The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 20

Ministers ~honld bear their_ people much upon their hearts in prayer to God. They should pra~· always for their people. The apostle prayed for his converts :is often as he remcm oored them (1) because "the anxiety of all the Churches" was upon him; (2) becanse he bad a dee~ affection for them; (3) because they were exposed to great dangers at once_ fro?J, em:;15ts ~nd from perse_cut?rs·,, 2. His prayers/or the Philippians tl'ere always wu~ Joy. ~akmg request ~1 th J_oy. . Tho1;1gh he was a prisoner ex posed to e.11 the morbid depression caused by isolation, JOY mingled with all his prayers. The sum of this Epistle is, Gaudeo; gaudete. Eight1)en times does the word occur in its ver~ or sut:>st.an~ive f?rms. Joy is a true fruit of the Spirit (Gal. v. 22). The apostle mmgled JOY with his requests, (1) because the converts at l'hilippi were very dear to him; (2) because they were so mindful of his necessities; (3) because they abounded in many spiritual graces. • IV. 'l'HE CAUSE FOR WRICH HE BET'O'RNJl:D THANKS TO Goo. "For your fellowship in aid of the gospel from the first day until now." It was a fellowship of faith and love and service with a view to the furtherance of the gospel. It implied : 1. .A cordial and united action. 2. .A thoughtful comiderationfor the apostle's wants. 3 . .A con- tinuance in weU-doing, which was at once -a proof of the gospel's power in their hearts, a demonstration oI Christian consistency, and a means for sustained success in gospel work.-T.C. Ver. 6.-17ie groonds of the apostle's thanksgiving. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which began a good work in yon will perfect it till the day of Christ." L THE SUilJECT oF ms OOlIFIDENCE. "A good work," regarded: 1. In itself. It is the work of grace or salvation in the human soul. 2. In its development. It has a beginning and an ending. It is God, not man, who begins it; and he. who begins it ends it. It is thus a good work, (1) because it is God's through all its stages; (2) because it brings good to man, being the restoration of the Divine image in his heart; (3) because it brings glory to God. II. THE Gnom."'Ds OF ms OOh"TIDEKCE, Not in the power of priesthood or sacrament, but in the character and resources of the Worker. He who begins will end it, for he has fixed a day for its completeness-" the very day of Christ." Not the day of death, but the day of Christ, because man does not exist in his completely glorified condition till be stands in the redemption of both body and soul The grounds of a believer's perseverance are not, therefore, to be found in bis own watchfulness or his 'lwn strength, but (1) in the purposes and promises of God, (2) in the mediation of Obrist, (3) in the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit. IIL How TfilS CONFIDENCE OPERATED IN THE APOSTLE. It did not prevent him from praying for his converts or exhorting them to the use of means for their continu- ance in grace. It suggests (1) that we ought to be careful not to abuse assurance; and (2) that we ought to interest ourselves deeply in each other's spiritual welfare.-T. C. Vers. 7, 8.-.A double explanation of the origin of this ronfidence. "Even as it is right for me to think this of you all, because 1 have you in my heart, and because in my bonds and in my defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye are all partakers with me of my grace." The apostle has found the objective ~ound of his_ C?nfi~ence in .the exclusively Divine source of the "good work;" but this confidence 1s Justified at once by his own love to the Philippia.ns and by their spiritual followsbip with him in sufferings and service. L LoVE INSPIRES CONFIDENCE. "I have you in my heart." Therefore, he says, it is right for him to cherish this confidence respecting them. It is the nature of love to have this confident hope, for it "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all thittgs" (1 Cor. xiiL 7). The intensity of his love enhanced his confidence, The apostle's love was peculiarly tender. "For God is my witness, how I long after you all in tLe bowels of Jesus Christ." The appeal to God marks the sincerity of his love. But its true origin, its pattern, its fervency, are only to be found iJ1 the bowels of Christ. 'l'Le heart of the apostle throbs in unison with the heart of Christ. 11. A.NOTHEll GROUND OF CONFIDENCE WAS THEm SYMPA'l'HETIC FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM rs- BGPFERING AND IN SERVICE. 1. They identified them6elves wtth him "in his b,n,do" by mi1,isltrin;1 or,ce and a;1ain to l1u ne~essitie6 and cheering him by their OH, I, 1-30,] THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. 15