NOTES

ST. PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

PHILIPPI was so called from Philip, king of Macedonia, who much

enlarged and beautified it. Afterwards it became a Roman colony,

and the chief city of that part of Macedonia. Hither St. Paul was

sent by a vision to preach and here, not long after his coming, he

was shamefully entreated. Nevertheless many were converted by him,

during the short time of his abode there; by whose liberality he was

more assisted than by any other church of his planting. And they

had now sent large assistance to him by Epaphroditus; by whom he

returns them this epistle.

It contains six parts:-

I. The inscription,......................................... C.i. 1,2

II. Thanksgiving and prayers for them,............................ 3-11

III.He relates his present state and good hope:.................. 12-24

Whence he exhorts them,

1. While he remains with them to walk worthy of the

gospel,.................................................... 25-30

C. ii. 1-16

2. Though he should be killed, to rejoice with him,........... 17,18

And promises,

1. To certify them of all things by Timotheus,................ 19-24

2. In the mean time to send Epaphroditus,..................... 25-30

IV. He exhorts them to rejoice,........................... C. iii. 1-3

admonishing them to beware of false teachers, and

to imitate the true,...................................... 2-21

commending concord,................................. C. iv. 1-3

He again exhorts them to joy and meekness.................... 4-7

and to whatsoever things are excellent,...................... 8-9

V. He accepts of their liberality,.............................. 10-20

VI. The conclusion,.............................................. 21-23

Verse 1. Servants-St. Paul, writing familiarly to the

Philippians, does not style himself an apostle. And under the

common title of servants, he tenderly and modestly joins with

himself his son Timotheus, who had come to Philippi not long

after St. Paul had received him, # Acts 16:3,12.

To all the saints-The apostolic epistles were sent more directly

to the churches, than to the pastors of them. With the bishops

and deacons-The former properly took care of the internal state,

the latter, of the externals, of the church, # 1Tim 3:2-8;

although these were not wholly confined to the one, neither

those to the other. The word bishops here includes all the

presbyters at Philippi, as well as the ruling presbyters:

the names bishop and presbyter, or elder, being promiscuously

used in the first ages.

Verse 4. With joy-After the epistle to the Ephesians, wherein

love reigns, follows this, wherein there is perpetual mention

of joy. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy." And joy

peculiarly enlivens prayer. The sum of the whole epistle is,

I rejoice. Rejoice ye.

Verse 5. The sense is, I thank God for your fellowship with us

in all the blessings of the gospel, which I have done from the

first day of your receiving it until now.

Verse 6. Being persuaded-The grounds of which persuasion are

set down in the following verse. That he who hath begun a good

work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ-That he

who having justified, hath begun to sanctify you, will carry

on this work, till it issue in glory.

Verse 7. As it is right for me to think this of you all-Why?

He does not say, "Because of an eternal decree;" or, "Because

a saint must persevere;" but, because I have you in my heart,

who were all partakers of my grace-That is, because ye were

all (for which I have you in my heart, I bear you the most

grateful and tender affection) partakers of my grace-That is,

sharers in the afflictions which God vouchsafed me as a grace

or favour, # Php 1:29,30;

both in my bonds, and when I was called forth to answer for

myself, and to confirm the gospel. It is not improbable that,

after they had endured that great trial of affliction, God had

sealed them unto full victory, of which the apostle had a

prophetic sight.

Verse 8. I long for you with the bowels of Jesus Christ-In

Paul, not Paul lives, but Jesus Christ. Therefore he longs

for them with the bowels, the tenderness, not of Paul, but

of Jesus Christ.

Verse 9. And this I pray, that your love-Which they had

already shown. May abound yet more and more-The fire which

burned in the apostle never says, It is enough. In knowledge

and in all spiritual sense-Which is the ground of all

spiritual knowledge. We must be inwardly sensible of divine

peace, joy, love; otherwise, we cannot know what they are.

