1.
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Timotheus . See 2 Corinthians 1:1 .
servants . App-190 .
Jesus Christ . App-98 .
saints . See Acts 9:13 .
in . App-104 .
Christ Jesus . App-98 .
at . App-104 .
with . App-104 .
bishops. Greek episkopos. See Acts 20:28 .
deacons . App-190 . The only place where these officers are mentioned together.
2.
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace . App-184 .
unto = to.
from . App-104 ,
God . App-98 .
Father . App-98 .
Lord . App-98 .
3.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
thank . See Acts 27:35 .
upon . App-104 .
4.
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
prayer . App-134 .
for . App-104 .
request . Same as "prayer", above.
with . App-104 .
5.
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
For . App-104 .
in . Greek. eis App-104 .
gospel . App-140 .
6.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Being confident . Literally Trusting. App-150 .
begun . Greek enarchomai . Only here and Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:3
perform = complete. Greek epiteleo, App-125 . See Luke 13 ,
7.
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
meet = just, or right. App-191 .
me. Emph.
of . App-104 .
because . App-104 .Philippians 1:2 .
defence . Greek. apologia . See Acts 22:1 .
confirmation . Greek. bebaiosis. Only here and Hebrews 6:16 . A legal term for a guarantee. So used in the Papyri
partakers , &c. = fellow-partakers with me of grace.
partakers. Greek. sunkoinonos . See Romans 11:17 .
grace . App-184 . A bond which unites all who receive it.
8.
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
record = witness. Compare Romans 1:9 .
greatly . . . long . Greek. epipotheo. Seo Romans 1:11 .
bowels . Greek. epianchna. See 2 Corinthians 6:12 .
Jesus Christ . The texts read Christ Jesus.
9.
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
pray . App-134 .
that. Greek. hina. Generally denoting a purpose, but here only the subject of the prayer.
love. App-136 .
knowledge . App-132 .
judgment. App-177 .
10.
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
That ye may, &c. = To ( App-104 .) your proving, or trying.
are excellent = differ. We are to test the things, and having found them to differ, most not join them together, but rightly divide them (2 Timothy 2:15 ).
sincere. Greek. eilikrines. Only here and 2 Peter 3:1 . Compare 1 Corinthians 5:8 .
without offence. Greek. aproskopos. See Acts 24:16 .
till. App-104 .
day of Christ . The some expression in Philippians 2:16 . Compare Philippians 1:6 and 1 Corinthians 1:8 ; 1Co 5:5 ., 2 Corinthians 1:14 . 2 Thessalonians 2:2 , where see note.
Christ . App-98 .
11.
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Being filled = Having been filled. App-125 .7.
righteousness . App-191 .3.
by. App-104 .Philippians 1:1; Philippians 1:1
unto . App-104 ,
glory . See p. 1511.
12.
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
would , &c. = wish ( App-102 .) you.
understand . App-132 .
things , &c. = things with reference to ( App-104 .) me.
fallen out . Literally comp.
furtherance . Greek. prokope. Here, Philippians 1:25 , and 1 Timothy 4:15 . Compare Romans 13:12 .
13.
So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
my bonds , &c. = "my bonds in relation to Christ"; i.e. that my being a prisoner is not on account of any crime, but solely for preaching the gospel.
are = have become.
manifest . See App-106 .
palace . Greek. praitorion. Compare Matthew 27:27 , but Bishop Lightfoot gives good reasons why it could not at Rome be used of the palace, but must refer to the Praetorian guard. This accords with Acts 28:30 .
in all , &c. = to all the rest ( App-124 ), i.e. to the civilian population.
14.
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
many = the majority.
waxing confident = having become confident. See Philippians 1:6 ; "in the Lord" belongs to "confident", not to "brethren". Compare Philippians 2:24 .Romans 14:14 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:10 . 2 Thessalonians 3:4 .
speak . App-121 .
word . App-121 . The texts add "of God".
without fear . See 1 Corinthians 16:10 .
15.
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Some. App-124 .
preach. App-121 .
of = through, App-104 .Philippians 1:2 .
also , &c. of good will also,
good will . Greek. eritheia, See Romans 2:8 .
16.
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
preach . App-121 .
of . App-104 .
contention . Greek. eritheia . See Romans 2:8 .
not . App-105 .
sincerely = of pure motive. Greek. hagnos. Only here.
supposing = thinking. Only here, and James 1:7 .
add . . . to . Greek epiphero. See Acts 19:12 , but the texts read "raise" ( App-178 .)
affliction . Greek. thlipsis. See Acts 7:10 .
17.
But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
knowing . App-132 .
for . App-104 .
18.
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
notwithstanding = except. Greek. plen . There is an ellipsis here. "'What shall we say then? Nothing, except that. "See App-6 , Affirmation.
pretence . See John 15:22 .
therein = -in ( App-104 .) this. No personal consideration prevented his rejoicing.
19.
