_HE TESTIFIETH HIS THANKFULNESS TO GOD, AND HIS LOVE TOWARD THEM, FOR THE FRUITS OF THEIR FAITH, AND FELLOWSHIP IN HIS SUFFERINGS; DAILY PRAYING TO HIM FOR THEIR INCREASE IN GRACE: HE SHEWETH WHAT GOOD THE FAITH OF CHRIST HAD RECEIVED BY HIS TROUBLES AT ROME, AND HOW READY HE IS TO GLORIFY CHRIST, E... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL AND TIMOTHEUS,— This and the following verse contain the inscription, or introduction of this Epistle. St. Paul might choose to join _Timothy_ with him, as he not only had attended the Apostle in his general travels into these parts, but had assisted in preaching the gospel at Philippi. Comp. A... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK MY GOD— From this verse to the 11th the Apostle acquaints the Philippians with the satisfaction that he had in them, and how much he thanked God upon their account, and what was the matter of his prayers to God for them. Instead of, _upon every remembrance of you,_ Dr. Heylin reads, _as ofte... [ Continue Reading ]
ALWAYS IN EVERY PRAYER, &C.— It is not to be supposed that St. Paul never made any prayer, public or private, wherein he did not expressly mention the case of the _Philippians:_ the meaning of the passage therefore onlyis, "Always in every prayer of mine, which I put up for you all, praying with joy... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP, &C.— _Your participation in the gospel:_ so Doddridge, and also Heylin, who observes that the meaning is, "the part you have in the gospel;—obeying its precepts, and profiting by the graces which accompany it." See 1 Corinthians 1:9. 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 13:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST:— See Philippians 1:10. The Apostle speaks this from a judgment of charity, and from the consequent confidence that he had in them; because, says he, it seems just, or fit for me to conceive this good hope of you, by reason of that great affection which you retain towar... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS IT IS MEET, &C.— _As it is just in me to be thus affected towards you all; because you have me in your hearts, both in my bonds, and in my defence and confirmation of the gospel, being all partakers with me of its grace._ Doddridge. Dr. Heylin renders the verse more paraphrastically thus; _A... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS MY RECORD, &C.— "God is my witness, that I long to see you with that peculiar tenderness of affection, which nothing but these bonds of mutual faith and love centering in him can be capable of producing; and which greatly resemble the compassion which Christ himself feels for those whom his g... [ Continue Reading ]
IN KNOWLEDGE, AND IN ALL JUDGMENT;— The former of these is explained of speculative, the latter of practical knowledge; but the difference between the ideas suggested by the original would be much better preserved, by rendering the last word αισθησει, _perception,_ or _discernment._ He wishes that... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE MAY APPROVE, &C.— _So as to prove things which differ:_—"To prove by experience, and know by trial, how incomparably excellent the Christian character is beyond any other; (see 1 Thessalonians 5:21.) that you may be found not only sincere and cordial, but altogether inoffensive through the w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING FILLED, &C.— "Being filled with all the genuine fruits and effects of righteousness, which are produced by virtue of a living faith in Jesus Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WOULD YE SHOULD UNDERSTAND,— The Philippians, from the great affection they bore to St. Paul, being much concerned on account of his present sufferings, he labours, from this to the 26th verse, to abate their concern, by representing to them how useful his bonds had been to promote and spread... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT MY BONDS IN CHRIST ARE MANIFEST— _"So that my bonds in_ or _for Christ are manifested_ and taken notice of _in all the palace_ of Caesar, _and all other places_ in and about the city; and have seemed so remarkable, that many have been excited to inquire, much to their own satisfaction and ad... [ Continue Reading ]
WAXING CONFIDENT BY MY BONDS, &C.— _Encouraged by my bonds, preach the word with greater freedom and intrepidity._... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME INDEED PREACH CHRIST, &C.— It is very proper here to inquire who these preachers were, the rightly stating of which may give some light to this Epistle. There can be no doubt that they must have been professed converts to the Christian religion; for no unconverted Jews or Gentiles would ever gi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SINCERELY,— This may refer to the _matter_ of their preaching: it was not _sincere,_ pure, and uncorrupted gospel; but they adulterated it, by mixing Judaism with it; and so they perverted the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:7. Or it may refer to the _intentions_ of the preachers: they acted not s... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM SET, &C.— Some would render the word κειμαι, _I lie,_ that is to say, in bonds for the gospel, in order to make an apology for it before Nero; and this they think a more moving consideration, and one which would sooner excite love and tenderness, than what is expressed in our translation;—that... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SHALL TURN TO MY SALVATION— _My deliverance:_ Peirce; who thinks, that as they who preached Christ out of _love,_ made more friends for the Apostle, so they who preached him out of _envy,_ gave his friends an opportunity of representing his persecutors as proceeding upon principles of malice. B... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ALL BOLDNESS,— _With all openness,_ or _in the most public manner._ See John 7:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, &C.— "He is the supreme end of life, and I value it only as it is capable of being referred to the purposes of his honour; and, in consequence of that, _to die is gain:_ for as that temper argues my interest in the friendship of that Redeemer, who is the Lord of the invisibl... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF I LIVE IN THE FLESH,— "But if my lot should be to live longer in the flesh, this magnifying, or serving of Christ will be the fruit of my labour, &c." There seems to besomething emphatic in the Apostle's manner of expressing himself, in this and the 24th verse. It appears to be his intention... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM IN A STRAIT, &C.— _"For I am,_ as it were, _borne two different ways; having_ on the one hand _a_ more earnest _desire,_ out of regard to my own immediate happiness, _to be unbound,_ to weigh anchor, _and,_ quitting these mortal shores, to set sail for that happy world, where I shall _be_ i... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THAT I SHALL ABIDE, &C.— "I am persuaded that I shall live yet longer, and have an opportunity of visiting you all." Probably the Apostle had some particular revelation whereupon to ground his confidence. It is not by any means to be imagined that he refers to _intimations from the palace_ ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_PHILIPPIANS 1:27_.— From this verse to ch. Philippians 2:18. St. Paul presses upon the Philippians a perseverance and unanimity in the faith which he had taught them, notwithstanding the opposition that they met with on account of it; and withal, he urges them to be peaceable, and condescending to... [ Continue Reading ]
IN NOTHING TERRIFIED, &C.— It evidently appears hence, and from several other passages in this Epistle, that the Philippians were now in a sufferingstate: which is a circumstance to be borne in mind as we go on, as it illustrates several masterly strokes in the Apostle's address to them. "I suppose,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN, &C.— _For it is granted to you as a favour, on the part of Christ._ Doddridge, Heylin, &c. St. Paul very skilfully diverts them from viewing persecution under its most frightful appearance, and leads them to consider it as a gift and an honour conferred upon them. We may ob... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING THE SAME CONFLICT, &C.— _"Having,_ in a great measure, _the same struggle_ with the adversaries of the gospel, who labour to overbear it by brutal violence,_—as ye saw_ to be _in me,_ when I was among you in Philippi, and was stripped, and scourged, and laid in the dungeon, and in the stocks;... [ Continue Reading ]