Verse 10. That ye may try-By that spiritual sense. The things

that are excellent-Not only good, but the very best; the

superior excellence of which is hardly discerned, but by the

adult Christian. That ye may be inwardly sincere-Having a

single eye to the very best things, and a pure heart. And

outwardly without offence-Holy, unblamable in all things.

Verse 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness,

which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of

God-Here are three properties of that sincerity which is

acceptable to God:

1. It must bear fruits, the fruits of righteousness, all

inward and outward holiness, all good tempers, words, and

works; and that so abundantly, that we may be filled with them.

2. The branch and the fruits must derive both their virtue

and their very being from the all-supporting, all-supplying

root, Jesus Christ.

3. As all these flow from the grace of Christ, so they must

issue in the glory and praise of God.

Verse 12. The things concerning me-My sufferings. Have

fallen out rather to the furtherance, than, as you feared,

the hinderance, of the gospel.

13. My bonds in Christ-Endured for his sake. Have

been made manifest-Much taken notice of. In the whole

palace-Of the Roman emperor.

Verse 14. And many-Who were before afraid. Trusting in the

Lord through my bonds-When they observed my constancy, and

safety not withstanding, are more bold.

Verses 15, 16. Some indeed preach Christ out of contention

-Envying St. Paul's success, and striving to hurt him thereby.

Not sincerely-From a real desire to glorify God. But supposing

-Though they were disappointed. To add more affliction to my

bonds-By enraging the Romans against me.

16. See note ... "Php 1:15"

Verse 17. But the others out of love-To Christ and me. Knowing

-Not barely, supposing. That I am set-Literally, I lie; yet

still going forward in his work. He remained at Rome as an

ambassador in a place where he is employed on an important

embassy.

Verse 18. In pretence-Under colour of propagating the gospel.

In truth-With a real design so to do.

Verse 19. This shall turn to my salvation-Shall procure me an

higher degree of glory. Through your prayer-Obtaining for me

a larger supply of the Spirit.

Verse 20. As always-Since my call to the apostleship. In my

body-however it may he disposed of. How that might be, he

did not yet know. For the apostles did not know all things;

particularly in things pertaining to themselves, they had

room to exercise faith and patience.

Verse 21. To me to live is Christ-To know, to love, to follow

Christ, is my life, my glory, my joy.

22. Here he begins to treat of the former clause of the

preceding verse. Of the latter he treats, # Php 2:17.

But if I am to live is the flesh, this is the fruit of my

labour-This is the fruit of my living longer, that I can labour

more. Glorious labour! desirable fruit! in this view, long

life is indeed a blessing. And what I should choose I know not

-That is, if it were left to my choice.

Verse 23. To depart-Out of bonds, flesh, the world. And to be

with Christ-In a nearer and fuller union. It is better to

depart; it is far better to be with Christ.

Verse 25. I know-By a prophetic notice given him while he was

writing this. That I shall continue some time longer with you

-And doubtless he did see them after this confinement.

Verse 27. Only-Be careful for this, and nothing else. Stand

fast in one spirit-With the most perfect unanimity. Striving

together-With united strength and endeavours. For the faith of

the gospel-For all the blessings revealed and promised therein.

Verse 28. Which-Namely, their being adversaries to the word of

God, and to you the messengers of God. Is an evident token

-That they are in the high road to perdition; and you, in the

way of salvation.

Verse 29. For to you it is given-As a special token of God's

love, and of your being in the way of salvation.

Verse 30. Having the same kind of conflict with your

adversaries, which ye saw in me-When I was with you,

# Acts 16:12,19, &c.

Verse 1. If there be therefore any consolation-In the grace

of Christ. If any comfort-In the love of God. If any

fellowship of the Holy Ghost; if any bowels of mercies

-Resulting therefrom; any tender affection towards each other.

Verse 2. Think the same thing-Seeing Christ is your common

Head. Having the same love-To God, your common Father.

Being of one soul-Animated with the same affections and

tempers, as ye have all drank ill to one spirit. Of one

mind-Tenderly rejoicing and grieving together.

