mary in Rilliet, Commentaire sur Epitre . . . aux Phil., pp. 312-313; also Renan, St. Paul, pp. 147-150; Lft., Philippians, pp. 55-56, who hints with good reason, on the evidence of Inscrr., that women occupied a specially favourable position in Macedonia; H. Achelis, Zeitsch. f. N. Τ. Wissensch., i., 2, pp. 93, 97-98, and cf. notes on ch. iv. 2). It is worthy of notice that the only definite information we have as to any friction in the Philippian Church attaches itself to two of these Christian matrons, Euodia and Syntyche. In all likeli- hood the friction was slight. The Apostle does not deal with it in strong terms. Evidently it was some personal variance connected with Church life and work, or, perhaps, associated with the possession of particular spiritual gifts. We know how this latter endangered unity at Corinth (see 1 C. χι). It is possible that we have a hint of its character in the warnings given against a false self-satisfaction in ch. iii. 12-16. Here and there, throughout the Epistle, there are echoes of it (see ch. i. 27, ii. 2-4, 14, iv. 5), and these point to a certain danger of selfish assumptions of superiority. But there are no traces of doctrinal controversies like those which rent some of the other Pauline Churches. On the whole, Paul feels unmingled satisfaction and joy in their condition. It is evident, therefore, that if there were any Jewish-Christians in the Church, they had not made themselves obnoxious by laying special emphasis on the characteristic tenets of their party. Indirect evidence on this point is afforded by incidental statements in the Epistle. Paul was accustomed to accept gifts from the Philippians. This was a course which he took care to avoid in Churches where a minority of Jewish-Christians could bring it up asa reproach against him. (Contrast his attitude, e.g., towards the Church at Corinth.) Further, when he does burst forth in words of solemn warning against his adversaries (ch. iii. 2), it may be clearly seen that he is dealing with persons entirely outside the Philippian Church, but persons who may at any moment intrude into their midst and work serious havoc (see notes ad loc.). It seems, therefore, reason- able to conclude that this Church was composed mainly (if not exclusively) of heathen-Christians, at one in their loyalty to the Faith and to him who had first proclaimed it in their hearing; exposed, at the same time, to hurtful influences which might invade them from outside, and liable to those mutual differences of feeling which make themselves manifest in every Christian community.
ΤΗΕ Occasion oF THE Letrer. In ancient times letters were written to correspondents at a distance when a favourable opportunity presented itself of forwarding them to their destination (cf. Cic., ad Attic., i, 9, 1). In the present instance this was afforded by the