7. Contents of the letter.— («) The fellowship of thegospel (I'-" 4"'--'2).— The teaching of the begin- ning and ending of the letter centres round the thouglitof fellowship{(coii'wi'ia), and this central idea itself is suggested to the Apostle by the liberality of his Philippian converts. The foundation of this fellowship is the grace of Jesus Christ (i'^) or of
God the Father (\-), God being regarded as the source of this grace, and Christ as the agent through whom it is mediated. I'eace is the result of grace, or grace viewed in relation to the quality of life wliicli grace produces. (Irace is this new relationship viewed as to its origin. The fellow- ship of Christians follows from their being in Christ. St. Paul and Timothy are His SovXoi — a term expressing dignity as well as humility. Some of those addressed are overseers and deacons of His flock, all are consecrated in Him. They are thus united in an indissoluble union with one another, under the Lordship of Christ — a Lordship of grace. This free redeeming favour is at once the origin, the atmosphere, and tlie ideal of Christian life. It is a subject at once of benediction and of prayer (4'^). It is a common Christian possession (criii'Koii'UH'OL's rris xapiTos), shown not only in trust in Christ, but also in suttering on His behalf (I'-* ; cf. v.'). Grace as it conies with its lavish offer to men is the gospel, and the earnest endeavour to pro- claim the good news, or the support of those entrusted with this proclamation, is the fellowship in the gospel (v.°). The Philippians by sending monetary help to St. Paul have demonstrated their place in this fellowship. Their material gifts are effects of their spiritual communion-life, and the steady flow * of their liberality all along from their first acceptance of the gospel until now is a proof of their growing appreciation of this com- munion and a proof of its coming completed realization in them (vv.*"^). Because they are in Christ, at the day of Christ they shall be perfect sharers of the rich life which He has in glory with God the Father, and wh.ich is mediated through Him to His people (4''). This revelation of their character — through their liberality — is to St. Paul a theme of thankful prayer and rejoicing (v.'), of prayer which shall be answered because lie knows that it is really God Himself who began this work in them and He will complete it, of rejoicing also because they appreciate what the fellowship of the gospel is, and are not severed from it by afflictions (4"). Their spiritual condition fills him with Christ-like yearning for them that their iyaTii — their spirit of Christian brotherhood — should develop along the Divinely appointed lines of practical wisdom and tactful discrimination, in a world where enthusiasm often fails in insight, and insight in kindly consideration of others (l'°).
His thankfulness and his joy are not due to his appreciation of their personal kindness to himself, nor yet to the betterment of their own material circumstances. It is more deeply rooted and grounded on deeper insight. For himself he can meet plenty or poverty in the sustaining power of Christ, who enables him and has enabled him hither- to to cope with all situations. He had no need of any further gift to prove their attachment to him. The past can supply rich evidence of that. Nor is it this exhibition of their material prosperity that makes him rejoice. It is the fact rather that thus he has a fresh proof of the reality of their fellow- ship in the gospel. It is given thus to them (as to him) to defend and strengthen the gospel, to offer to God an acceptable and pleasing sacrifice — to reap already the fruit of tliat uprightness of life which is produced through Christ (v."), and to sow the seeds of yet richer harvests. For their spiritual prosperity is really their willingness to support the gospel. Spiritual expenditure is the accumulation of spiritual capital. Spiritual liberality is the plan of campaign for God's successful stewards, for the supply will be according to the demand both here and hereafter. Their riches are with the glorified Christ, and these riches are increased for
* Any itiLerruption of their liberality was due to Decessity, either poverty or iaipossibility of transmission ii^^).
PHILIPPIANS, EPISTLE TO THE
PHILIPPIANS, EPISTLE TO THE 225
them b}' approiiriation and use. Tliey will receive full jiossession of the inlieiitance on His day.
Never was Cliristian lilierality .so exalteil and so spiritually interpreteil, never were donors thanked in such a fashion save when the Master said : 'Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of tli'ese my brethren, even these least,' ye did it unto me' (Mt 25*°). On this is grounded liis conviction as to their ' perseverance ' and his assurance of their tinal salvation.
(6) The furtherance of the qospel {irpoKOTii toO cua-yTfAiou) (l'-'^"). — The Philippians were afraid that St. Paul's recent experiences boded ill for the success of the gospel. He dispels their pessimism (1) by an appeal to present facts. His present condition has not, as a matter of fact, hindered the progress of the gospel ; it has extended it and enabled it — as far as he himself is concerned — to shine forth in its true light, sharply dehned where it was apt to be mingled with other issues (1'^"'^). It has quickened it also into fresh activity and vigorous boldness in the case of others — and these include the majority of his brother preachers. His chains have not insulated the Word of God, but are a vehicle of its diffusion. The fact that some preachers (these are not included in the tous irXeio^as of v.") are motived b}- partisanship and personal opposition to himself does not lessen his joy, because he rejoices in the preaching of Christ, and the gospel is relativelj' independent of the jireacher's personal motives. The gospel then advances, and this advancement is due to his chains. Let them therefore rejoice with him. He dispels their pessimism in regard to the success of the gospel also (2) by a consideration of the future. A new reason is introduced in 1'"" (dXXa /coi xa/>iJ(To;ja:). At present the gospel is furthered by his chains, but should his condition change, what cause have they to fear that thereby Christ's cause shall sutler? As far as he is concerned a prolonga- tion of his life on earth means the preaching of Christ, which shall be fruitful also in furthering the gospel ; it means, besides, a strengthening of their own faith and a vindication of their Christian exultation in him. So convinced is he of their need of him that he is sure their prayers will thus be answered, and the rich supply of Christ's Spirit to him will enable him in life yet to magnify Christ among tliem. But if his trial should issue in his death even then also Chri.st's Spirit will enable him to speak freely and boldly, so that Christ shall be magnihed in his death as in his life. This is his earnest hope, and it is a hope that will not be disappointed, that in either case Christ shall have the glory ; yea, even they themselves also would thiis have their faith completed, for his death would be a crowning of its reality and utter devotion (2"). Besides, the present situation, whatever the issue, will liring nearer his own salva- tion either by his personal liberation or his reunion with Christ (<ruTT}pia possibly but not certainly = ' liberation'). The latter prospect is to him over- poweringly attractive, so much so that he cannot say what actually he would desire for himself. To depart and see Christ is far better than any earthly lot, but then he knows the will of (iod to be that he should yet continue here, because they need him.