William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Philippians 1:30

Here is the last argument made use of by the apostle to encourage them unto patient suffering for the gospel of Christ, as it would render them comfortable to Christ their head, so to him their apostle, who suffered many hard things when he was at Philippi, as they had seen, and stood ready to suffer, not only bonds, but death itself, now he was at Rome, which they heard of: Having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Here observe, 1. The title given by St. Paul to his sufferings for the gospel; he calls them. conflict.

Learn, That Christian courage under sufferings cannot be kept up without. mighty conflict; we must conflict with our enemies, with the rage of persecutors; we must conflict with ourselves, and with our own spirits, to keep them from fainting under persecution; and we must even conflict with God himself, wrestle with him, by prayers, for extraordinary measures of strength to support us under sufferings, and to enable us to glorify God in and by them: well might the apostle then call his sufferings. conflict.

Observe, 2. St. Paul encourages the Philippians to conflict with sufferings, from his own example before them: Having the same conflict which you saw in me.

Learn, That the prudent and patient sufferings of the ministers of Christ for the truth of the gospel are, and ought to be,. powerful encouragement to all their people to conflict with the like difficulties and trials for the testimony of Christ: the Captain goes first, leads the van, his ministers follow, and their people bring up the rear; and, having suffered together, they shall also be glorified together;. suffering head, and suffering members, shall never be separated.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Philippians 1:30

Old Testament

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