1Paul saluteth the Philippians, 3and testifieth his thankfulness to God for their uninterrupted fellowship in the gospel: 8his affection for them, 9and prayers for their spiritual improvement. 12He informeth them that his bonds at Rome had turned out to the advancement of the gospel, which many were thereby induced to preach, though with different views: 21that considering how serviceable his life might be to the cause of Christ, though for himself it were happier to die, he was doubtful in his choice: 25but that he knew he should soon be at liberty to visit them again for their comfort. 27He exhorteth them to walk worthy of their profession, and to be steady and unanimous in the faith, for which they had already been fellowsufferers with him.
1PAUL and 1Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at 2Philippi, with the 3bishops and 4deacons:
1 Here he joins Timothy with him, as a sincere teacher of the Gospel, to show that he also consents to all that the apostle writes unto them. See 2 Cor. 1:1; 1 Thes. 1:1; 2 Thes. 1:1.
2 Of this city in Macedonia see Acts 16:12.
3 Gr. episcopois, that is, overseers, from which comes the word bishop, 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 congregation there were more such bishops than one.
4 This word is sometimes taken in general for all sorts of ministers. Mat. 20:26; Rom. 13:4, even for the teachers of the church, 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 11:23; Eph. 3:7, sometimes in particular, as here, for those who serve the congregation in taking care for the poor, 1 Tim. 3:8, 12, of which institution and office see Acts 6.
2Graceabe unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
a Rom. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2.
3 Ib thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
b Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:3; 1 Thes. 1:2; 2 Thes. 1:3.
4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
55For 6your fellowship in the gospel from 7the first day until now;
5 Namely, I thank God, verse 3.
6 That is, for the great benefit, that the Gospel is preached to you also, and that you have embraced the same by faith. See 1 John 1:3.
7 Namely, that you received and embraced the Gospel.
6Being confident of this very thing, that 8he which hath begun 9ac good work in you will 10perform it 11until the day of Jesus Christ:
8 Namely, God the Father.
9 Namely, of faith in Christ, and of conversion to God.
c John 6:29; 1 Thes. 1:3.
10 That is, shall more and more increase, strengthen and preserve.
11 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.
7Even as it is meet 12for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both ind my bonds, and in the 13defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of 14my grace.
12 Namely, according to the rule and law of love, which thinketh no evil, believeth all things, and hopeth all things, 1 Cor. 13:5, 7.
d Eph. 3:1; 4:1; Col. 4:3, 18; 2 Tim. 1:8.
13 Namely, in the judgment house and elsewhere. See verse 13.
14 That is, which is given me of God, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake.
8Fore15God is my record, how greatly I 16long after you all in the 17bowelsf of 18Jesus Christ.
e Rom. 1:9; 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:23; 11:31; Gal. 1:20; 1 Thes. 2:5; 1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Tim. 4:1.
15 This is a form of taking an oath, which the apostle here uses, because it was necessary that the Philippians would be assured of his love unto them.
16 That is, love you all, or, long after you all. See 2 Cor. 9:14.
17 Or, with inward operations. 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.
f tender mercies*
18 That is, which affection or love arises in me for Christ’s sake, Whom you have embraced by faith, or, because we have Jesus Christ for our common Savior.
9And this I pray, that 19your love may abound yet more and more in 20knowledge and in all 21judgment;
19 That is, the virtue of love which is in you to God and your neighbor, in which all virtues of the first and second table are contained.
20 Or, with, by knowledge, namely, of Divine things which are necessary to salvation.
21 Namely, inward apprehension of the understanding, whereby Divine things are apprehended and discerned.
10That ye may 22approve 23things that are excellent; that ye may be 24sincere and 25without offence till 26the day of Christ;
22 That is, after proving and trying of the doctrines by God’s Word, may rightly be understood and discerned.
23 Or, the things which differ therefrom. The Greek word signifies both. For, the knowledge of these Divine things differs much from and is more excellent than any other knowledge of worldly things. See Rom. 2:18.
24 That is, without hypocrisy or guile.
25 Namely, to anyone, Mat. 18:7, whereby he would be prevented, or made to stumble in the christian race. Gr. inoffensive, or, not scandalous.
26 See verse 6.
11Being filled with the fruits 27of righteousness, 28which are by Jesus Christ, 29unto the glory and praise of God.
27 That is, of godliness, piety and new obedience.
28 That is, which are wrought and brought forth in us by the Spirit of Christ.
29 This is the end whereunto and wherefore all good works must be done. See Psalm 115:1; Mat. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Peter 2:12; 4:11.
