The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 36

sometimes to_ drag it at the heols of ?-uty. We need to keep it from being placed on u1J1rnrthy obJ('Cls. Wo ~eed to keep 1t from scoking worthy objects in unworthy ,vays. ChriRt_ neeJed_ to rebuke Petor's \ove. to him, which mistakenly forb:\do him to die. L<we IS nourisMd by truth. ,v1th imperfect knowledge our love must be starved. ~,:e need to have the. field ~f tr:uth over openod up before us, that love may bo fed. "e must see beauty m Chnst m order that we may desire him. 'l'he apostlo then prayed for the Philippians, that they might have an enlarged knowle<l"o and a finer P?rceptio~, in order that their hearts mig~1t ~o more warmly affected, es~blly toward him who 1s the altogether Lovely. 2. Aim in the elements associated with love. "'l.'hat ye may approve the things that are excellent." Some translate, "That ye may prove the things that differ." -~ut the apos~le is a point beyond that.. The object of enlarged knowledge and a fine spmtual sense 1s that love may be eombmed with the approba- tion of excellent things, or things that stand out amon~st the good. And is that not !lcce.ssary to a rounded character? Is it not necessary in a workl like this if love to would ha,e its ,irgin purity and due warmth, that we should have a keen eye detect the spunous, the base, that we should set aside for our highest approbation the thino-a tlt.at tower up among the good? 3. mtimate desi_qn. (l) Inward state. "That ye may be sincere and Yoid of offence unto the day of Christ." "Sincere,'' in its derivation points to honey without any admixture of wax. So are we to have heavenly excellence without any admixture of earthliness. Unmixed in our motives (which is a condition of excellence), we shall not be chargeable with giving others offence, or putting obstacles in their way. Especially in view of the day of Christ does it become us to see that we arc clear from the lilood of all men. (2) Outwa,·d results. "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which a.re through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and. praise of God." Righteousness is the holy habit already presupposed. He refers to it now in connection wilh its fruits. These Philippians had already exhibited good fruits in what they had done for the furtherance of the gospel. He wished to see the idea of fruitfulness fully realized. Let them be like trees laden with golden fruit, that fruit produced through the inflowing of the virtue of Christ-like sap into the tree, and tend- ing to the glory of God and its due recognition.-R. F. Vers. 12--30.-Thoughts suggested by his captivity. L PBOORESB OF THE GOSPEL IN Hoim. 1. Generally. "Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel." It might have been expected. that his imprisonment, which is principally referred to, would have fallen out to the hindrance of the gospel. But Paul would have his Philippian brethren know, for their comfort and confirmation, that, though to some extent it had been a disadvantage, yet to a greater extent it had been an advantage. It was with.it as with the early persecutions as a whole. They were intended by the Church's enemies to be for its destruction ; but Divine wisdom overruled them for its increase. The scattering of the disciples brought about the fulfilment of the prophecy in Daniel," Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." The imprisonment of the ark was the fall of Da"'on. 0 The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church. 2. In two par- ticulars. (1) Incnased publicity. "So that my bonds became manifest in Christ ihrourrhout the whole Prmtorian Guard, and to all the rest." It was by a singular com- liinati~n of circumstances that this was brought about. His adversaries would have liked to have wreaked their vengeance upon him in Palestine. But, asserting his 1ights ns a Roman citizen in appealing to Cmslll', he was delivered out of their hands. 'l'aken VJ Rome, which he may have had in view in bi~ appeal-for h? _had ~ de~ire to see Home-his trial there was long delayed. And while he was awa1tmg his tnal, he was not subjected to the worst form of imprisonment-confined in a dungeon with his feet fast in the stocks as had been the case with him in Philippi. Nor was he subjected to the mildest form~llowed. to go about, on getting a friend to answer for his appearance. But be was subjected to an intermediate form, which was known as military imprison- ment. He was under the charge of the prefect of the Prretorians, or commander of the imperial regiments who allowed him to dwell in his own hired house, with complete fr=l.om of access ~ him, but ap1,ointcd him to be chained <lay and night to_ a Prrotorian soldier, who was responsible for bis safe keeping. One Prmtorian relieving another, tbe apostle would soon be brought into contact with many of their number, who would OH, I, 1-30.] TUE EP1STLE TO 'l'lrn PIHLIPPIANS. 31