The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 19

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. VerR. 1, 2.-.Apostolic address and salutalion. The Apostle Pa.nl is as characteristic in his greetings ns in the substance of his epistolary writings. I. 'l'HE AUTHORS OF THE GREETING. "Paul and Timotheus, bond-slaves of Jesu~ Christ." 1. The apostle associates Timothy with himself as one who had foboured at Philipfi and was well known to the Christians of that city. Timothy, besirles, wM then his companion at Rome. It wa.s natural that be should name the disciple who was associated with him through a. longer range of time than any other-extendino-, indeed, from the <la.to of bis first missionary journey till near the very time of his martyrdom. 2, He does not call himself an apostle, because the assertion of his official designation was not needful at Philippi, but places himself on a level with Timothy, by bringing into prominence their common relationship to the Lord as" bond-slaves of Jesus Christ." They belonged to him as Master, a.nd bore his marks in their very bodies, and were supremely devoted to bis service. II. THE PERSONS TO WHOM THE GREETING w AS ADDRESSED. "To the saints which are in Christ Jesus at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." 1. They dwelt in Philippi, an important city of Macedonia, which, thirty-four years before, was the scene of a. great battle which determined the prevalence of the imperial system of Rome. It was still more celebrated as the first city in Europe which received the gospel-" thus opening up the long vista. of what bas become Western Christendom." 2. They were "saints in Christ Jesus;" with a ten years' history. 'l'he title must have had a special force in the case of those addressed with such a warmth of affection. Their saintship was grounded in their union with Christ. It is interesting to mark the prominence of female names both in the first founding of the Church a.nd in its later developments, as noticed in the Epistle. Who ca.n sa.y whether the delicate and untiring generosity of the Philippian Cburch to the apostle ma.y not have been ma.inly due to these saintly women, who enjoyed in Macedonia, as women, a far more independent position than in other parts of the world? There is at all events a. sweet tenderness in Pbilippia.n piety which made the designation of "saints" peculiarly appropriate. 3. The greeting was extended to the bishops and deacons along with the saints. (1) This implies that Philippian Christianity was fully organized. (2) It suggests that the bishops and deacons may have taken an active part in the contribu- tion to the apostle's wants. (3) Yet the apostle, by his mode of greeting, lends no sanction to hierarchical usurpation, for, instead of greeting "the bishops and deacons, together with the saints at Philippi," be assigns the first place to the Christian flock. III. THE FRIENDLY GREETING OF THE APOSTLE, "Grace to you and peace, from God the Father, aud from the Lord Jesus Christ" (see Homilies on Gal. i. 3 and Epb. i. 2). -T,C. Vers, 3-5.-Thanksgiving for their fellowshi'p in the gospel. I. THANKSGIVING IS A NATURAL AND PROPER EXERCISE OF THE BELIEVING HEART. The apostle usually begins his Epistles by blessing God-" my God," as marking intimate personal relation- ship-for the spiritual condition of bis converts. There was special ea.use for thanks- giving in the case of the Philippians. 1. Scripture has psalms of thrtnksgiuing. (Neh. xii. 8.) 2. We have constant reason for thanksgiving. Wo thank God for temporal mercies (Exod. xv. 1, 2); for spiritual mercies (Hom. i. 8; 1 Cor. i. 4); for deliverance from the body of death (Rom. vii. 25); but, above all, for Christ, bis unspeakable Gift (Luke ii. 38). II, TnE APOSTLE'S THANKSGIVING WAS BASED UPON HIS ENTIRE REMEMBRANCE OF HIB CONVERTS. "Upon my whole remembrance of you." Gratitude is usually fed by memory. 'l'hey had been often in bis remembrance for ten years back. Every fresh token of their affection received in bis trials and imprisonments would revive the thought of them. III. 'l'm,; OCOABIONS OF HIS TIIANKSCllVING. "Always in every prayer of mine for you ail, making request with joy." There is something signifi?ant in" the studied cnmula- tion" of the "alls" in the passage. It marks the overflowrng heart. 1. The apostle w,,s much in prnyer fvr his converts, Ho ha.d a largo heart, for be prayed for then1 a.II.  H THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. [cu. r. 1-30.