12But 30I would ye should understand, brethren, that 31the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather 32unto the furtherance of the gospel;
30 That is, be not discouraged or offended at my imprisonment, but understand this from me.
31 That is, this mine imprisonment and affliction, which I suffer for the Gospel’s sake.
32 That is, that it is so far from being a hindrance to the course and propagation of the evangelical doctrine, that by the disposing of God, this is even serviceable and a furtherance thereunto.
13So that 33my bonds 34in Christ are manifest 35in all the palace, and in 36all other places;
33 That is, the cause wherefore I am imprisoned and held in bonds or chains, that it is not for any ill deed committed by me, but only the doctrine of the Gospel.
34 That is, wherewith I am bound for Christ’s sake. See Eph. 4:1.
35 Or, court, or house of the Emperor Nero; that is, to his counselors and courtiers. See Philip. 4:22.
36 Namely, places, or people, namely, in this city of Rome and hereabout.
14Andg many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing 37confident 38by my bonds, are much more bold to speak 39the word without fear.
g Eph. 3:13; 1 Thes. 3:3.
37 That is, being become courageous or bold.
38 That is, by my innocency, steadfastness and courage which appears and is shown by me in this mine imprisonment.
39 Namely, of God, that is, confess and proclaim the doctrine of the Gospel.
1540Some indeed preach Christ even of 41envy and 42strife; and some also 43of good will:
40 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.
41 Namely, begrudging Paul the honor which was done to him by those who were converted by his preaching.
42 Or, contention, namely, against Paul and the other upright teachers, to whom they sought to be an hindrance thereby, or, to draw part of his honor to themselves.
43 Gr. by good pleasure, that is, with a sincere, willing and inclined heart for the furtherance of the people’s salvation.
16The one preach Christ of contention, 44not sincerely, supposing to add 45affliction to my bonds:
44 Namely, in respect of their heart with which they preached the doctrine, not with a pure and upright mind. See verse 15.
45 That is, to make my cross yet heavier, forasmuch as by their preaching they seek to render me suspect and despised by the congregation.
17But the other 46of love, knowing that I am 47set 48for the defence of the gospel.
46 Namely, to the glory of God, the edification of the congregation, and the salvation of the people.
47 Or, lie here, namely, in prison. Or, am called hereunto by God.
48 That is, to preach and defend the doctrine of the Gospel even in these bonds against all enemies of the same; in which, seeing I am often hindered by my bonds, they come to assist me therein out of love. Or, on account of the defense.
1849What then? notwithstanding, 50every way, whether 51in pretence, or 52in truth, Christ is preached; and I 53therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
49 Namely, shall this be, or bring to pass? Shall this trouble either you or me? In no wise.
50 Gr. all.
51 Namely, of zeal to the propagation of the Gospel, wherewith they seek to cover their envy and strife.
52 That is, with a sincere and clear mind, without hypocrisy or guile.
53 Namely, not only that Christ is preached in truth, but also that by these others, although with no sincere mind, He is nevertheless preached, and thus His doctrine is spread abroad by them for the salvation of men.
19Forh I know 54that this shall turn to my salvation 55through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
h 2 Cor. 1:11.
54 That is, this affliction, which through envy and hatred they bring upon me.
55 That is, by the supplying or ministering of the Holy Spirit, which I shall obtain for myself from Christ by your prayer.
20According to my 56earnest expectation and my hope, thati in nothing I shall be 57ashamed, but that with all boldness, 58as always, so now also Christ shall be 59magnified 60in my body, 61whether it be by life, 62or by death.
56 The Greek word signifies an expectation, as it were, with an outstretched head or neck. See Rom. 8:19.
i Rom. 5:5.
57 That is, come to shame by turning away or by fainting.
58 Namely, before this, in the previous years of my ministry, in which also many afflictions came upon me and were courageously overcome by me.
59 That is, honored, praised. See of this word, Luke 1:46.
60 That is, by the suffering which may be laid upon my body. Or, by my deliverance.
61 That is, whether I yet keep my life, to serve and glorify Him still by the preaching of the Gospel.
62 That is, or that I am destroyed and killed by the Emperor to glorify Christ by my death and to confirm His doctrine with my blood.
2163For to me 64to live is Christ, and 65to die is gain.
63 Or, For Christ is my gain in life and in death.
64 That is, if I yet remain alive, I will spend the same to the honor and service of Christ.
65 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.
