in heaven: and there is no respect of persons with him. 10 Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power. 11 Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood: but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. 13 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of Justice, 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of CHAP. VI. Ver. 12. High places, or heavenly places. That is to say, in the air, the lowest of the celestial regions; in which God permits these wicked spirits or fallen angels to wander. 17 And take unto you the helmet of salvation; and the sword of the spirit, (which is the word of God). 18 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times inthe spirit: and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints: 19 d And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel. 20 For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought. 21 But that you also may know the things that conceru me, and what I am doing, Tychicus, my dearest brother. and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things: 22 Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that you may know the things concerning us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren and charity with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord JESUS CHRIST. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord JESUS Chris in incorruption. Amen. b Isaias 59. 17. 1 Thes. 5. 8.-c Col. 4. 2.-d Col. 4. 3. 2 Thes. 3. 1. Ver. 24. In incorruption; that is, with a pure and perfect love. THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS. The PHILIPPIANS were the first among the Macedonians converted to the faith, They had a great veneration for ST. PAUL, and supplied his wants when he was a prisoner in Rome, sending to him by Epaphroditus, by whom he sent this epistle; in which he recommends charity, unity, and humility, and warns them against false teachers, which he calls dogs and enemies of the cross of Christ. He also returns thanks for their benefactions. It was written about twenty-nine years after our Lord's Ascension. CHAP. I. 9 And this I pray, that your The apostle's affection for the Philip charity may more and more abound in knowledge and in all pians. PAUL and Timothy, the ser- understanding: vants of JESUS Christ: to all the saints in Christ JESUS, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons, 2 Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord JESUS Christ. 3 I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you. 4 Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy; 5 For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now. 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ JESUS. 7 As it is meet for me to think this for you all for that I have you in my heart; and that in my bands, and in the defence, and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my joy. 8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of JESUS Christ. 10 That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ, 11 Filled with the fruit of justice through JESUS Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 12 Now, brethren, I desire you should know, that the things which have happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel. 13 So that my bonds are made manifest, in Christ, in all the court, and in all other places: 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear. 15 Some indeed even out of envy and contention: but some also for good-will preach Christ: 16 Some out of charity: knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 17 And some out of contention ད་ལ preach Christ not sincerely: supposing that they raise affliction to my bands. 18 But what then? So that by all means, whether by occasion, or by truth, Christ be preached in this also I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall fall out to me unto salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of JESUS Christ, 20 According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be confounded, but with all confidence, as always, so now also shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ: and to die is gain. 22 And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know ILot. 23 But I am straitened between two; having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better. 24 But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith: 26 That your rejoicing may abound in Christ JESUS for me, by my coming to you again. . 27 Only let your conversa a a Ephes. 4. 1. Col. 1.10. 1 Thes. 2. 12. &c. CHAP. I. Ver. 22. This is to me, His meaning is, that although his dying inmediately for Christ would be his gain, by putting him presently in possession of heaven; yet he is doubtful what he should choose, because by staying longer in the flesh, he should be more beneficial to the souls of his neighbours. tion be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or being absent may hearof you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, labouring together for the faith of the gospel. 28 And in nothing be yo terrified by the adversaries: which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of salvation, and this from God: 29 For unto you it is given for Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 Having the same conflict as that which you have seen in me, and now have heard of me. CHAP. II. He recommends to them unity and hu mility; and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. F IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the Spirit, if any bowels of commiseration; 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the same charity, same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment. 3 Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vainglory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves: 4 Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's. 5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ JESUS: 6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery, to be equal with God: 7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. 8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death: even to the death of the cross. 9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: 10 That in the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. 11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord JESUS CHRIST is in the glory of God the Father. service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you all. 18 And for the self-same thing do you also rejoice, and congratulate with me. 19 And I hope in the Lord JESUS, to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you. 20 For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you. 21 For all seek the things. that are their own: not the things that are JESUS CHRIST'S. 22 Now know ye the proof of him, that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel. 12 Wherefore my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but muc'. more now in 23 Him therefore I hope to my absence with fear and trem- send unto you immediately, so bling work out your salva-soon as I shall see how it will tion. go with me. 13 For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to ac complish, according to his good will. 14 And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations: 15 That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. 16 Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ, because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and a Heb. 2. 9.-b Isaias 45. 24. Rom. 14. 11. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Ver. 12. With fear, &c. This is against the false faith, and presumptuous se surity of modern sectarios, 24 And I trust in the Lord, that I myself also shall come to you shortly. 25 But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellowlabourer and fellow-soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants. 26 For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard, that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him: and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I send him the more speedily: that, seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow. 4 Acts 16.1 Cor. 13. 5. 29 Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord: and treat with honour such as he is. 30 Because for the work of Christ, he came to the point of death delivering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards my service. CHAP. III. Ile warneth them against false teachers: he counts all other things loss, that he may gain Christ. AS to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you is necessary. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God: and glory in Christ JESUS, not having confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I more, 5 Being Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews: according to the law, a Pharisee: 6 According to zeal, persecuting the church of God: according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame. 7 But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Farthermore I count all things to be but loss, for the excellent knowledge of JESUS CHRIST my Lord: for whom I have suffered 'the loss of all ai. e. false teachers.--b Acts 23. 6. things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ: 9 And may be found in him not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ JESUS, which is of God, justice in faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, 11 If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which from the dead. is 12 Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect: but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ JESUS. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before, 14 I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ JESUS. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and and if in anything you be otherwise minded: this also God will reveal to you. 16 Nevertheless whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule. 17 Be followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have our model. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ; 19 Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly and c Rom, 16. 17. |