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
turn = turn out. See Luke 21:13 .
to my = to my for ( App-104 .)
through . App-104 .Philippians 1:1 .
supply . Greek. epichoregia, See Ephesians 4:16 .
Spirit . App-101 . Compare Romans 8:9 . It was this that enabled Paul to suffer no personal considerations to weigh with him. He had the mind of Christ. Compare Philippians 2:5 . 1 Corinthians 2:16 .
20.
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
According to . App-104 .
earnest expectation . See Romans 8:19 .
nothing . Greek. oudeis .
ashamed . See 2 Corinthians 10:8 .
with . App-104 .
boldness . Greek. parrhesia. See John 7:4 .
life. App-170 .
21.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
me . Emph . live. Compare App-170 . gain. Greek. kerdos. Here, Philippians 3:7 . Titus 1:11 . Not to Paul, but to Christ, as is clear from Philippians 1:20 . To Paul, life and death were of no account so long as the cause of Christ was advanced. His bonds had furthered the gospel, what might not his death do? Compare Philippians 2:17 . 2 Corinthians 7:3 .
22.
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
if. App-118 .
I live . Literally, to live (is my lot),
this. i.e. gain to Christ.
fruit , &c. i.e. the result of my work,
wot = declare. Greek. gnorizo. Occ, twenty-four times. In classical Greek. to know or to make known, but in N.T. elsewhere translated make known, certify, declare, &c. See Philippians 4:6 . His will was surrendered to God, so he made no choice as to life or death for himself, but there was something he earnestly desired, which he states in the next verse.
23.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
am in a strait = am being pressed. Greek. sunecho . See Acts 7:57 . Acts 18:5 .
betwixt = out of. App-104 . While ek occurs 857 times, it is only translated "betwixt" here, and "between" in John 3:25 , where the meaning is that the question arose from John's disciples. In all other places ek is translated "of", out of", "from", &o., but in every case the context shows the idea conveyed is one of these two latter. Compare notes on Matthew 27:7 . John 12:3 .Acts 19:25 ,
two = the two, i.e. living and dying.
a desire = the desire. Greek. epithumia. Translated "lust' thirty-one times; "concupiscence" thrice, and "desire", thrice. Compare Luke 22:15 . 1 Thessalonians 2:17 .
to depart = for ( App-104 ).
the return (Greek. analuo. Verb only here and Luke 12:36 ; the noun 2 Timothy 4:6 . The verb frequently translates "return" in Apocrypha; also in class, Greek. = to unloose, as of a ship weighing anchor). far better. All the texts read "for it is very for better". Than what? Clearly, than either of the two above. Therefore it cannot mean "death": but some event by which alone Paul could be with Christ, either the calling on high (see on Philippians 3:11 ) or the resurrection from the dead. or being caught up alive of 1Th 4:16 , 1 Thessalonians 4:17
24.
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
abide. Greek epimeno. See Acts 10:48 .
for = on account of. App-104 .Philippians 1:2 .
25.
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
having this confidence = being confident of this, as in Philippians 1:6 .
abide . Greek. meno, See p. 1511
continue with. Greek sumparameno. Only here, but the texts read parameno. See 1 Corinthians 16:6 . Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .
Joy. Compare Romans 15:13 .
faith = the faith. App-150 .:1.
26.
That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
rejoicing. Greek. kauchema, See Romans 4:2 .
fore = in App-104 , to. App-104 .
27.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
let , &c. = exercise your citizenship, or behave as citizens. Greek. politeuomai. Elsewhere only in Acts 23:1 . See also 2 Macc. 6.1; 11, 25. In all cases it means to live according to certain rules and obligations, e.g. as a Jew, "according to the law and customs". Here, those of heavenly citizenship (Compare Philippians 3:20 ).
as it becometh = worthily of. see. App-133 .
of your affairs = the things concerning ( App-104 .) you
stand fast. Greek. steko . See 1 Corinthians 16:13 .
spirit . App-101 .
mind . App-110 . Philippians 1:3 .
striving together . Greek. sunathleo. Only here and Philippians 4:3 . Compare 2 Timothy 2:5 .
the faith , i.e. the substance of things believed.
28.
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
nothing . Adouble negative. Greek. me medeis. App-105 .
terrified . Greek. pturoinai. Only here.
by . App-104 .
evident token . Greek. endeixis. See Romans 3:25 .
perdition = destruction. See John 17:12 ,
salvation . See Philippians 1:19 . Compare Hebrews 11:7 .
of. App-104 .
29.
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
is given = was granted. App-184 .
in the behalf of . App-104 .
believe on . App-150 .
also , &c. = to suffer for ( App-104 .) His sake also. Compare Acts 9:16 .
30.
Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
conflict . Greek. agon. Here, Colossians 2:1 . 1 Thessalonians 2:2 . 1 Timothy 6:12 . 2 Timothy 4:7 . Hebrews 12:1 .
ye saw . See Acts 16:19-24 . 1 Thessalonians 2:2 .