Philippians 1
DortI After the superscription of the Epistle, and the usual salutation, 3 The Apostle declares that he thanketh God for the Philippians communion to the Gospel; 6 And that he trusted that they will increase therein and in all Christian virtues more and more. 12 Describes his tribulation and bands, which he suffered for the Gospels sake, and the fruit which came by the same. 15 Teacheth that the Gospel is by some preached out of good will and love, to his comfort, and by others out of envy and strife, to his grieve in his hands. 19 Yet that he trusted that the same shall fall out for his salvation, and for the magnifying of Christ, whether it by life or death. 21 Declareth that he is ready for both; seeing both were profitable: to remain alive for the Church; and to dye for himself. 25 And that he hopeth that he shall yet remain alive for the Church. 27 Again adds an exhortation to unity, to courage, and patience in tribulations, 30 according to his example.
1. Paul and Timothy [He here joins Timothy with him, as a sincere Teacher of the Gospel, to shew that he also consents to all that the Apostles writes unto them. See 2 Cor. 1.1. 1 Thes. 1.1. and 2 Thes. 1.1.] servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi, [Of this City in Macedonia, See Acts 16:12.] with the overseers [Gr. Episcopois i.e. Overseers, from whence the word Bishop cometh, which is common to all Overseers and Governors of the Church. See acts 20.17,28. 1 Tim. 3.1. Titus 1:5,7. for here it appears that in one and the same Church there were much Bishops then one] and Deacons: [This word is sometimes taken in general for all sorts of Ministers. Matth. 20.26. Romans 13:4. even for the Teachers of the Church, 1 Cor. 3.5. 2 Cor. 11.23. Ephes. 3.7. sometimes in a special as here, for those that serve the Church in taking care for the poor, 1 Tim. 3.8,12. Of which institution and office, see Acts 6.]
2. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I thank my God as often as I remember you,
4. (Always in all my prayers for you all, making prayer with joy.)
5. For [Namely, I thank God, ver.3.] your fellowship in the Gospel, [That is, for the great benefit, that the Gospel is preached to you also, and that ye have embraced the same by faith, See 1 John 1:3.] from the first day [Namely, that ye received and embraced the Gospel] until now:
6. Being confident of this same (thing) that he [Namely, God the Father.] who hath begun a good work [Namely, of faith in Christ, and of conversion to God] in you, will finish (it) [That is, shall more and more increase, strengthen and preserve it] until the day of Jesus Christ: [Namely, in which Christ shall take you unto himself out of this life, or shall raise you up from the dead, at the last day of judgment.]
7. Even as it is just with me [Namely, according to the rule and law of love, which thinketh none evil, and believeth all things, and hopeth all things, 1 Cor. 13.5,7.] to think this of all, because I hold in [mine] heart, that ye both in my hands, and [in my] defense [namely, in the judgment-house and elsewhere. See ver. 13.] and establishment of the Gospel, ye all, [I say] are copartners of my grace. [That is, which is given me of God, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake.]
8. For God is my witness, [This is a form of taking an oath, which the Apostle here useth, because it was necessary that the Philippians should be assured of his love unto them] how greatly I am desirous after you all [That is, love you all, or long after you all. See 2 Cor.9.14. [with inward moving [Gr. In the bowels: an Hebrew phrase, forasmuch as through a great inward affection the bowels are as it were moved and stirred. See Luke 1:78. [of Jesus Christ. [That is, which affection or love ariseth in mefor Christ sake whom ye have embraced by faith: or because we have Jesus Christ for our common savior.]
9. And this I pray [God] that your love [That is, the efficiency of love which is in you to God and your neighbor, in which all virtues of the first and second Table, are contained] may be yet more and more abundant, in acknowledgement [Or, with, by knowledge, namely, of divine things which are necessary to salvation] and all apprehension [namely, inward apprehension of the understanding, whereby divine things are apprehended and discerned.]
10. That ye may prove [That is, after proving and trying of doctrines by Gods word, may rightly understand and discern] the things which differ [there from] [or which are excellent. The Greek word signifieth both. For the knowledge of these divine things much differs and is more excellent then any other knowledge of worldly things. See Romans 2:18.] that ye may be upright [that is, without hypocrite or guile. Matth. 18.7. whereby ye may be hindred or made to stumble in the Christian race, Gr. Unoffensive or without scandal until the day of Christ: [See ver.6.]
