The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 86

dispensation. "\Ye may expect to~ s•llTounded by the crooked and the perverse. It mar not he a very comforta~le p<>s1t1on to occ~py, but it is e. very important and ought to he s _,·cry useful one. I~ 1s, m fact, to fur?tsh oppo~tunities for promoting the fe.ith that this arrangement obtams. We often think t.he.t 1t would be happier to be trans- !aLcd at once where" the wicked cease from _t~ub_ling and the weary a.re at 1·est;" but 1t would not be better for us. Our best 1xis1hon 1s to have opportunities or bencfitin~ others. II. Gon INSPIBES us TO BE UNCOMPLAINING AND BLAMELESS SONS. (Vers. 14, 15.) This is the way he would have us to work out our own salvation. We are to "do all things without murmurings and oisputings." We are not to be complaining like Israel in the wilderness, nor at war among ourselves. 1Ve are besides to be the blame- less and harmless sons of Goo. The pure life we lea.d is to be such as to forbid rebuke from a perverse world. In this way we shall be "lights," for through us the light of truth, the light of" the Word of life," shall be held forth bafore those who are in dark- ness, that they too may be redeemed. It is an inspiration, consequently, for service, an inspiration towards usefulness, which God gives. It carries the individual clear of selfish considerations and makes him useful among men. It is the inspiration of public spirit. ill. PAUL EUECTS TO BEJOIOB IN THE DAY OF CHBIST THAT HE HAS NOT BUN IN VAIN BECAUSE OF THE USEFUL1''ESS OF ms PHILIPPIAN OONVERTS. (Ver. 16.) The present life, in Paul's regard, is to be joyfully reviewed in the day of Christ, that is, the day of judgment. 'l'he thought and memory of the usefulness of the Philippians will con- stitute an intense delight to his great soul. He will in such a case assure himself that he has not run in vain. It must he.ve been a great incentive to them to think that their consistent life would be a joy to the glorified apostle. And would it not be well for Christi.ans to carry this thought with them? They are adding by their blameless and con.sist.ent lives to the joy of the heavenly world, adding a thrill to the hearts of angels and of the redeemed from among men and to the heart of the Lord himself. IV. PA UL's POSSIBLE MARTYRDOM WILL NOT DDl{INISH BUT INOREASE THIS JOY. (Vers. 17, 18.) Paul knew as a prisoner in Rome that his martyrdom was possible. He may not, indeed, have deemed it probable at this period, for if this Epistle be, as Bi$hop Lightfoot thinks, the first of the Epistles of the captivity, it is likely that he enjoyed a little season of release before bis :final appreheusion and martyrdom. And Paul kne1v that the possibility of bis death threw a shadow over the minds of bis converts. In his beautiful consideration for them, therefore, he tells them that he can rejoice even should his martyrdom be as a drink offering upon their service and sacrifice of faith. He calls upon them to rejoice along with him in prospect even of possible martyrdom. It will not mar the joy, but will be owned of God in multiplying it. Paul is thus a sublime ex.ample, after Jesus his Lord, of consideration for others. He does not mourn over his lot as a possible martyr, and crave their sympathy; but for their sakes he rejoices o'l'er it and asks their congratulation. Grace turns the apparent evil into real good; and joy is promoted at Philippi as well as Rome by what the ".l'orld thinks should only create sorrow. Paul is thus an inspired and blameless son himself, and a pattern to his people at PhilippL We have thUB set before us the magnificent public spirit which the gospel fosters. It e11&bles us to look away from our own thmgs to the thiugs of others, and it brings us to make even misfortune a tributary to spiritu~l joy. May we follow after the things that make for peace and tend to the cd1ficat1on of others !-R. M. E. V<:rs. 19-30.-77ie oonsiderate missions of Epaphroditus and Timothy. 'l'ho passagt is still dominated by the idea of consideration for others as the proper outcome uf tLe Christian spirit. 'l'hc life God inspires (ver. 13) is the life of consideration fo1· others. In this section we have thill beautifully illustrated by Epaphroditus, 'l'imothy, a1,cl the Philippian.s, as well as I.,y Paul himself. We cannot do better than look at tl,e public spirit as thus historically illustrated. I. 'fill: C0KSIDEBATE SPlBIT AS ILLUl:ITllATED IN EPAPHBODI'l.'0818 MIBBION TO HOME. (V•,rE. 26, 3(J.) lie Lad gone up as a deputy from Philippi to Home to minister in 1,i,r;;,,1, v, tLc klorcd ai,o~Lle. 'l'he long journey lie had undertaken cheerfully for tho bfJ.kc uf 1'8.·.1I. It was jw,t sucli an 0L1tcome of the Christian ttpicit at Philippi anu  Oil. II, 1-30.] 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THI~ PlIILll'PI.A NS. 0 8•j