THE Epistle to the Philippians is a friendly letter of encouragement and exhortation addressed to a church which was in a prosperous and happy condition. Many causes conspired to make this church an object of Paul's special regard. The circumstances attending his first visit to Philippi, as related Acts 16:9-40, were extraordinary; and the church which was planted at that time appears to have afterwards evinced, perhaps more than any other church, a strong and constant attachment to the apostle, and veneration for his authority. He repeatedly alludes, in this Epistle, to the proofs of friendly regard which he had continually been receiving from them.

      In fact, the occasion on which this Epistle seems to have been written, was the return of a messenger, Epaphroditus, (2:25,) who had come from Philippi to Rome, to visit Paul in his imprisonment there, and relieve his wants by a pecuniary supply. Some years before this time, Paul had interested himself very deeply in inducing these Philippians, and the Christians of Corinth, to collect contributions for their destitute brethren in Judea; and the funds so collected he took great pains to carry to Jerusalem, and to apply to the purpose intended. That the seed of benevolence which he thus planted, should have produced, after so long a time, such a fruit as the leading of this people to send their messenger hundreds of miles by sea and land, after the lapse of many years, to seek out Paul in his wearisome confinement at Rome, with the proceeds of a contribution, made voluntarily for him, is a very happy exemplification of the faithfulness of the promise, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days."

      1. Timotheus. Timothy must have been well known to the Philippians, as he accompanied Paul in both of his visits to the city mentioned in the Acts. (Acts 16:1-3,12. 20:4, 6.)--Bishops. The word in the original means overseers. See Acts 20:28, [437] where it is so translated; and in this last case the same persons are called elders, a few verses above. (v. 17.)--Deacons. The deacons were originally appointed to attend to certain secular concerns. (Acts 6:) Whether the term here denotes an office of a similar nature is uncertain. Great importance has been sometimes attached to these incidental allusions to the internal economy of the early church; but it is impossible to deduce my well-defined system from them, conformed to modern ideas. There is reason to believe that the arrangements made by the early churches were not reduced to any formal and uniform system.

      6. Until the day of Jesus Christ; the day of his final coming.

      7. In my bonds; referring to his confinement as a prisoner at Rome.--In the defence and confirmation of the gospel; in my efforts to defend and establish it.--Partakers of my grace. The meaning seems to be that, in all the scenes through which he had to pass in the exercise of his ministry, they were present to his thoughts, and spiritually united with him.

      8. In the bowels of Jesus Christ; in Christian affection.

      12. The things which happened unto me; his apprehension at Jerusalem, and his being conducted, as a prisoner, to Rome, as narrated in the concluding chapter of the Acts.

      13. My bonds in Christ are manifest; that is, it is known that my imprisonment is on account of my testimony in behalf of the gospel.--The palace; the pretorium; the quarters, perhaps, of the officer mentioned in Acts 28:16, as the captain of the guard.

      14. Waxing confident; encouraged, perhaps, by Paul's fortitude and constancy. [438]

      19. And the supply; that is, through the supply of that Spirit to him.

      21. Is Christ; is to be wholly devoted to Christ.

      24. In the flesh; in the body.

      25. For your furtherance and joy of faith; to promote your advancement and happiness in faith.

      27. Your conversation; your life and conduct.

      28. Which is to them; that is, their hostility is to them, &c.

      29. In the behalf of Christ; for the sake of Christ.

      30. Which ye saw in me; referring to the persecutions which he endured when he was at Philippi. See Acts 16:9-40.

      2. Fulfill ye my joy; make my joy complete and full.--That ye be like-minded; that ye be agreed in mind.

      4. His own things; his own attainments and excellences. [439]

      6. In the form of God; in respect to his divine nature and character. There has been much discussion in respect to the import of the phrase translated "thought it not robbery to be equal with God;" the meaning, however, of the whole passage is clear. The example of Christ is appealed to as an example of condescension, and of a willingness to humble one's self for the good of others. The meaning, therefore, is, that he voluntarily gave up the glory which he had with the Father, (John 17:5. 1:1,) to become a man, and pass a life of ignominy and suffering upon the earth for the good of mankind. The passage seems to involve, in the most unequivocal manner, the idea that, in the case of Christ, birth was not the commencement of existence to the subject of it,--but that it was the mysterious assuming of human nature by a being who voluntarily descended to it from a previous condition of the highest glory.

