The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 95

iicnrrntion. Something more is needed than the most satisfact0ry ChriHfrrn apologetics. '!'ho Uhurch rnU8t show, positively nncl deciderlly, the living power of Chrisfomity. It must make a. better help to tho ~piritunl life of the Lord's day, if thnt rlay is not to be surrendered to the enemy. It must have a more living hold of the Bible, if thnt book would maintain its nuthority. It must have a warmer attachment to Christ, if ho is properly to be held Corti~ for the faith of men. It must have greater fervour in prayer and in nll religious duties, if it would commend these a.s sanctifying anrl sweet~nin:,; common duties. The Church must, from the right use of the gospel, create a priblic sentiment of a Christian nature, a. body of strong living light, if it would make an impression upon the darkness around, and not have its own light obscnrcrl. Let us see that individually we act as light-bearers to the world, holding forth the Word of life. III. INTERTWINING OF PAUi, WITH THE PHILIPPIANS. 1. Alternative of his b~ing spared. "That I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I dirl not run in vain neither labour in vain." What a beautiful intertwining of the apostle with his converts I He hoped yet to run for them, with his feet shod with the prepn.rntion of the gospel of peace; he hoped yet to labour for them. Beyond that he sees the dn.y of Christ, the day when his running and labouring, with all its attendant resnlts, in them, would pass under the eye of the great Head of the Church. He hopes, then, to hn.ve his destiny so intertwined :with theirs that they would be the occasion of his glorying, as in successful work for Christ. Whereas he intimates that it would be loss to him of a crown of rejoicing, if his running and labouring for them turned out to be ineffectual. What minister would not thus wish to be intertwined in loving service with his people? 2. .Alternative of his dying. ( 1) His joying and refoicing with them. "Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, an<l rejoice with you all." He does not here present his dying as the probable issue. For thn.t would be inconsistent with the confident anticipation of release, to which expression was formerly given. Rather does he wish to entertain as probable or certain the supposi- tion of the satisfactory nature of their faith. If he can think of them as priests ministering at the altar and offering thereon a believing life, then, though his life-blood should be poured out as a libation around the offering, he will joy in their offering, and rejoice with them all. (2) Call to joy and rejoice with him. "And in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me." Martyrdom was a. joyful thought to him. His dying when the ea.use or Christ was in the ascendant, his being poured out a.s a libation when he could think or them and others offering up their faith to God, would only send a thrill of joy through his heart. The dark hour would be lighted up by the thought of their believing testimony, and of the crown which they would be the occasion of his wearing. Far be it from them, then, to be overwhelmed by the event. Let themjoy in his having courage to die for the Master, and let them rejoice with him in the reward, connected with them, that the Master was to put into his hand. -it. F. Vers. 19-30.-Timothy and Epaphroditus. L TrnoTHY. 1. His miss-ion. "But I hopo in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your slate." He looked ic•rward to sending Timothy to them in the not-distant future. '!'his hope he entertained in the Lord Jesus. It was not the hypocrite's hope, wLich is like the spider's web. It had to do with his being spared; but that, not based on worldly_scheming to secnre an acquittal at_ ~is ~pproach- ing trinl, but bnsed on the need for dorng more work for the Loni at Philippi. It was a. hope that was mnde to rise within his heart by an impulse from the Lo~d. It was to the Lord that he looked for the realization of the hope. It was particubrly tho hope t•f performing a friendly office to the Philippians. In order that friendship may be turned to good account as n force in the advancement of the cause of Christ, it is necessary that there should be an honest endeavour to keep up intercourse. Where long distance interveued, that was a more difficult matter than it is now. \Ve have readier means of communication with the mission field. There can be more frequent transmission of letters, an easier going and coming of missionaries. In that respect wo nre better placed for friondship, and for using it as a forco in the extension oi Chris- tianity. 'l'he ap_ostlo had to cont~nd wit~1 clifficult m~ans ~f corun~nnication, anJ. yet he found it possible to keep up fmndly mtercourso with distant vhnrchcs. Ho was  92 THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILJPPIANS. [oJt. u. 1-30,