3. Do nothing through contention-Which is inconsistent

with your thinking the same thing. Or vainglory-Desire of

praise, which is directly opposite to the love of God. But

esteem each the others better than themselves-(For every one

knows more evil of himself than he can of another:) Which is

a glorious fruit of the Spirit, and an admirable help to your

continuing "of one soul."

Verse 4. Aim not every one at his own things-Only. If so, ye

have not bowels of mercies.

Verse 6. Who being in the essential form-The incommunicable

nature. Of God-From eternity, as he was afterward in the form

of man; real God, as real man. Counted it no act of robbery

-That is the precise meaning of the words,-no invasion of

another's prerogative, but his own strict and unquestionable

right. To be equal with God-the word here translated equal,

occurs in the adjective form five or six times in the New

Testament, # Mt 20:12; Lu 6:34; Joh 5:18; Ac 11:17; Re 21:16.

In all which places it expresses not a bare resemblance, but a

real and proper equalitg. It here implies both the fulness and

the supreme height of the Godhead; to which are opposed, he

emptied and he humbled himself.

Verse 7. Yet-He was so far from tenaciously insisting upon,

that he willingly relinquished, his claim. He was content

to forego the glories of the Creator, and to appear in the

form of a creature; nay, to he made in the likeness of the

fallen creatures; and not only to share the disgrace, but to

suffer the punishment, due to the meanest and vilest among

them all. He emptied himself-Of that divine fulness, which

he received again at his exaltation. Though he remained full,

# John 1:14, yet he appeared as if he had been

empty; for he veiled his fulness from the sight of men and angels.

Yea, he not only veiled, but, in some sense, renounced, the glory

which he had before the world began. Taking-And by that very

act emptying himself. The form of a servant-The form, the

likeness, the fashion, though not exactly the same, are yet

nearly related to each other. The form expresses something

absolute; the likeness refers to other things of the same kind;

the fashion respects what appears to sight and sense. Being

made in the likeness of men-A real man, like other men. Hereby

he took the form of a servant.

Verse 8. And being found in fashion as a man-A common man, without any

peculiar excellence or comeliness. He humbled himself-To a still greater

depth. Becoming obedient-To God, though equal with him. Even unto

death-The greatest instance both of humiliation and obedience.

Yea, the death of the cross-Inflicted on few but servants or slaves.

Verse 9. Wherefore-Because of his voluntary humiliation and

obedience. He humbled himself; but God hath exalted him-So

recompensing his humiliation. And hath given him-So

recompensing his emptying himself. A name which is above

every name-Dignity and majesty superior to every creature.

Verse 10. That every knee-That divine honour might be paid in every

possible manner by every creature. Might bow-Either with love or

trembling. Of those in heaven, earth, under the earth-That is,

through the whole universe.

Verse 11. And every tongue-Even of his enemies. Confess that Jesus

Christ is Lord-Jehovah; not now "in the form of a servant," but

enthroned in the glory of God the Father.

Verse 12. Wherefore-Having proposed Christ's example, he exhorts

them to secure the salvation which Christ has purchased. As ye

have always-Hitherto. Obeyed-Both God, and me his minister.

Now in my absence-When ye have not me to instruct, assist, and

direct you. Work out your own salvation-Herein let every man

aim at his own things. With fear and trembling-With the utmost

care and diligence.

Verse 13. For it is God-God alone, who is with you, though I am

not. That worketh in you according to his good pleasure-Not for

any merit of yours. Yet his influences are not to supersede, but

to encourage, our own efforts. Work out your own salvation-Here

is our duty. For it is God that worketh in you-Here is our

encouragement. And O, what a glorious encouragement, to have the

arm of Omnipotence stretched out for our support and our succour!

Verse 14. Do all things-Not only without contention,

# Php 2:3, but even

without murmurings and disputings-Which are real, though

smaller, hinderances of love.

Verse 15. That ye may be blameless-Before men. And simple

-Before God, aiming at him alone. As the sons of God-The God

of love; acting up to your high character. Unrebukable in the

midst of a crooked-Guileful, serpentine, and perverse generation

-Such as the bulk of mankind always were. Crooked-By a corrupt

nature, and yet more perverse by custom and practice.

