κ α θ ω ς]. The reason for being confident (ver. 6). Defense [α π ο λ ο γ ι α]. See on 1 Peter 3:15. Confirmation [β ε β α ι ω σ ε ι]. Only here and Hebrews 6:16. The kindred verb bebaiow to confirm, occurs frequently, as Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 1:8, etc. Partakers of my grace [σ υ γ κ... [ Continue Reading ]
In the bowels of Jesus Christ [ε ν σ π λ α γ χ ν ο ι ς χ ρ ι σ τ ο υ ι η σ ο υ]. Rev., better, in the tender mercies. Describing his longing, not as his individual emotion, but as Christ's longing, as if the very heart of Christ dwelt in him. "In Paul not Paul lives, but Jesus Christ" (Bengel) With... [ Continue Reading ]
Judgment [α ι σ θ η σ ε ι]. Only here in the New Testament. Rev., better, discernment : sensitive moral perception. Used of the senses, as Xenophon : "perception of things sweet or pungent" (" Memorabilia, "1, 4, 5). Of hearing :" It is possible to go so far away as not to afford a hearing "(" Anaba... [ Continue Reading ]
Approve [δ ο κ ι μ α ζ ε ι ν]. Sanction on test. See on 1 Peter 1:7. Things which are excellent [τ α δ ι α φ ε ρ ο ν τ α]. Unnecessary difficulty has been made in the explanation of this phrase. Love displays itself in knowledge and discernment. In proportion as it abounds it sharpens the moral per... [ Continue Reading ]
Fruit of righteousness [κ α ρ π ο ν δ ι κ α ι ο σ υ ν η ς]. The phrase occurs James 3:18. Compare Proverbs 11:30. Glory and praise of God. For glory of God, see on Romans 3:23. That God's glory may be both manifested and recognized. Compare Ephesians 1:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rather [μ α λ λ ο ν]. For the furtherance of the Gospel rather than, as might have been expected, for its hindrance. Furtherance [π ρ ο κ ο π η ν]. Only here, ver. 25, and 1 Timothy 4:15. The metaphor is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of pioneers cutting [κ ο π τ ω] a way before [π ρ ο] an a... [ Continue Reading ]
My bonds in Christ are manifest [τ ο υ ς δ ε σ μ ο υ ς μ ο υ φ α ν ε ρ ο υ ς ε ν χ ρ ι σ τ ω γ ε ν ε σ θ α ι]. Bonds and Christ, in the Greek, are too far apart to be construed together. Better, as Rev., my bonds became manifest in Christ. His imprisonment became known as connected with Christ. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
Many [τ ο υ ς π λ ε ι ο ν α ς]. Rev., correctly, the most. Lit., the more. Implying that there were a few who held back. Brethren in the Lord. In the Lord should be rather connected with being confident. The expression brethren in the Lord does not occur in the New Testament; while to have confiden... [ Continue Reading ]
Even of envy. Strange as it may seem that envy should be associated with the preaching of Christ. They are jealous of Paul's influence. Strife [ε ρ ι ν]. Factious partisanship. Good will. Toward Paul.... [ Continue Reading ]
The one preach Christ of contention. The order of vers. 16, 17, is reversed in the best texts. Of contentions [ε ξ ε ρ ι θ ε ι α ς]. See on strife, James 3:14. Rev., better, faction. Compare Chaucer : "For mine entente is not but for to winne And nothing for correction of sinne" " Pardouere's Tale,... [ Continue Reading ]
I am set [κ ε ι μ α ι]. Or appointed. See on Luke 2:34. Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:3. Some, instead of rendering the one (or some) preach Christ of contention - but the other of love, join oiJ men some, oiJ de others, in each instance with the succeeding word, making one phrase, thus : " they who are... [ Continue Reading ]
What then? Such being the case, how does it affect me? Notwithstanding [π λ η ν]. Read plhn oti except that. Rev., only that. What is my feeling in view of these things? Only that I rejoice that Christ is preached. In pretense. With a spirit of envy and faction, possibly with a counterfeited zeal... [ Continue Reading ]