22But if I 66live in the flesh, 67this is the fruit of my labour: yet 68what I shall choose 69I wot not.
66 This signifies here not to live after the lusts of the flesh, as Rom. 8:1, but to remain in this physical and temporal life.
67 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.
68 Namely, if the choice of both were given me: either to die, or yet to remain alive.
69 Or, I know not. Namely, forasmuch as there are very weighty reasons on both sides; so that I hardly know which, as the weightiest, ought to move me most.
23For I 70am in a strait 71betwixt two, having a desire 72to depart, and to be 73with Christ; which is 74far better:
70 Namely, in my mind, not knowing what I shall account best, forasmuch as on either side there are powerful and pressing reasons.
71 Namely, different desires, which are afterward expressed.
72 Or, to change houses, to re-accommodate, that is, to depart out of this life. A similitude taken from those who depart out of an inn to take their journey towards their own country; or also, intending to go by ship to another country or place, weigh anchor to begin the journey. See the like, 2 Tim. 4:6.
73 Namely, in heaven, with my soul which they cannot kill. See Mat. 10:28; Luke 23:43.
74 Gr. much more, better, namely, for me. See Psalm 16:11; Rom. 8:18.
24Nevertheless to abide 75in the flesh is more needful 76for you.
75 That is, in this physical life. See verse 22.
76 Namely, to strengthen you and other congregations in the faith, and to win yet many others to Christ.
25And having this 77confidence, I know that I shall 78abide and continue 79with you all 80for your furtherance and joy 81of faith;
77 Some ancient teachers think that the apostle certainly knew this by a special revelation of God, (as Acts 23:11), that in this first imprisonment he would not be put to death, and that he, being set free, afterward would have preached still ten years in Asia, Syria, Greece, and elsewhere, and after that was again imprisoned and put to death at Rome. But this is uncertain, and it appears out of Philip. 2:17, that he says 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 defense he would not be put to death, which also came to pass, as by the epistles written afterward on his bonds may appear. In his second defense he declares that the time of his dissolution was near, 2 Tim 4:6, 16.
78 Namely, in this life.
79 That is, shall yet come unto you Philippians and remain with you a while.
80 That is, to cause you to increase with my doctrines and homilies more and more in knowledge and godliness.
81 That is, growing from faith, or, which shall be occasioned for the increase of your faith.
26That 82your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ 83for me by 84my coming to you again.
82 Namely, that you are converted to the faith and confirmed therein by me, an apostle of Christ.
83 Gr. in me, namely, when by your prayers you shall have obtained my deliverance.
84 Namely, which I hope that the Lord shall grant.
27Onlyj85let your conversationk be as it 86becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with 87one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
j Gen. 17:1; 1 Cor. 7:20; Eph. 4:1; Col. 1:10; 1 Thes. 2:12; 4:1.
85 Or, carry yourselves. The Greek word signifies: to carry oneself properly as a good citizen in his city, to order his association and conduct. See also Philip. 3:20.
k citizenship*
86 That is, as it becomes them who have learned and embraced the doctrine of the Gospel. See Eph. 4:1; 1 Thes. 2:12.
87 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.
28And in nothing terrified by 88your adversaries: which is 89to them 90an evident token of perdition, but 91to you of salvation, and that 92of God.
88 That is, who either with false doctrine, or with grievous persecutions and threats set themselves against the doctrine of Christ to root it out.
89 Namely, the persecutors and false teachers.
90 That is, a certain sign that they run to destruction. See 2 Thes. 1:5.
91 Namely, believers, who neither permit yourselves to be deceived by false doctrine, nor to be terrified by fear of persecutions to turn away from the true faith.
92 This he adds that they might not think that their steadfastness was a meritorious cause of salvation; and that they might know that this steadfastness comes not from them but from God, as is declared in the following verse.
29For unto you it is 93given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on 94him, but also 95to suffer 96for his sake;
93 Or, freely given for Christ’s sake. See Eph. 2:8.
94 Namely, Christ.
95 That is, for Christ’s sake to be subject to tribulations and persecutions, and patiently to bear and overcome them, Mat. 5:12; Acts 5:41.
96 Or, for Him, that is, for the sake of His doctrine and cause.
3097Having the same conflict which ye saw 98in me, and 99now hear to be in me.
97 Namely, to fight and to undergo.
98 Namely, when I was with you. See hereof Acts 16:19, etc.
99 Namely, by the reports what I must daily suffer here at Rome in my bonds.