17. Here he begins to treat of the latter clause of # Php 1:22.

Yea, and if I be offered-Literally, If I be poured out.

Upon the sacrifice of your faith-The Philippians, as the other

converted heathens, were a sacrifice to God through St. Paul's

ministry, # Rom 15:16. And as in sacrificing, wine was poured

at the foot of the altar, so he was willing that his blood should

be poured out. The expression well agrees with that kind of

martyrdom by which he was afterwards offered up to God.

Verse 18. Congratulate me-When I am offered up.

Verse 19. When I know-Upon my return, that ye stand steadfast.

Verse 20. I have none-Of those who are now with me.

Verse 21. For all-But Timotheus. Seek their own-Ease, safety,

pleasure, or profit. Amazing! In that golden age of the church,

could St. Paul throughly approve of one only, among all the

labourers that were with him? # Php 1:14,17. And how many do

we think can now approve themselves to God? Not the things of

Jesus Christ-They who seek these alone, will sadly experience

this. They will find few helpers likeminded with themselves,

willing naked to follow a naked Master.

Verse 22. As a son with his father-He uses an elegant

peculiarity of phrase, speaking partly as of a son, partly as

of a fellowlabourer.

Verse 25. To send Epaphroditus-Back immediately. Your

messenger-The Philippians had sent him to St. Paul with their

liberal contribution.

Verse 26. He was full of heaviness-Because he supposed you

would be afflicted at hearing that he was sick.

Verse 27. God had compassion on him-Restoring him to health.

Verse 28. That I may be the less sorrowful-When I know you

are rejoicing.

Verse 30. To supply your deficiency of service-To do what you

could not do in person.

Verse 1. The same things-Which you have heard before.

2. Beware of dogs-Unclean, unholy, rapacious men. The

title which the Jews usually gave the gentiles, he returns upon

themselves. The concision-Circumcision being now ceased,

the apostle will not call them the circumcision, but coins a

term on purpose, taken from a Greek word used by the LXX,

# Lev 21:5, for such a cutting as God had forbidden.

Verse 3. For we-Christians. Are the only true circumcision

-The people now in covenant with God. Who worship God in spirit

-Not barely in the letter, but with the spiritual worship of

inward holiness. And glory in Christ Jesus-As the only cause

of all our blessings. And have no confidence in the flesh-In

any outward advantage or prerogative.

Verse 4. Though I-He subjoins this in the singular number,

because the Philippians could not say thus.

Verse 5. Circumcised the eighth day-Not at ripe age, as a

proselyte. Of the tribe of Benjamin-Sprung from the wife,

not the handmaid. An Hebrew of Hebrews-By both my parents;

in everything, nation, religion, language. Touching the law,

a pharisee-One of that sect who most accurately observe it.

Verse 6. Having such a zeal for it as to persecute to

the death those who did not observe it. Touching the

righteousness which is described and enjoined by the

Law-That is, external observances, blameless.

Verse 7. But all these things, which I then accounted gain,

which were once my confidence, my glory, and joy, those, ever

since I have believed, I have accounted loss, nothing worth

in comparison of Christ.

Verse 8. Yea, I still account both all these and all things

else to be mere loss, compared to the inward, experimental

knowledge of Christ, as my Lord, as my prophet, priest, and

king, as teaching me wisdom, atoning for my sins, and reigning

in my heart. To refer this to justification only, is miserably

to pervert the whole scope of the words. They manifestly relate

to sanctification also; yea, to that chiefly. For whom I have

actually suffered the loss of all things-Which the world loves,

esteems, or admires; of which I am so far from repenting, that

I still account them but dung-The discourse rises. Loss is

sustained with patience, but dung is cast away with abhorrence.

The Greek word signifies any, the vilest refuse of things, the

dross of metals, the dregs of liquors, the excrements of

animals, the most worthless scraps of meat, the basest offals,

fit only for dogs. That I may gain Christ-He that loses all

things, not excepting himself, gains Christ, and is gained by

Christ. And still there is more; which even St. Paul speaks

of his having not yet gained.