      12. With fear and trembling; with earnest solicitude.

      13. Both to will and to do; that is, the very disposition to turn to him, as well as every act of obedience, comes from his influence and agency. It is very remarkable that this absolute dependence upon God, far from being allowed to encourage sloth and inaction, is made, by the apostle, the motive for the utmost diligence and solicitude in seeking salvation. We might theoretically expect that the effect would be the reverse; but in the experience of believers the result corresponds with this injunction of the apostle. In all ages, they who have felt most fully the helpless condition of the human soul while in its sins, and its entire dependence on a re-creating influence from above, have been most solicitous and most active in personal efforts of preparation for heaven.

      16. Holding forth the word of life; exhibiting its power and influence in the example of your life and conversation.

      17. Upon the sacrifice; as a sacrifice. [440]

      19. When I know your state; by means of the account which Timothy would give on his return.

      20. Like-minded; that is, with Timothy; no one who would feel so deep an interest in their welfare.--Naturally care. Timothy had been with Paul when he preached at Philippi, and would consequently feel a natural interest in that church.

      23. How it will go with me; in respect to the result of his imprisonment.

      25. Your messenger; the one whom they had sent to Paul from Philippi, with their contribution for his wants. (4:18.)

      27. Sorrow upon sorrow. The death of Epaphroditus at Rome, far from his home, whither he had come on Paul's account, would of course have been a very severe trial to the mind of the apostle.

      28. I sent him--the more carefully; I was the more careful or anxious to send him.

      30. Nigh unto death; as mentioned above. (v. 27.)--Your lack of service, your need of service. That is, he hazarded his life in executing the commission necessary to accomplish their kind designs towards him.

      1. To write the same things; to repeat the cautions and instructions which he had given them when present.--Is not grievous; is not painful.

      2. Dogs; a reproachful term, designating arrogant and dangerous men.--The concision; the spirit which insisted upon the spiritual efficacy of the Jewish rite of circumcision.

      3. We are the circumcision; that is, the true children of Abraham, and people of God. The term is used in [441] a similar manner in Rom. 2:28, 29.--No confidence in the flesh; no trust in such outward bodily rites.

      5. The eighth day; the regular time appointed by the law. (Gen. 17:12.)

      6. Concerning zeal; in respect to zeal.--The righteousness which is in the law; the fulfilment of all the outward Mosaic rites.

      7. Were gain to me; were prized and valued.

      8. But loss for, &c.; of no value in comparison with.

      10. Know--the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings; experience the powerful influences of his resurrection, and share his sufferings.--Being made conformable unto his death;--ready to follow him in his death.

      12. Were already perfect; had perfected or completed my course so as to attain the final reward.--Apprehend; receive.

      13. I count not; I consider not.

      15. As many as be perfect; all those whose Christian characters are advanced and mature.--Be otherwise minded; if they have not attained to the views above inculcated. [442]

      2, 3. Of the persons or occurrences here referred to, nothing is known beyond what is implied in these allusions.

      5. Moderation; mildness and gentleness of character.

      10. Hath flourished; has been brought into action; referring to the supply which he had received from them through Epaphroditus. (v. 18.)--Ye were also; ye always have been. The idea is, that he did not doubt that they had always entertained the same affectionate regard for him, but until then they had had no opportunity to evince it.

      12. To be abased,--in respect to his temporal condition; that is, to be in want.--I am instructed--to be; I am trained to be; that is, I am habituated to it. [443]

      17. Not because, &c.; that is, he mentions these things not because, &c.

      18. An odor of a sweet smell; a token of remembrance which was very highly gratifying to him. [444]

[AINT 437-444]