Commentary on Philippians

p. 1THE ARGVMENT OF the epistle of S, Paule written vnto the Philippians.

IT is manifest, that Philippos is a citie of Macedonia, situate in the borders of Thracia: in whose fieldes Pompeius was vanquished by Caesar, & afterward Brutus and Cassius ouercome by Antonius and Octauius. Thus the dissention of the Romanes, by two notable battells, made the place famous. When Paule by a vision was come into Macedonia, he layd the foundation of the Church first in that citie, as Luke recordeth in the 16. of the Acts, and 12. verse: the which, how it did not onely continue constantly in the faith, but also by continuance of time, numbers of men, and going forward in vertue, it was encreased, this epistle doth testifie. Furthermore this was the cause, why Paule did write vnto the Philippians, when they by Epaphroditus their Pastor, had sent vnto him those thinges that were needefull for him in bonds, to preserue life, and for other extraordinary charges: it is no doubt but Epaphroditus as well opened vnto him the estate of the Church, as was a perswader to supply those things, whereof they were to be admonished. For it appeareth that they were tempted of false prophets, which at that time wandered all abroad to corrupt sound doctrine: but because they persisted in the truth, Paule commendeth their constancie, yet being mindfull of the frailtie that is in men, and admonished perhaps by Epaphroditus, that they were speedily to be confirmed: lest they should againe fall, he ioyneth such admonitions, as he knew p. 2were conuenient for them. And first of all hauing testified the kinde affection of his mind toward them, whereby he might procure credite: he speaketh of him selfe, and of his owne bondes, that they should not faint, because they sawe him taken prisoner, and in daunger of his life. Therefore he sheweth that it is so far of, that thereby the glorie of the Gospell should be diminished, that it was rather an argument to confirme it: and together with his owne example, he exhorteth them to be readye to endure all things: at length with an exhortation vnto vnitie and patience, he concludeth the first chapter. But because ambition is for the most part a continuall mother of dissention, whereof it commeth to passe, that there is a doore open to newe and strange doctrines: in the beginning of the second chapter, he earnestly beseecheth them, that they would preferre nothing before humilitie and modestie: and vnto that he vseth many arguments. And that he might the better keepe them in their dutie, he promiseth that he will send Timotheus vnto them shortly: yea he putteth them also in hope of his owne comming: afterward he excuseth the tarying of Epaphroditus. In the third chapter, he inueigheth against the false prophets, and refuteth as well their vaine boastings, as the doctrine of circumcision, which they vrged: against all their inuentions, he opposeth onely Christ: against their arrogancie, he opposeth as well his owne former life, as his present purpose, wherein did shine the image of Christian godlines. And this he aduertiseth vs to be the scope of our perfection, (whether thorough out all our life we must striue to come) to communicate with Christ in his death, and in his resurrection: and he proueth it by his owne example. The fourth chapter he beginneth with particular admonitions, and forthwith descendeth into generall. And he concludeth the epistle with a testimonie of his thankefulnes toward the Philippians, lest they should thinke that ill bestowed, which they had employed to the releeuing of his necessitie.

p. 3A COMMENTARIE OF IOHN CALVINE VPON THE EPISTLE OF PAVLE vnto the Philippians.

PAule and Timotheus, seruants of Iesus Christ, to all the Sainctes in Christ Iesus, which are at Philippos, with Bishops and Deacons.

Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from our Lord Iesus Christ.

I thanke my God in all remembrance of you.

Alwaies in all my prayers, praying for you all with ioy.

For your fellowship in the Gospell, from the first day vntill nowe.

Being thus perswaded that he that hath begunne a good worke in you, will finish it vnto the day of Iesus Christ.

PAule, &c. Séeing that it was Paule his custome to write his title, to procure more credite vnto him selfe and his ministerie: he néeded no farther words of commendation vnto the Philippians, who had tried him to be the true Apostle of Christ, and did yet acknowledge it without controuersie: for constantly and in an euen course they had gone forward in the calling of God. Bishops. He nameth the Pastors seuerally for honors sake. Moreouer, hereof we may gather, that the name of a Bishop is common to all the ministers of the word, since that he doth attribute mo Bishops vnto one Church. A Bishop and a Pastor therefore signifie one thing. And this place among the rest is one, which Hierom doth cite to proue the same thing, in his epistle to Euagrius, and in his exposition vpon the epistle to Titus. Afterward it grewe to a custome, that whome the Elders p. 4in their seuerall Churches had set ouer their congregation, he alone should be called a Bishop, notwithstanding that procéeded from the custome of men, and dependeth not vpon the authoritie of the Scripture. Yet I confesse, as the wittes and manners of men are nowe, there can no order stand among the ministers of the worde, except one be sette ouer the rest. I speake of the seuerall bodies of the Church, not of whole prouinces, much lesse of the whole world: notwithstanding although we must not contend about wordes, yet it were farre better, in speaking to follow the Holie Ghost, being the Author of tongues, than to change the formes of speaking set downe by him, for worse. For of the corrupt signification of the worde, this euill haue ensued: that, as though all Elders were not fellowes called to the same office, one vnder the colour of this newe name, haue challenged vnto him selfe a dominion ouer the rest. Deacons. This name may be taken two manner of waies, either for the collectors and prouiders for the poore, or for the Elders that were appointed Censors of their manners: but because it is more vsed by Paule in the former sence, I rather vnderstande housholders, who were chiefe in receiuing and distributing of the almes.