The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 69

tlon. In tho Greek Scriptures it is need of Nalm·all!J (")lv71,r[.,,: c0mp. I Tim i. 2, where priestly minietrntions (Hob. viii. 6; ix. 21; St. Paul calls Timothy" mine own son in the comp. o.lso Rom. xv. 16). In ecclesinslicol faith," ")lvf/rtw, Tl,,vov); with n trne, gr-nnine Greok it sto.nds for tho orrler of the Holy o.ffeclion. Timothy's love for St. Paul as Communion, tho o.ncient liturgies; it is his apiritonl fathor will inRpiro him with 11, sometimes used loosely for any set form of genuine love for thoRe who were so dear to public pro.yer. The o.nalogy of Rom. xii. 1, St. Paul. Care is a strong word, µep,µvf,tTer, wlriire St. Po.ul exhorts Christians to present will be anxious ( comp. Matt. vi. 31 ). their bodies o. living s11crifice, suggests tho.t Vm. 21.-For all seek their own, not the here the Philippinns nre regnrded o.s priests things which 111'8 Jesus Christ's. .All of thmn, ( comp. 1 Pet. ii. 5), offering tho so.crifice of he says (o/ ,rtiner): Timothy is the one ex- their fo.ith, their hco.rts, themselvrs, in the ception. He c11lls those a.bout him brethren ministro.tions of the spiritual priesthood; St. in eh. iv. 21; but, it seems, they were not Pnul's blood being represented as the ac- like St. Paul, not willing to spend and to be companying drink offering. Others, com- spent for the salvation of souls. It was a parin.,. 0 Rom. xv. 16, where also sacrificio.l great sacrifice in one who so yearned for words arc used, regard St. Po.ul himself o.s Christian sympathy to submit to the absence the ministoring priest, and unrlerstand the of the one true loving friend. St. Paul's metaphor of a priest slnin at the altar, his spiritual isolation increases our wonder and blood being shed while he is offering the admiration for the strain of holy joy which sacrifico of their fo.ith. I joy, e.nd rejoice runs through this Epistle. with you all. Meyer, Bengel, and others Ver. 22.-But ye know the proof of him. prefer "congratulate" ns tbo rendering of Ye recognize from your former experience tT•"Jlxa.lpw, "I rejoice with you." (Acts xvi.) his approved character. That, as Ver. 18.-For the same cause also do ye joy, a. son with the father, he ha.th served with and rejoice with me; or, ns R.V., in the same me in the gospel; translo.te, with R.V., tJ,,at, manner. Their joy is to bo like his, to mingle as a child ser11eth a father, so he served with with his joy. The second clause may be me in furtherance of the go8pel. Se1·11ed ( loau• rendered,as in ver. I 7, "and congratulate me." >..,va,v); e.s e. slave. He was both a son and Ver. 19.-But I trust in the Lord JesllS to servant to St. Paul, and also a fellow-worker send Timotheus shortly unto you; read and with St. Po.nl, both being slo.vea of God. translate, witll R.V., I hope in the Lord JesUB. Ver. 23.-Rim thei-efora I hope to sand He bad urged tllcm, in ver. 12, not to depend presently, eo soon as I shall see how it will too much on human teachers ; but "much go with me. Presently; rather, forthwith, as more in my absence work out your own so.1- R. V. Dr. Fo.rra.r translates, "As soon as I vo.tion;" still he will give them what help he get e. glimpse." The oldest manuscripts can-he will send Timotheus. In the Lord here read a.q,iliw (remarkable for the aspirate) JeBUB (comp. eh. i. 8, 14; ii. 24). Bishop insteo.d of a.1rlaw. Lightfoot has a beautiful note here: " The Ver. 24.-But I trost in the Lord that I Christian is e. po.rt of Christ, e. member of also myself shall come shortly. Notice the his body. His every thought and word and variations of tone respecting his prospects deed proceod from Christ, as the centre of of releo.se. "I know" (eh. i. 25), "I hope" volition. Thus be loves in the Lortl, be (Philem. 22, in the Greek), "I trust" here. hopes in the Lord, he boasts in the Lord, The apostle was subject, like all of us, to be labours in the Lord. He bas one guiding clmnging currents of thought, to the ebb principle in acting and forbeo.ring to a.et, o.ncl flow of spirits; but his trust wos always • only in the Lord' (1 Cor. vii. 39)." That in the Lord. " Behold," so.ys Cbrysostom, I also may be of good comfort, when I know "how he ma.kes all things depend upon your state. Timothy is both to assist the God." His hope, in nJl probability, w,1s Philippio.ns by his presence aml counsel, fulfilled (see Titus iii. 12). nod to comfort St. Paul by bringing back Ver. 25.-Yet I supposed it necessary to tidings of their Christio.n life. send to you Epaphroditus; translate, but I Ver. 20.-For I ho.ve no mall like-mindod; count it necessary. 'H7T1tT<(1.L1w here and r1r,µ,f,a. literally, of equal soul (comp. Dent. xiii. 6, in ver. 28 o.re epistolary a.crisis; they point, 11 Thy friend, which is as thine own soul"). that is, to the time of reo.ding the letter, "Timotheus," says Bengel, "is a second not to that of writing it; and are therefore Paul: where he is, there you should think to be rendered by the English present. that I myself am present." Others, not so Epaphroditus is mentioned only in thi, woll, explain tile words, "I have no one like Epistle. Epapllras is tile contracted form, 'fimothy." Tile expression must, of 0O\irse, but the name is e. common one, and there is l,e limited to those present nt the moment, noevidencoofhis identity with the Epo.phrns and nvailable for the mission: it cannot in- of Colossians and Philemon. He seems to clude St. Luke. Who will naturally OBT8 havo heen tho bearer of tllis Epistle. St. for your et11te (8aT1s); such as will care. Paul felt that to come himself, or even tu  64 THE EPISTLE TO THE PlllLIPPIANS. [en. n. 1-30.