This. This preaching of Christ in every way. Shall turn [α π ο β η σ ε τ α ι]. Lit., come off, eventuate. Salvation. Not his deliverance from captivity, but it will prove salutary to him in a spiritual sense and to the saving work of the Gospel. Salvation simply is used, without any more precise d... [ Continue Reading ]
Earnest expectation [α π ο κ α ρ α δ ο κ ι α ν]. Only here and Romans 8:19, on which see note. Shall be ashamed [α ι σ χ υ ν θ η σ ο μ α ι]. Rev., better, giving the force of the passive, shall be put to shame. Boldness. See on Philippians 1:8. Shall be magnified in my body. Through my bodily suf... [ Continue Reading ]
To me. Emphatic. Whatever life may be to others, to me, etc To live is Christ [τ ο ζ η ν χ ρ ι σ τ ο ς]. Lit, the living is Christ. Compare Galatians 2:20. He has no thought of life apart from Christ. Gain. As consummating the union with Christ. Compare Colossians 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8. "Declare... [ Continue Reading ]
If I live [ε ι τ ο ζ η ν]. Rev., better, if to live : the living, as ver. 21. This is the fruit of my labor. According to the A. V. these words form the offset of the conditional clause, and conclude the sentence : if I live - this is the fruit. It is better to make the two clauses parallel, thus :... [ Continue Reading ]
I am in a strait betwixt two [σ υ ν ε χ ο μ α ι ε κ τ ω ν δ υ ο]. See on 2 Corinthians 5:14. The picture is that of a man pressed on both sides. Lit. I am held together, so that I cannot incline either way. Betwixt two, lit., from the two. The pressure comes from both sides. Note the article, the tw... [ Continue Reading ]
To abide in the flesh [ε π ι μ ε ν ε ι ν ε ν τ η σ α ρ κ ι]. See on Colossians 1:23. To abide by the flesh. Compare Romans 6:1; Romans 11:22; Romans 11:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
Furtherance. See on ver. 12. Of faith. Rev., in the faith. To be connected with both furtherance and joy. For promoting your faith and your joy in believing. For joy of faith, compare Romans 14:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoicing [κ α υ χ η μ α]. The matter of rejoicing, wrought through your faith. In Christ Jesus for me [ε ν χ ρ ι σ τ ω ι η σ ο υ ε ν ε μ ο ι]. Construe in Christ Jesus with may abound, not with rejoicing. Christ is conceived as the element in which the matter of rejoicing grows and abounds. For me... [ Continue Reading ]
Only. This one thing I urge as the only thing needful Let your conversation be [π ο λ ι τ ε υ ε σ θ ε]. Only here in Paul's writings, and elsewhere only Acts 23:1. The verb means to be a citizen. Lit., Be citizens worthily of the Gospel. Rev., Let your manner of life be. Margin, Behave as citizens.... [ Continue Reading ]
Terrified [π τ υ ρ ο μ ε ν ο ι]. Only here in the New Testament. Properly of the terror of a startled horse. Thus Diodorus Siculus, speaking of the chariot - horses of Darius at the battle of Issus : "Frightened [π τ υ ρ ο μ ε ν ο ι] by reason of the multitude of the dead heaped round them, they sho... [ Continue Reading ]
It is given - to suffer for His sake [ε χ α ρ ι σ θ η τ ο υ π ε ρ - α υ ο τ υ π α σ χ ε ι ν]. Every word here is significant. Suffering is a gift of grace. "It is given" should be "it was given," referring to the gift bestowed when they became Christians. Suffering was the marriage - gift when they... [ Continue Reading ]
Conflict [α γ ω ν α]. An athletic contest. See on striving, Colossians 1:29, and compare striving together, ver. 27. Ye saw. In his sufferings at Philippi, Acts 16, see 1 Thessalonians 2:2. Hear. Concerning my imprisonment.... [ Continue Reading ]