Notes on
Philippians
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible
Notes
Php 1:1
1:1 Paul {1} and Timotheus, the
servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at
Philippi, with the {a} bishops and deacons:
(1) The Paul's point in writing this
epistle, is to strengthen and encourage the Philippians by all means
possible, not to faint, but more than that, to go forward. And first of all
he commends their former deeds, to exhort them to go forward: which thing he
says he fully hopes they will do, and that by the testimony of their
abundant charity. But in the meantime he refers all things to the grace of
God.
(a) By the bishops are meant both the pastors who have the
dispensation of the word, and the elders that govern: and by deacons are
meant those that were stewards of the treasury of the Church, and had to
look after the poor.
Php 1:5
1:5 For your {b} fellowship in the
gospel from the {c} first day until now;
(b) Because you also are made
partakers of the Gospel.
(c) Ever since I knew you.
Php 1:6
1:6 Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the {d}
day of Jesus Christ:
(d) The Spirit of God will not
forsake you to the very latter end, until your mortal bodies will appear
before the judgment of Christ to be glorified.
Php 1:7
1:7 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 {e}
bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers
of my {f} grace.
(e) A true proof of a true knitting
together with Christ.
(f) He calls his bonds "grace", as though he had
received some singular benefit.
Php 1:8
1:8 {2} For God is my record, how
greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus
Christ.
(2) He declares his good will
towards them, in addition showing by what means they may chiefly be
strengthened and encouraged, that is, by continual prayer.
Php 1:9
1:9 {3} And this I pray, that your love
may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all
judgment;
(3) He shows what thing we ought to
chiefly desire, that is, first of all that we may increase in the true
knowledge of God (so that we may be able to discern things that differ from
one another), and also in charity, that even to the end we may give
ourselves to truly good works, to the glory of God by Jesus Christ.
Php 1:11
1:11 Being filled with the {g} fruits
of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of
God.
(g) If righteousness is the tree,
and good works the fruits, then the papists are truly deceived indeed, when
they say that works are the cause of righteousness.
Php 1:12
1:12 {4} But I would ye should
understand, brethren, that the things [which happened] unto me have fallen out
rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
(4) He prevents the offence that
might come by his persecution, by which different ones took occasion to
disgrace his apostleship. And to these he answers, that God has blessed his
imprisonment in such a way, that he has by that means become more famous,
and the dignity of the Gospel by this occasion is greatly enlarged, although
not all men are happy with it, yet it has enlarged indeed.
Php 1:13
1:13 So that my bonds {h} in Christ are
manifest in all the {i} palace, and in all other
[places];
(h) For Christ's sake.
(i) In the
emperor's court.
Php 1:14
1:14 And many of the brethren in the
Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the {k} word
without fear.
(k) The Gospel is called the word,
to set forth the excellence of it.
Php 1:16
1:16 The one preach Christ of
contention, not {l} sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my
bonds:
(l) Not with a pure mind: for
otherwise their doctrine was pure.
Php 1:18
1:18 {5} What then? notwithstanding,
every way, whether in {m} pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I
therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
(5) He shows by setting forth his
own example, that the end of our afflictions is true joy, and this results
through the power of the Spirit of Christ, who he gives to those that
ask.
(m) Under a false pretence and disguise: for they make Christ a
cloak for their ambition and envy.
Php 1:20
1:20 {6} 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.
(6) We must continue even to the
end, with great confidence, having nothing before our eyes except for
Christ's glory alone, whether we live or die.
Php 1:22
1:22 {7} But if I live in the {n}
flesh, this [is] the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot
not.
(7) An example of a true shepherd,
who considers more how he may profit his sheep, than he considers any
benefit of his own whatsoever.
(n) To live in this mortal body.
Php 1:27
1:27 {8} 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 {o} stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel;
(8) Having set down those things
before in manner of a preface, he descends now to exhortations, warning them
first of all to consent both in doctrine and mind, and afterward, that being
thus knit together with those common bonds, they continue through the
strength of faith to bear all adversity in such a way, that they allow
nothing unworthy of the profession of the Gospel.
(o) The word signifies
to stand fast in, and it is proper to wrestlers, that stand fast and do not
move their feet back at all.
Php 1:28
1:28 {9} 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.
(9) We ought not to be discouraged
but rather encouraged by the persecutions which the enemies of the Gospel
imagine and practise against us: seeing that the persecutions are certain
witnesses from God himself both of our salvation, and of the destruction of
the wicked.
Php 1:29
1:29 {10} For unto you it is given in
the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his
sake;
(10) He proves his statement that
persecution is a token of our salvation, because it is a gift of God to
suffer for Christ, which gift he bestows upon his own, as he does the gift
of faith.
Php 1:30
1:30 {11} Having the same conflict
which ye saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me.
(11) Now he shows for what purpose
he made mention of his afflictions.
Php 2:1
2:1 If {1} [there be] therefore any
consolation in {a} Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any {b} bowels and mercies,
(1) A most earnest request to remove
all those things, by which that great and special consent and agreement is
commonly broken, that is, contention and pride, by which it comes to pass
that they separate themselves from one another.