11. Filled with fruits of righteousness [That is, of godliness, honesty, and obedience:] which are by Jesus Christ [That is, which are wrought and brought forth in us by the spirit of Christ.] unto the glory and praise of God. This is the end whereunto and wherefore all good works must be done. See Psal. 115.1. Matth. 5.16. 1 Cor. 10.31. 1 Pet. 2.12. & 4.11.
12. And I would have you know brethren [That is, be not discouraged or offended at my imprisonment, but this from me.] that that which hath happened to me [that is, this mine imprisonment and affliction, which I suffer for the Gospel sake] is fallen out more to the furtherance of the Gospel: [that is, that it is so far from being an hindrance to the course and propagation of the doctrine of the Gospel, that by the disposing of God this is even serviceable and a furtherance thereunto.]
13. So that my bands [That is, the cause wherefore I am imprisoned and held in bands and chains, that it is not any ill indeed committed by me, but only by the doctrine of the Gospel.] in Christ [That is, wherewith I am bound for Christ sake, See Ephes. 4.1.] are become manifest in the whole judgment house [or, court, or house of the Emperor Nero, i.e. to his Counselors and Courtiers. See chapter 4.22.] and all others: [namely, places or men; Namely, in this City of Rome and hereabout.]
14. And [that] the greater [part] of the brethren in the Lord, having gotten confidence [That is, being become courageous or bold.] by my bands [That is, by me innocence, constancy, and courage which appears, and is shewn by me in this mine imprisonment.] more abundantly dare to speak the word [Namely, of God, confess and publish the doctrine of the Gospel.] without fear.
15. Some also indeed preach Christ [By these the Apostle understands certain Teachers who indeed preached the orthodox doctrine, because it is said that they preached Christ, but that their heart was not pure, but filled with envy and strife against Paul.] through envy [Namely, grudging Paul the honor which was done to him by those who were converted by his preaching.] and contention or strife [namely, against Paul and the other upright Teachers, to whom they thought to be hindrance thereby; to draw part of his honor to themselves.] but some also though good will. [Gr. By a good pleasure, i. with a sincere, willing and inclined heart for furtherance of men’s salvation.]
16. Those indeed publish Christ of contention, not purely [Namely, in respect of their heart with which they preached the doctrine, not with a pure and upright mind, see ver.15.] thinking to bring affliction to my bands: That is, to make my cross yet heavier, forasmuch as their preaching they seek to render me suspected and despised of the Church.]
17. But these of love, [Namely, of the glory of God, edification of the Church, and salvation of men.] seeing they know that I am set] Or lye here: namely, I prison, Or am called hereunto by God] for defense of the Gospel [That is, to publish and defend the doctrine of the Gospel even in these bands, against all enemies of the same: which seeing by my bands I am often hindred in, they out of love come to assist me therein. Or by because of the defense.]
18. What then? [Namely, shall this be or bring to pass? Shall this trouble either you or me? In no wise.] nevertheless Christ is published all manner ways whether it be under a pretext [namely, of the zeal to the propagation of the Gospel, wherewith they seek to cover their envy and strife] or in truth: [That is, with a sincere and pure mind, without hypocrisy or guile] and therein I do rejoice, [Namely, not only that Christ is preached in truth, but that also by these others, although with no sincere mind, he is nevertheless preached, and so his doctrine is spread abroad by them for the salvation of men] yea and I will also rejoice.
19. For I know that this [That is, this affliction which through envy and hatred they bring upon me] shall succeed for my salvation, by your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [That is, by the supplying or affording of the holy ghost, which I shall obtain for my self from Christ by your prayer.]
20. According to my earnest expectation [The Greek signifies an expectation, as it were with an out-stretched head or neck. See Romans 8:19.] And hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed: [That is, come to shame by turning away, or fainting but [that] in all boldness, as always [Namely, before this in the former years of my Ministry, in which also many afflictions came upon me, and were courageously overcome by me.] so now also Christ shall be magnified [That is, honored, praised. See of this word, Luke 1:46.] in my body, [That is, by the suffering which may be laid upon my body. Or by my deliverance] whether it be by life [That is, whether I keep my life, to serve and glorify him still by the preaching of the Gospel] or by death [That is, or that I am made away and put to death by my Emperor, to glorify Christ by my death, and to confirm his doctrine with my blood.]
21. for [Or For Christ is my gain in life and in death] to live is to me Christ, [That is, if I yet remain alive, I will bestow the same to the honor and service of Christ.] and to dye is gain [to me] [That is, if I be put to death, that shall bring me no loss but great gain, seeing I shall gain for earth, heaven, and for this miserable mortal life, a blessed eternal life.
