_FROM PARTICULAR ADMONITIONS HE PROCEEDETH TO GENERAL EXHORTATIONS: SHEWING HOW HE REJOICED AT THEIR LIBERALITY TOWARDS HIM LYING IN PRISON, NOT SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPLY OF HIS WANTS, AS FOR THE GRACE OF GOD IN THEM: AND SO CONCLUDETH WITH PRAYER AND SALUTATIONS._ _Anno Domini 62._ TO the foregoing... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, MY BRETHREN; &C.— There is no more reason for making this the beginning of a new chapter, than there would be for disjoining the last verse of 1 Corinthians 15. (in a sense exactly parallel to this,) from the preceding discourse on the resurrection, with which it is so beautifully and pro... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUE YOKE-FELLOW,— _My genuine associate._ Doddridge. Heylin reads the clause, _I beseech thee also, my faithful partner, to assist them both, for they assisted me,_ &c. Some have supposed that by the word συζυγε, St. Paul means his _wife;_ but as the word in the original is masculine, waving all ot... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAY:— The Apostle, in this advice, seems to have a respect to thesuffering condition in which it appears, by other passages in the Epistle, that he considered them. This is confirmed by the strain of his advice in the next verses. See ch. Philippians 2:18 Philippians 3:1. 1 The... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR MODERATION BE KNOWN— _Let your meekness,_ &c.—_The Lord is nigh you._ Both the parts of this verse shew, that St. Paul considers the Philippians in a state of persecution. _Gentleness,_ or _meekness,_ (which is the import of the original (το επιεικες),) was peculiarly suited hereto; and the... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THANKSGIVING,— When St. Paul directs them to join thanksgiving with prayer and supplication, in their suffering condition, he appears to have the same design before noticed; namely, to divert them from the frightful view of persecution, and to put them in mind, as he does ch. Philippians 1:29 t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEACE OF GOD, &C.— This expression is only found here and in Colossians 3:15. In both some understand it of that _peaceable temper_ which God hath commanded; but it seems much more easy and natural to understand it of that _peace_ which we have _with God._ St. Paul is here _arming_ the Phili... [ Continue Reading ]
FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER THINGS, &C.— The reader will find in the _Inferences_ a complete exposition of this beautiful and comprehensive passage... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF PEACE— So called, on account of his affording us peace with himself; as he is called _the God of all grace,_ 1 Peter 5:10 on account of all the favours that he bestows upon us. See Hebrews 13:20. 1 Thessalonians 5:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I REJOICED IN THE LORD GREATLY— The Apostle uses a very skilful way here of commending the generosity of his benefactors; whereby he signifies, not only that they had done their duty, but that the Lord had favoured them, by stirring them up to it; and that they had given him occasion of much tha... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT— _Nor do I speak upon the account of my want._ He had told them, in the verse before, that he rejoiced greatly in the revival of their care for him; and here he presents their mistaking the true cause of his joy.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM INSTRUCTED— "I find myself initiated, as it were, into this great mystery." This is well known to be the peculiar sense of the word μεμοημαι; and it seems as if the Apostle, by the choice of this peculiar word, meant to intimate to his Greek readers, how much he esteemed the good dispositions o... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL— That is, when he first preached the gospel among the Philippians. See ch. Philippians 1:5. The next verse shows, that the clause, _when I departed,_ &c. should be rendered, _when I was departing?_ &c. Thessalonica was itself in Macedonia, and therefore he had not _dep... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SENT ONCE AND AGAIN, &C.— It appears by 1 Thessalonians 2:9 and 2 Thessalonians 3:7 that it was not to the liberality of the inhabitants of that city, but chiefly to the labour of his own hands, that St. Paul owed his subsistence during his abode among them. St. Chrysostom remarks judiciously upo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY— _And my God._ This is to be understood in the nature of a wish, or as expressive of what was the matter of his prayer for them. Many copies and versions read it in the optative mood; _and may my God supply._ Observe further, he says not _our God,_ but _my God;_ because he is... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW UNTO GOD AND OUR FATHER— _Now unto our God and Father._ Pierce and Doddridge.... [ Continue Reading ]
SALUTE EVERY SAINT— The Syriac reads, "every one who has acquired holiness by Jesus Christ." As _the brethren_ here stand contradistinguished to _the saints,_ Philippians 4:22 we must understand the _brethren in office,_ or the _ministers._ [See Grotius, Hammond, Lardner, Michaelis, Pierce, Doddrid... [ Continue Reading ]