Cu. IV.] THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. 459
Pure (dyvd). See on 1 John iii. 3.
Lovely (pocgiAy). Only here in the New Testament. Adapted to excite love, and to endear him who does such things.
Of good report (ev¢nua). Only here in the New Testa- ment. Lit., sownding well. The kindred verb is commonly used in an active sense. Hence not well spoken of, but fair- speaking, and so winning, gracious (Rev., in margin).
Virtue (aper)). With this exception the word occurs only in Peter’s epistles; 1 Pet. ii. 9; 2 Pet. i. 3,5; see notes on both.
Praise (ézravvos). Commendation corresponding to the moral value of the virtue. In the Septuagint, apery) wrtue is four times used to translate the Hebrew praise. The two ideas seem to be codrdinated. Lightfoot remarks that Paul seems studi- ously to avoid this common heathen term for moral excellence, and his explanation is very suggestive: ‘“ Whatever value may reside in your old heathen conception of virtue, whatever con- sideration is due to the praise of men.”
10. Your care of me hath flourished again (ave9anrerte To vrép €wov dpoveiv). Lit., ye caused your thinking on my behalf to bloom anew. Rev., ye revived your thought for me. The verb occurs only here in the New Testament. In the Septua- gint it appears as both transitive and intransitive, to flowrish, or to cause to flourish. Thus Ps. xxvii. 7, where Septuagint reads for my heart greatly rejoiceth, my flesh flourished (avédarev) ; Ezek. xvii. 24, have made the dry tree to flourish.
Wherein. The matter of my wants and sufferings. Im- plied in your care of me.
Ye were careful (éppoveire). Rev., ye did take thought. Note the imperfect tense: ye were all along thoughtful.
11. Content (adrdpxns). Lit., self-sufficient. Only here in the New Testament. A stoic word, expressing the favorite doctrine of the sect, that man should be sufficient to himself for all things; able, by the power of his own will, to resist the shock
460 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IV.
of circumstance. Paul is self-sufficient through the power of the new self: not he, but Christ in him. The kindred noun abrapxela sufficiency, occurs 2 Cor. ix. 8; 1 Tim. vi. 6.
12. lam instructed (weuinuas). Rev., have I learned the secret. The metaphor is from the initiatory rites of the pagan mysteries. J have been initiated. See on Col. i. 26.
To be full (yoprafecJas). See on Matt. v. 6. 13. | can do (écxyvw). See on Luke xiv. 30.
Strengtheneth (évduvvayodvtt). More literally, infuses strength into me, as the old verb enforce.
14. Notwithstanding. Lest, in declaring his independence of human aid, he should seem to disparage the Philippians’ gift.
15. When I| departed from Macedonia. On his first En- ropean circuit, going by way of Athens to Corinth, where he was joined by Silvanus and Timothy, bringing a contribution from Macedonia. Acts xviii. 5; 2 Cor. xi. 9.
16. Even in Thessalonica (xat). Better a/so: in addition to the contribution received at Corinth.
18. I have (aéyw). I have received in full. See on Matt. vi. 2; Luke vi. 24.
Odor ofasweet smell. See on 2 Cor. ii. 15,16. Frequent in Septuagint, of the odor of sacrifices.
19. In glory. This is differently connected by expositors. Some with riches, as A. V.and Rev. Others with shall supply, but with different explanations, as, shall supply your need wth glory: in a glorious way : by placing you in glory. It is better to construe with shall supply, and to explain im glory as the element and instrument of the supply. The need shall be sup- plied en glory and by glory; by placing you in glory where you shall be partakers of glory.
22. Of Caesar’s household. Probably the slaves and freedmen attached to the palace.