3 doing nothing through contention, or vain-glory1; but in humility of mind esteeming others better than yourselves: 4 not regarding every man his own things only, but every man the things of others also. 5 [For] let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus 6 also: who, being in the form of God *, did not esteem as a 7 prey, this resemblance to God+: but divested himself of it‡, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made 8 in the likeness of men §; and, when found in fashion as a man3, humbled himself, and became obedient to death, 9 even the death of the cross. Wherefore God on his part hath very highly exalted him, and of his favour rewarded 10 him with that name which is above every name: that in 4 1 nor through vain-glory, Mss. 2 Or, slave, N. m. 3 Or, "appearing only as an ordinary mortal," Mr. Lindsey. 4" and bestowed on him," N. * "being invested with extraordinary divine powers." Lindsey's Second Address, p. 288. + "did not esteem it a prey to be like God," N. The meaning is, he did not esteem this resemblance to God, these miraculous powers, as his own right, as a property acquired by his own exertions, and for the use of which he was not accountable. He regarded them as a trust committed to him by God, which therefore he was to exercise or to suspend as the purposes of his mission might require. See Belsham's Calm Inquiry, part i. sect. iii. 15, and the re ferences there. ‡ “made himself of none account," N. Gr. "emptied himself." Not that · our Lord absolutely relinquished his miraculous powers, but he submitted to indignity and crucifixion, as though he were destitute of power to help himself. See 2 Cor. viii. 9. Being rich, he led a life of poverty. That our Lord's suffer ings were perfectly voluntary, and that it was at all times in his power to have delivered himself, appears from John x. 18; Matt. xxvi. 53. §" of common and ordinary mortals." See Mr. Lindsey, ibid. Christ in vested with miraculous powers was in the form of God; but declining to use them for his own personal advantage, he appeared like any other frail and weak mortal, Judges xvi. 7. Samson says, ' If they bind me I shall be weak, and be as a man,' i. e. as our translators very properly supply the word, as another man. See also ver. 11, 17. Η εν τῷ ονοματι, 66 AT the name," Newcome. But in his note he cites Arch bishop Secker's authority for in the name, i. e. all worship shall be offered to the Supreme Being according to the precept and under the authority of Christ. Dr. Jebb renders the preposition, "to the name of Jesus ; i. e. in acknowledgment of his religion every creature shall bend. For things above the earth, below the earth, &c. mean only that all human creatures shall acknowledge his religion." See Dr. Jebb's note apud Lindsey, ibid. p. 291. the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of beings in hea11 ven, and on earth, and under the earth *; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in mine absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trem13 bling. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and 14 to do, of his good pleasure. Do all things without mur15 murings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, unreproveable children of God, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom do ye shine 16 as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life; that I may glory in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. 17 Yea, if I be even poured out upon the sacrifice and public offering of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all: 18 and in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy shortly un to you, that I may be of good comfort also when I know 20 your affairs. For I have no man like-minded with him, who 21 will sincerely care for your affairs. For all seek their own 22 things, not the things of Jesus Christ'. But ye know the proof of him; that, as a child serveth a father, he hath served 23 with me as to the gospel. I hope therefore to send him forthwith, as soon as I shall see how the things concerning me 24 will end. But I trust in the Lord, that I myself also shall 25 come shortly. Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-labourer and fellow26 soldier, and your messenger and minister to my wants. For he greatly longed after you all, and was full of anguish, be27 cause ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick near death: but God had pity on him; and not on 1" Christ Jesus." R. T. and N. * i. e. all mankind of every condition and degree. 28 sorrow. him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may 29 be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord 30 with all joy; and hold such in reputation: because for the work of Christ he was near death, having hazarded his life, to fill up what remained behind of your service toward me. 2 CH. III. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not grievous to me, and is safe for 2 you. Beware of dogs, beware of evil-doers, beware of the 3 concision. For we are the circumcision, who worship God with our spirit', and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no 4 confidence in the flesh: though I might have confidence* even in the flesh. If any other man seem to have confi5 dence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an He6 brew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the justi7 fication which can arise by the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for the sake of 8 Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count that all things are loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and 9 count them as refuse3 that I might gain Christ, and might be found in him, not having mine own justification, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, 10 the justification which is from God because of faith that I might know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the partaking of his sufferings, being made conformable to 11 his death; if by any means I might come to the resurrec 12 tion of the dead. I say not that I have already attained, or am already perfected: but I follow after, if indeed I may 1 by the spirit of God, Mss. 2 trust, N. 3 dung, N. See N. m. 4 might know Christ, N. apprehend that for which I have been apprehended also by 13 Christ'. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, 14 I press toward the goal, for the prize of the heavenly call15 ing of God by Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect men, think thus: and if in any thing ye think 16 otherwise, God will reveal even this unto you. However, as far as we have reached, let us walk therein. 17 Brethren, be joint-imitators of me3, and mark those that 18 walk so as ye have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weep19 ing, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glo20 ry is in their shame: who mind earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven; whence we look also for our Sa21 viour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will change our debased body, that it may be of like form with his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to CH. IV. subject all things to himself. Wherefore, my brethren beloved and greatly desired, my joy and crown, thus stand firmly in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I beseech Euodia, and I beseech Syntyché, to be of the 3 same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true companion, help these women, that have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with mine other fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 5 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your mildness be known to all men. The Lord is 6 near. Take no anxious thought for any thing but in every thing let your requests be made known to God by 7 prayer and supplication and thanksgiving. And that peace by Christ Jesus, R.T. 2 let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing, R. T. 3 Or, Be ye together imitators of me, Wakefield. 4 Or, right of citizenship, N.m. 5 reasonableness, Wakefield. with God, which exceedeth all comprehension, will keep 8 your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are grave', whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are kind, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on 9 these things. The things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I have rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length your care of me hath revived; wherein ye were 11 careful also before, but wanted opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatso 12 ever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound: always, and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to 13 be hungry, both to abound and to want: I can do all things 14 through him who strengtheneth me. However, ye have done well, that ye jointly contributed to relieve my affliction. 15 Now, Philippians, ye also know that in the beginning of my preaching the gospel, when I was departed from Ma cedonia, no church had intercourse with me, as concern. 16 ing giving and receiving, but ye only: and that in Thes salonica ye sent, once and a second time also, relief to my 17 necessity. Not that I further desire a gift: but I further 18 desire fruit which may abound to your account. But I have every thing, and abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well19 pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your 7 'Or, venerable, N.m. 2 Or, praiseworthy deed, N. m. 3 Gr. I am initiated. 4 through Christ, &c. R. T. 5 Or, And indeed ye know your selves, O Philippians, that, &c. Wakefield. ing, N. 7 May my God supply, Mss. 6 to you, when I was depart * "for even," N. See Paley, p. 263. The Philippians sent contributions to the apostle, both at Corinth and Thessalonica. See 2 Cor. xi. 8, 9. |