22. But whether to live in flesh [This signifies not here to live after the lusts of the flesh, as Romans 8:1. but to remain in this corporal and temporal life] the be profitable for me [Or, if it should yet happen unto me to live in the flesh, the same should be profitable unto me. Gr. A fruit of the work] and what I shall chuse, [Namely, if the choices of both were given me, either to dye, or yet to remain alive] I know not. [Namely, forasmuch as there are very weighty reasons on both sides: so that I hardly know which (as the weightiest) ought most to move me.]
23. For I am pressed [Namely, in my mind, not knowing what I shall account best, forasmuch as either side there are powerful and pressing reasons.] by these two [Namely, different desires, which are afterward expressed] having [desire to be dissolved [or to change houses, to dissolve, i.e. to depart out of this life, a similitude taken from those that depart out of an Inner to take their journey towards their own country; or else intending to goes by ship into another country or place, weigh anchor to begin the journey. See the like 2 Tim. 4.6.] and to be with Christ. [namely, in heaven, with my soul which they cannot kill. See Matthew 10:28. Luke 23:43.] for [that] is very far the best: [Gr. Much more, better, namely, for me. See Psal. 16.11. Romans 8:18.]
24. But to abide in the flesh, [That is, in this corporal life. See ver. 22.] is more needful for your sake] namely, to strengthen you and other Churches in faith, and to win yet many more to Christ.]
25. And this I trust and know, [Some ancient Teachers think that the Apostle certainly knew this by a special revelation of God, (as Acts 23:11.) that in the first imprisonment he should not be put to death: and that being set free, he afterwards preached about ten years yet in Asia, Syria, Greece, and elsewhere; and afterwards was again imprisoned and put to death at Rome, But that is uncertain, and it appears out of chapter 2.17. that he saith this, not of a certain knowledge by a divine revelation but out of a probable conjecture and hope from all the circumstances of the matter, that in his first defence he should not be condemned to death, which also came to pass, as by the Epistles written afterwards in his bonds may appear. In his second defense he declareth that the time of his dissolution was near, 2 Tim. 4.ver.6.16.] that I shall abide [namely alive] and shall continue with you all [that is, shall come unto you Philippians, and continue a while with you] for your furtherance [that is, with my doctrines and preaching, to cause you to increase more and more in knowledge and piety] and joy of faith:] that is, springing from faith, or which shall be occasioned by the increase of your faith.]
26. That your glorying in Jesus Christ.] Namely, that you are by me an Apostle of Christ, converted to the faith and consumed therein] may be abundant on me [Gr. In me, namely, when by your prayers ye shall have obtained my deliverance.] by my presence again with you; [namely, which I hope that the Lord will grant.]
27. Only walk [Or carry your selves, The Greek word signifieth, as a good citizen to carry himself be seemingly in his City, to order his conversation and walking. See also chap.3.20.] worthy of the Gospel of Christ [That is, as becometh them that have learned and embraced the doctrine of the Gospel, See Ephes. 4.1. 1 Thes. 2.12.] that whether I come and see you, or whether I be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand in one spirit, with one mind [Gr. Soul. See Acts 4:32. by the spirit is signified the understanding, and by the soul the will and affections. Or the one may also be an explication of the other. Others by this word Spirit understand the Holy Spirit] striving together by (or through) the faith of the Gospel.
28. And that ye be in nothing terrified by those that withstand: [That is, who either with false doctrine or with grievous persecutions and threatnings, set themselves against the doctrine of Christ to root it out] which is to them indeed [namely, the persecutors and false Teachers.] an argument of destruction [that is, a certain signe that they run to destruction, see 1 Thes. 1.5.] but to you of salvation, [namely, believers, who neither suffer your selves to be seduced by false doctrine, not to be terrified by fear of persecutions to turn away from the true faith] and that of God, [This he adds that they might not think that their steadfastness was a meritious cause of salvation, and that they might know that this steadfastness cometh not from themselves but from God, as is declared in the following verse.]
29. For to ye is given of grace [Or freely given for Christ’s sake. See Ephes. 2.8.] in the cause of Christ, not only to believe in him [Namely, Christ,] but also to suffer [that is, for Christ sake to be subject to tribulations and persecutions, and patiently to bear and overcome them, Matthew 5:12/ Acts 5:41.] for him [that is, for his sake; for his doctrine and causes sake.]
30. Having the same combat [Namely, to fight and to undergo] which ye have seen in me, [namely, when I was with you. See hereof Acts 16:19. etc. and now here (to be) in me.] Namely, I must daily suffer here at Rome in my bands.]