Bible Commentaries
Philippians 1

Verse 1

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.

Verse 2

Grace . App-184 .

unto = to.

from . App-104 ,

God . App-98 .

Father . App-98 .

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 3

thank . See Acts 27:35 .

upon . App-104 .

Verse 4

prayer . App-134 .

for . App-104 .

request . Same as "prayer", above.

with . App-104 .

Verse 5

For . App-104 .

in . Greek. eis App-104 .

gospel . App-140 .

Verse 6

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 13:0 ,

Verse 7

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.

Verse 8

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.

Verse 9

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 .

Verse 10

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 .

Verse 11

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.

Verse 12

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 .

Verse 13

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.

Verse 14

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 .

Verse 15

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 .

Verse 16

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 .

Verse 17

knowing . App-132 .

for . App-104 .

Verse 18

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.

Verse 19

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 .

Verse 20

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 .

Verse 21

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 .

Verse 22

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.

Verse 23

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

Verse 24

abide. Greek epimeno. See Acts 10:48 .

for = on account of. App-104 .Philippians 1:2 .

Verse 25

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.

Verse 26

rejoicing. Greek. kauchema, See Romans 4:2 .

fore = in App-104 , to. App-104 .

Verse 27

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.

Verse 28

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 .

Verse 29

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 .

Verse 30

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 .