Verse 9. And be found by God ingrafted in him, not having my

own righteousness, which is of the law-That merely outward

righteousness prescribed by the law, and performed by my own

strength. But that inward righteousness which is through

faith-Which can flow from no other fountain. The righteousness

which is from God-From his almighty Spirit, not by my own

strength, but by faith alone. Here also the apostle is far

from speaking of justification only.

Verse 10. The knowledge of Christ, mentioned in the eighth

verse, is here more largely explained. That I may know him-As

my complete Saviour. And the power of his resurrection-Raising

me from the death of sin, into all the life of love. And the

fellowship of his sufferings-Being crucified with him. And

made conformable to his death-So as to be dead to all things

here below.

Verse 11. The resurrection of the dead-That is, the

resurrection to glory.

Verse 12. Not that I have already attained-The prize. He here

enters on a new set of metaphors, taken from a race. But

observe how, in the utmost fervour, he retains his sobriety of

spirit. Or am already perfected-There is a difference between

one that is perfect, and one that is perfected. The one is

fitted for the race, # Php 3:15; the other, ready to receive the

prize. But I pursue, if I may apprehend that-Perfect holiness,

preparatory to glory. For, in order to which I was apprehended

by Christ Jesus-Appearing to me in the way,

# Acts 26:14. The speaking conditionally both here and in the

preceding verse, implies no uncertainty, but only the difficulty

of attaining.

Verse 13. I do not account myself to have apprehended this

already; to be already possessed of perfect holiness.

Verse 14. Forgetting the things that are behind-Even that part

of the race which is already run. And reaching forth unto

-Literally, stretched out over the things that are before

-Pursuing with the whole bent and vigour of my soul, perfect

holiness and eternal glory. In Christ Jesus-The author and

finisher of every good thing.

Verse 15 Let us, as many as are perfect-Fit for the race, strong

in faith; so it means here. Be thus minded-Apply wholly to this

one thing. And if in anything ye-Who are not perfect, who are

weak in faith. Be otherwise minded-Pursuing other things. God,

if ye desire it, shall reveal even this unto you-Will convince

you of it.

Verse 16. But let us take care not to lose the ground we

have already gained. Let us walk by the same rule we have

done hitherto.

Verse 17. Mark them-For your imitation.

Verse 18. Weeping-As he wrote. Enemies of the cross of

Christ-Such are all cowardly, all shamefaced, all delicate

Christians.

Verse 19. Whose end is destruction-This is placed in the front,

that what follows may be read with the greater horror. Whose

god is their belly-Whose supreme happiness lies in gratifying

their sensual appetites. Who mind-Relish, desire, seek,

earthly things.

Verse 20. Our conversation-The Greek word is of a very

extenslve meaning: our citizenship, our thoughts, our

affections, are already in heaven.

Verse 21. Who will transform our vile body-Into the most

perfect state, and the most beauteous form. It will then

be purer than the unspotted firmament, brighter than the

lustre of the stars and, which exceeds all parallel, which

comprehends all perfection, like unto his glorious body-Like

that wonderfully glorious body which he wears in his heavenly

kingdom, and on his triumphant throne.

Verse 1. So stand-As ye have done hitherto.

Verse 2. I beseech-He repeats this twice, as if speaking to

each face to face, and that with the utmost tenderness.

3. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow-St. Paul had many

fellowlabourers, but not many yokefellows. In this number was

Barnabas first, and then Silas, whom he probably addresses here;

for Silas had been his yokefellow at the very place, # Acts 16:19.

Help those women who laboured together with me-Literally, who

wrestled. The Greek word doth not imply preaching, or anything

of that kind; but danger and toil endured for the sake of the gospel,

which was also endured at the same time, probably at Philippi, by

Clement and my other fellowlabourers-This is a different word from

the former, and does properly imply fellowpreachers. Whose names,

although not set down here, are in the book of life-As are those of

all believers. An allusion to the wrestlers in the Olympic games,

whose names were all enrolled in a book. Reader, is thy name

there? Then walk circumspectly, lest the Lord blot thee out of

his book!

