IV. CON'fENTS OF THE EPISTLI<J, 'l'he l!:pistle to the Philippians is a letter from a friend to friends, o. letter of spiritual counsel, written in acknowledgment of loving help. The apostle knew that the Philippians would be interested in his personal circumstances, as he himself is interested in theirs. He tells them of his bonds, of the progress of the gospel at Rome, of the conduct of the Jewish party, of their endeavours to distress him by factious opposition, preaching Christ, as they did, out of envy and party spirit. He tells them of the inward peace and joy which bore him up in all his afflictions; he feels sure of their sympathy, he writes in the fullest confidence of Christian friendship, Lis joy is their joy. He tells them of the uncertainty of his future; he does not know how his trial will end, in death or in life; he is prepared for either event-a holy life is blessed, a holy death more blessed still. He tells them of his thankful acceptance of their gifts : he had been unwilling 40 receive aid from other Churches, but with them he was on terms of the very closest intimacy, and that affectionate and trusting friendship made him ready to accept their help. But he valued it, not so much as an allevia- tion of his own hardships, but rather as an additional evidence of their love to himself and of their growth in that charity which is the first of Christian graces. For himself, he was content; he had learned to be self-sufficient in the Christian sense: none felt his own weakness more than he, but he could do all things through the strength of Christ. · He assures them of the sympathy of the Roman Christians; especially he mentions, we know not why, the interest which the Christians of Nero's household felt in their Philippian brethren. St. Paul believed with all his heart in the communion of saints; the sense of Christian fellowship, the sympathy of his brother Christians, was very precious to him; he knew it was so to the Philippians. He tells them of his own circumstances, and dwells with affectionate friendship upon theirs. He calls them saints in Christ Jesus, his brethren, clearly beloved and 'longed for, his joy and crown. He mentions their bishops and deacons (see note on eh. i. 1). He assures them of his constant prayers ; he always remembers them, and that with joy ancl thankfulness. He remembers their fellowship with him in the gospel; they had assisted him, and that loyally and earnestly, in his self-denying labours. He belioved that his continued life was desirable for their sakes; ho was confident, therefore, that it would be prolonged, and that he should see them again. He hints here and there at their Roman citizenship ( eh. i. 27; iii. 20); he urges them to live as citizens of the heavenly country, to show the conmge of Romans in the good fight of faith. He knows, he tells lN'rR0DtJCTION '1'0
t.hem, their trials and persecutions ; to suffer for Christ, he says, is e, gift from God, a. high honour. He reminds them delicately of his own example: he is suffering a.s they are, more than they a.re ; he and they are partners now in affliction, as they will be hereafter in glory. They have already given him much satisfaction; he begs them to com- plete the joy which he has in them. There is one fault in tho Philippian Church, a. tendency to disunion. He implores them, in the most affectionate langnage, to be on their guard against strife and vain-glory, to esteem, each one of them, others as better than himself. He exhorts them to cultivate lowliness and nnselfishness. He knows how hard the lesson is; precept is not enongh,-there is need of a high constraining example. He points to the Savionr; he bids them remember his lowliness, his Divine self-sacrifice. This introduces the great doctrinal passage of the Epistle. He soon returns to exhortation. Hitherto, he says, they have obeyed him: they obeyed when he was with them; in his absence, obedience is more needful still. '.l'hey must work ont, each one of them, his own salvation, not depending on the presence of a human teacher, but on God who worketh in the Christian heart, from whom alone all holy desires and all good. works do proceed. He again warns them against mnrmnrings and disputings ; they must be blameless and ha.rmlesa, the sons of God. They appear already, he says, as lights in the world ; thny hold forth the Word of life to others. Let them persevere, for his sake as well as their own, that he may rejoice in the day of Christ. Nothing can give him greater joy than their salva- tion; for that great end he is willing to be offered up; it would fill· him with holy joy to ponr forth his own blood as a drink offering upon the sacrifice of their souls as a. whole burnt offering unto God. He will send Timothy to them shortly, that he may have a trustworthy account of their state ; he reminds them that they know the proof of him,-he will care for them with a genuine love. He hopes to come himself. In any case, he will send Epaphroditus at once. Epaphroditus had just recovered from a. <la.ngerous illness; that illness had been caused in some way by his unselfish laholll'1!, possibly dnring the autumn always unhealthy at Rome (see eh. iv. 10, and note). St. Panl knew that the Philippians felt the deepest interest in their brother's recovery: he will send him at once with the letter. After another doctrinal digression, St. Paul returns to the circumstances of the Philippian Church. He mentions especially two women, Euodia and Syntyche. They evidently held an important position at Philippi; they were at variance with one another; their reconciliation was necessary for the well-being of the Church. He exhorts them in the most earnest words to be of the same mind, and that in the Lord ; they were members of the one body of Christ; the Church's union with the one Lord must not be disturbed by disunion among its members. He begs his "true yokefellow," perhaps Epaphroditus himself, with Clement and his other fellow-labourers, to assist in the Christian work of restoring peace. He exhorts them all to rejoice in the Lord, for that holy joy is the best remedy against the spirit THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. xl