,end Timnthy, n,ight po~~ibly not he in hia i. 25,Rnd note), w11e not, it seem~, contlnuons: pnwN; he thnught it neC'essary. a matt.er of both were exeroised only in nccord,moo with duh·. to Pend Epaphroditue at once. Ky tho rcvea,lod will of God and on occnsions of brot.her, and companion in labour, a.nd fellow- especial moment. 10Idier. Mark how the epithets rise one Ver. 28.-I aent him therefore the more tthove another; they imply fellowship in oarerun,,. that, when ye aee him again, ye religion, in work, in enduranne. But your may re.10109, and that I may be the leBB m-uger, a.nd he tha.t mini&tered t.o my ■oi:owfo.l; rather, I Bend him ( epistolary wa.nta. " Yonr" refers to both olansee ; aonst, as vor. 25), I ,end him with the letur. "your messenger, and (your) minister to Perhaps "again" is better token with the my need." Epaphroditns had brought to following clause; "thnt when ye see him, St. Paul the contributions of the Philippin.ns ye may a~ain rejoice." Note St. Pnul'a (eh. i-.. I~). Some think that the word ready sympalhy with the Philippia.ns: their rendered "messenger" (cl..-ou,,-oll.os, literally ~tored joy will involve a diminution of his .. apo~tle ") means that Epaphroditus wa.s oorrow. Mark also the implied ndmiseion that the apnstle. that is, the bishop of the Phi- sorrows mnst still remain, though spiritual lippian Church. It may be 80 (romp. oh. iv. joy brightens and relieves them. "Sorrow- S. and not€); bnt there is no proof of the ful, yet ahvaJl! rejoicing" (2 Cor. vi. 10). establishment of any dioresan bishops. e:i:- Ver. 29.-B.eoeive him therefore in the ccpt St. Jam~ at Jerusalem. at eo ea.rly a Lord with all gladness ; and hold snoh in period. The wod ar0<rroll.os, both here and reputation.: In the Lord (see note ou ver.19; in 2 Cor. rui. 23 (aT,lc--roll.o, Elt'tcll.r,tr,aw), is comp. Rom. :i:vi. 2). \Yith joy on every prob&hly n-1 in its first m<'aning in the account. Notioe the constant repetition of sense of messenger, or delegate. The Greek the word ''joy," characteristic of this Epistle. lTI!rd for minister, ll.€r.-ovp-yo,, seams to imply, Ver. 30.-Becanse for the work of Christ like >..,.-ravn111. in ver. 30, that St. Paul re- he was nigh unto death. The rea,lings vary garded the alms of the Philippians e.s an between "Christ" and "the Lord." One offt:ring to God, ministered by Epaphroditus. ancient mnuuscript reads simply, " for the (Ilut see Rom. xiii. 6, also 2 Kings iv. 43; work's sa.ke." The work in this cnse con- vi. 15, etc. in the Greek.) sisted in ministering to the wants of St. Yer. 26.-For he longed after yon all Paul Translate the following words, with The ,·erb is strengthened by the preposi- R.V., he came nigh unto death. Not regard- tion: " WOE eagerly longing." Perhaps it ing his life j rather, as R.V., laazarding hi, should be rendered., "is longing; " like •• I life, which translation represents the best- connt it necessary," in ver. 25. And we.s supported reading, 1ra.p11.Poll.,v<1&.µ.wo• : the full of heavineaa, bees.use that ye ha.d heard verb literally means II to lay down e. stake, t11at he had been. &iok. •• Full of heaviness" to gamble." Hence the word Parabolani, ( a.lh1µav,;;v) ie the word used of our blessed the name given to certnin brotherhoods in Lord in his agony (Matt. n:vi. 37). Some the ancient Church who undertook the derive it from t,.~71µ.os, a.way from home; hazardous work of tending the sick nnd others, more probably, from !.~11v, in the burying the dead in times of pestilenoo. sense of loathing. weariness, satiety. The The A. V. represents the reading 1ra.p11.Pov- word implies heart-sickness, restless, nn• >..evrr&µ.,vos, consulting amiss. To supply satisfied wearinc·ss, produced by some over- your laok ot service toward me; rather, as whelming distreaS. R.V., th.at tohich was lacking in your service. Yer. 27.-For indeed he was sick nigh The Philippians o.re not blamed. Epaphro- 1lllto death : but God had me::cy on him i ditns did that which their n.bsenoo prevented and n.ot on him only, but on me also, lest I them from doing. Hie illuess was caused should have sorrow upon sorrow. St. Panl by over-exertion in attending to the apostle'■ recognizt:s the thankfulness of Epaphroditus wants, or, it ma.y be, by the hardships of the for the rL-covery of hie health : he shares journey. 'r:µ..;;v must be taken closely with that thankfulness himself. Mark hie bnma.11 vrr-rlp71µ.a,, the lack of your presence. St. sympathies; he had a " desire to depart," Paul, with exquisite delicacy, represents tho but lie rejoices in the recovery of his friend. nbsence of the Philipp~ns oa something St. Paul doe11 not seem t.o have healed Epa.- lacking to his complete satisfaction, somc- phroditus. '.l'be p'.lwer of working miracles, thiag which he missed, aud which JJ:pe.phro- like that of foreseeing the future (comp. eh. ditus supplic<l.
HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-4.-&hortation to unity. I. ST. PAUL'S EARNEST DESlRE FOR THE UNITY OF THE PmLIPPIAK Cnu&eH. 1. /le desires that unity becr.iuse he loves them. Hie LhpJ,iu!:!'.S is bound up with their spiril;,ial welfare. "Fulfil ye IllY joy," he says; he OH, II, l-80.] THE EPIS'l'LE TO 'l'HE PHILIPPIANS.