Verse 5. Let your gentleness-Yieldingness, sweetness of

temper, the result of joy in the Lord. Be known-By your whole

behaviour. To all men-Good and bad, gentle and froward. Those

of the roughest tempers are good natured to some, from natural

sympathy and various motives; a Christian, to all. The Lord

-The judge, the rewarder, the avenger. Is at hand-Standeth at

the door.

6. Be anxiously careful for nothing-If men are not gentle

towards you, yet neither on this, nor any other account, be

careful, but pray. Carefulness and prayer cannot stand together.

In every thing-Great and small. Let your requests be made known

-They who by a preposterous shame or distrustful modesty, cover,

stifle, or keep in their desires, as if they were either too

small or too great, must be racked with care; from which they

are entirely delivered, who pour them out with a free and filial

confidence. To God-It is not always proper to disclose them to

men. By supplication-Which is the enlarging upon and pressing

our petition. With thanksgiving-The surest mark of a soul free

from care, and of prayer joined with true resignation. This is

always followed by peace. Peace and thanksgiving are both

coupled together, # Col 3:15.

Verse 7. And the peace of God-That calm, heavenly repose,

that tranquility of spirit, which God only can give. Which

surpasseth all understanding-Which none can comprehend, save

he that receiveth it. Shall keep-Shall guard, as a garrison

does a city. Your hearts-Your affections. Your minds-Your

understandings, and all the various workings of them; through

the Spirit and power of Christ Jesus, in the knowledge and love

of God. Without a guard set on these likewise, the purity and

vigour of our affections cannot long be preserved.

Verse 8. Finally-To sum up all. Whatsoever things are true

-Here are eight particulars placed in two fourfold rows; the

former containing their duty; the latter, the commendation of

it. The first word in the former row answers the first in the

latter; the second word, the second and so on. True-In speech.

Honest-In action. Just-With regard to others. Pure-With

regard to yourselves. Lovely-And what more lovely than truth?

Of good report-As is honesty, even where it is not practised.

If there be any virtue-And all virtues are contained in justice.

If there be any praise-In those things which relate rather to

ourselves than to our neighbour. Think on these things-That

ye may both practise them yourselves, and recommend them to others.

Verse 9. The things which ye have learned-As catechumens.

And received-By continual instructions. And heard and seen

-In my life and conversation. These do, and the God of peace

shall be with you-Not only the peace of God, but God himself,

the fountain of peace.

Verse 10. I rejoiced greatly-St. Paul was no Stoic: he had

strong passions, but all devoted to God. That your care of

me hath flourished again-As a tree blossoms after the winter.

Ye wanted opportunity-Either ye had not plenty yourselves,

or you wanted a proper messenger.

Verse 11. I have learned-From God. He only can teach this.

In everything, therewith to be content-Joyfully and thankfully

patient. Nothing less is Christian content. We may observe a

beautiful gradation in the expressions, I have learned; I know;

I am instructed; I can.

Verse 12. I know how to be abased-Having scarce what is needful

for my body. And to abound-Having wherewith to relieve others

also. Presently after, the order of the words is inverted, to

intimate his frequent transition from scarcity to plenty, and

from plenty to scarcity. I am instructed-Literally, I am

initiated in that mystery, unknown to all but Christians.

Both to be full and to be hungry-For one day. Both to abound

and to want-For a longer season.

Verse 13. I can do all things-Even fulfil all the will of God.

Verse 15. In the beginning of the gospel-When it was first

preached at Philippi. In respect of giving-On your part.

And receiving-On mine.

Verse 17. Not that I desire-For my own sake, the very gift

which I receive of you.

Verse 18. An odour of a sweet smell-More pleasing to God than

the sweetest perfumes to men.

Verse 19. All your need-As ye have mine. According to his

riches in glory-In his abundant, eternal glory.

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