(a) Any Christian
comfort.
(b) If any seeking of inward love.
Php 2:2
2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the {c} same love, [being] of one accord, of one
mind.
Php 2:5
2:5 {2} Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus:
(2) He sets before them a most
perfect example of all modesty and sweet conduct, Christ Jesus, whom we
ought to follow with all our might: who abased himself so much for our
sakes, although he is above all, that he took upon himself the form of a
servant, that is, our flesh, willingly subject to all weaknesses, even to
the death of the cross.
Php 2:6
2:6 Who, being in the {d} form of God,
{e} thought it not robbery to be {f} equal with God:
(d) Such as God himself is, and
therefore God, for there is no one in all parts equal to God but God
himself.
(e) Christ, that glorious and everlasting God, knew that he
might rightfully and lawfully not appear in the base flesh of man, but
remain with majesty fit for God: yet he chose rather to debase
himself.
(f) If the Son is equal with the Father, then is there of
necessity an equality, which Arrius that heretic denies: and if the Son is
compared to the Father, then is there a distinction of persons, which
Sabellius that heretic denies.
Php 2:7
2:7 But made himself of {g} no
reputation, and took upon him the {h} form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men:
(g) He brought himself from all
things, as it were to nothing.
(h) By taking our manhood upon him.
Php 2:9
2:9 {3} Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him a {i} name which is above every
name:
(3) He shows the most glorious even
of Christ's submission, to teach us that modesty is the true way to true
praise and glory.
(i) Dignity and high distinction, and that which
accompanies it.
Php 2:10
2:10 That at the name of Jesus {k}
every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and
[things] under the earth;
(k) All creatures will at length be
subject to Christ.
Php 2:11
2:11 And [that] {l} every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
Php 2:12
2:12 {4} Wherefore, my beloved, as ye
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, {m} work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.
(4) The conclusion: we must go on to
salvation with humility and submission by the way of our vocation.
(m) He
is said to make an end of his salvation who runs in the race of
righteousness.
Php 2:13
2:13 {5} For it is God which worketh in
you both {n} to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
(5) A most sure and grounded
argument against pride, because we have nothing in us praiseworthy, but it
comes from the free gift of God, and is outside of us, for we do not have
ability or power, so much as to will well (much less to do well), except
only by the free mercy of God.
(n) The reason why we are not statues; and
yet we do not will well by nature, but only because God has made of our
wicked will a good will.
Php 2:14
2:14 {6} Do all things without
murmurings and disputings:
(6) He describes modesty by the
contrary effects of pride, teaching us that it is far both from all
malicious and secret or inward hatred, and also from open contentions and
brawlings.
Php 2:15
2:15 {7} That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the
world;
(7) To be short, he requires a life
without fault, and pure, so that being enlightened with the word of God,
they may shine in the darkness of this world.
Php 2:16
2:16 Holding forth the {o} word of
life; {8} that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in
vain, neither laboured in vain.
(o) The Gospel is called the word of
life, because of the effects which it produces.
(8) Again he urges them
forward, setting before them his true apostolic care that he had for them:
in addition comforting them to the end that they should not be sorry for the
greatness of his afflictions, no, not even if he should die to make perfect
their sacrifice with his blood, as it were with a drink offering.
Php 2:17
2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the
{p} sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you
all.
(p) As if he said, I brought you
Philippians to Christ, and my desire is that you present yourselves a living
sacrifice to him, and then it will not grieve me to be offered up as a drink
offering, to accomplish this your spiritual offering.
Php 2:19
2:19 {9} But I trust in the Lord Jesus
to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of {q} good comfort,
when I know your state.
(9) Moreover, he strengthens and
encourages their minds both by sending back Epaphroditus to them, whose
fidelity towards them, and great pains in helping him, he commends: and also
promising to send Timothy shortly to them, by whose presence they will
receive great benefit. And he hopes also himself to come shortly to them, if
God wills.
(q) May be confirmed in the joy of my mind.
Php 2:21
2:21 For {r} all seek their own, not
the things which are Jesus Christ's.
Php 2:30
2:30 Because for the {s} work of Christ
he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service
toward me.
(s) He calls here the work of Christ
the visiting of Christ, being poor and in bonds in the person of
Paul.
Php 3:1
3:1 Finally, {1} my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord. {2} To write the {a} same things to you, to me indeed [is] not
grievous, but for you [it is] safe.
(1) A conclusion of those things
which have been said before, that is, that they go forward cheerfully in the
Lord.
(2) A preface to the next admonition that follows, to take good
heed and beware of false apostles, who join circumcision with Christ, (that
is to say, justification by works, with free justification by faith), and
beat into men's head the ceremonies which are abolished, instead of true
exercises of godliness and charity. And he calls them dogs, as profane
barkers, and evil workmen, because they neglected true works and did not
teach the true use of them. To be short, he calls them concision, because in
urging circumcision, they cut off themselves and others from the
Church.
(a) Which you have often times heard from me.
Php 3:2
3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the {b} concision.
