VII. COMMENT.ARIES ON TBE EPISTLE. AMONG the most valuable patristic helps are the Homilies of St. Chrysostom ; there are also the commentaries of Theodoret, Theodore of Mopsu.estia, and Theophylact. Among later writers may be mentioned Calvin (1539) and Estiu.s (1614) ; and in modern times, Bengel (1742), Van Hengel (1838), Rilliet (1841), Meyer (1847), Holeman (1839), De Watte (1847), Wiesinger (1850), Nea.nder (1849). Among tho best English commentaries are those of Bishops Lightfoot. Ellicott, and Wordsworth, Deans Alford and Gwynn, and Professor Eadie THE EPISTLE OF
PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS. EXPOSITION. CHAPTER L with a price." Compare the words or the "damsel posseased with a apirit of divina- Ver. 1.-Paul and Timotheus. St. Paul tion " at Philippi : "Theae men are the doea not assUI11e hie official title in writing eervanta [alaves] of the moat high God." to the Macedonian Churches, Philippi and She felt the difference between her atate Theeealonica; it is uaed in all hie other o.nd theira ; she was the slave of her Philip- Epistles, except the short letter to Philemon. pian mastera, of the evil apirit too ; St. Paul Hie relationa to the Philippiana o.nd Thes- and hie companion were the slavea of God ao.lonio.na were those of the deepest peraonal moat high. In the best manuscripts, as in affection; there we.a 110 need of e. formal in- the R.V., "Chriat" is put before "Jesus" troduction, eapecially in an Epiatle which here. The apostle frequently aets the official he.a ao little of an officio.I character o.s this before the personal no.me of olll Lord; pos- to the Philippiana. He joina the name of aibly because he knew not the Lord Jesns Timothy with his own, o.a in 2 Corinthiana, after the flesh, but ae.w him first as the Colossio.na, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Phi- M<3ssie.h, the Christ of God. To a.11 the lemon. Thua Timothy ia associated with St. seints in Christ J'e8118 which a.re at Philippi. Paul in every Epistle in which another The word" all" is of very frequent occur- name ia found except 1 Corinthiana, where rence in this Epistle. There may possibly Sc,athenes only ia mentioned; thia showa the be e. reference to the dissensions alluded to intimate affection that bound St. Paul to in eh. iv. 2 ; or, as aome think, to the sup- his "own son in the faith." There was a plies sent for St. Panl'a assistance; he apecial reaaon for mentioning Timothy in addresses all alike, not only those who con- this Epiatle, as he was so well known to tributed; he does not recognize their di ,i. the Philippians, and St. Paul was intending aions. But it is, perhaps, only the naturnl (eh. ii. 19) to send him shortly to Philippi. expression of his warm affection: the apostle But St. Paul writes in his own name from wo.s beloved by all the Philippian~, and all the beginning. Timothy was not in nny were dear to him; there was no hostile fac- sense a joint author; he mo.y posaibly have tion there,as at Corinth and elsewhere. Com- been St. Paul's amanuensis, aa Tertius was pare the affectionate repetition, "a.lwoya," in the case of the Epistle to the Romans "every," "e.11," in ver. 4. St. Paul uses (Rom. xvi. 22). Possibly nlso motives of the word "aaint" e.a the general no.me for humility led St. Po.ul to insert other names hie converts, like "Christian." The worcl besides his own; but it was not to support "Christi!m" ocours only three times in the his teaching by additional o.uthority-he wna New 'l'estament (Acts xi. 26; :uvi. 2S; "an apoatle, not of man, neither by man," 1 Pet. iv. 16). Christ's people a.re called and needed not the weight of other namea. "brethren,"" disciples," or" sainta." Thus The servants of J' esus Christ ; slaves, lite- St. Paul addressee the Corinthians gene- rally : "made free from sin o.nd becomo sor- rally as •• aaiuts," though many of them vo.nts [slaves] to God,'' whose service is were far from possessin~ holiness of helll't perfeot freedom. We belong to him; ho is aud life. The e.ncient Church wo.s holy ; our Master (,u',p,os, ~ea-1r&n1s) as well os the Isre.elitea are called "a holy na- Father, we ore hie slo.vea aa well na hie tion,'' "saints of the l\Iost High." They sons: " Ye are not your own, yo o.re bought wore holy by God's olectiou, his chooeu PJllLlPP.LANS, .,. 2 THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. [ell. I. 1-30,