(b) He alludes to circumcision; and
while they were boasting in it, they broke apart the Church.
Php 3:3
3:3 {3} For we are the circumcision,
which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no
confidence {c} in the flesh.
(3) He shows that we ought to use
true circumcision, that is, the circumcision of the heart, so that by
cutting off all wicked affections by the power of Christ, we may serve God
in purity of life.
(c) In outward things which do not at all pertain to
the soul.
Php 3:4
3:4 {4} Though I might also have
confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he
might trust in the flesh, I more:
(4) He does not doubt to prefer
himself even according to the flesh, before those perverse zealous urgers of
the Law, that all men may know that he does with good judgment of mind,
consider of little worth all of those outward things. For he who has Christ
lacks nothing, and confidence in our works cannot stand with the free
justification in Christ by faith.
Php 3:7
3:7 But what things were {d} gain to
me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(d) Which I considered as
gain.
Php 3:8
3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count {e} all
things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung,
that I may {f} win Christ,
(e) He shuts out all works, those
that go before, as well as those that come after faith.
(f) That in their
place I might get Christ, and from a poor man become rich, so far am I from
losing anything at all.
Php 3:9
3:9 And be found in {g} him, {h} not
having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith:
(g) In Christ: for those that are
found outside of Christ are subject to condemnation.
(h) That is, to be
in Christ, to be found not in a man's own righteousness, but clothed with
the righteousness of Christ imputed to him.
Php 3:10
3:10 {5} That I may {i} know him, and
the power of his resurrection, and the {6} fellowship of his sufferings, being
made conformable unto his death;
(5) This is the end of righteousness
by faith with regard to us, that by the power of his resurrection we may
escape from death.
(i) That I may indeed feel him, and have an experience
of him.
(6) The way to that eternal salvation is to follow Christ's steps
by afflictions and persecutions, until we come to Christ himself, who is our
mark at which we aim, and receive that reward to which God calls us in him.
And the apostle sets these true exercises of godliness against those vain
ceremonies of the Law, in which the false apostles put the sum of
godliness.
Php 3:11
3:11 If by any means I might attain
unto the {k} resurrection of the dead.
(k) To everlasting life, which
follows the resurrection of the saints.
Php 3:12
3:12 Not as though I had already
attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am {l} apprehended of Christ
Jesus.
(l) For we run only as far forth as
we are laid hold on by Christ, that is, as God gives us strength, and shows
us the way.
Php 3:15
3:15 {7} Let us therefore, as many as
be {m} perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,
God shall reveal even this unto you.
(7) The conclusion of this
exhortation standing upon three members: the first is, that those who have
profited in the truth of this doctrine should continue in it. The second is,
that if there are any who are yet ignorant and do not understand these
things, and who doubt of the abolishing of the Law, they should cause no
trouble, and should be gently waited for, until they also are instructed by
the Lord. The third is, that they judge the false apostles by their fruits:
in which he does not doubt to set forth himself as an example.
(m) He
said before that he was not perfect. So that in this place he calls those
perfect who have somewhat profited in the knowledge of Christ and the
Gospel, whom he sets against the rude and ignorant, as he himself expounds
in Php 3:16 .
Php 3:18
3:18 {8} (For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of
the cross of Christ:
(8) He shows what the false apostles
truly are, not from malice or ambition, but with sorrow and tears, that is,
because being enemies of the Gospel (for that is joined with persecuting it)
they regard nothing else, but the benefits of this life: that is to say,
that abounding in peace, and quietness, and all worldly pleasures, they may
live in great estimation among men, whose miserable end he forewarned them
of.
Php 3:19
3:19 Whose {n} end [is] destruction,
whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] {o} glory [is] in their shame, who
mind earthly things.)
(n) Reward.
(o) Which they hunt
after from men's hands.
Php 3:20
3:20 {9} For our conversation is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ:
(9) He sets against these fellows
true pastors who neglect earthly things, and aspire to heaven only, where
they know that even in their bodies they will be clothed with that eternal
glory, by the power of God.
Php 4:1
4:1 Therefore, {1} my brethren dearly
beloved and longed for, my joy and {a} crown, so stand fast in the {b} Lord,
[my] dearly beloved.
(1) A rehearsal of the conclusion:
that they bravely continue until they have gotten the victory, trusting in
the Lord's strength.
(a) My honour.
(b) In that unification of which
the Lord is the bond.
Php 4:2
4:2 {2} I beseech Euodias, and beseech
Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
(2) He also calls on some by name,
partly because they needed private exhortation, and partly also to stir up
others to be more prompt and ready.
Php 4:3
4:3 And I intreat thee also, true
yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with
Clement also, and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the
{c} book of life.
(c) God is said, after the manner of
men, to have a book, in which the names of his elect are written, to whom he
will give everlasting life. Ezekiel calls it the writing of the house of
Israel, and the secret of the Lord; Eze 13:9 .
Php 4:4
4:4 {3} Rejoice in the {d} Lord alway:
[and] again I say, Rejoice.
(3) He adds particular exhortations:
and the first is, that the joy of the Philippians should not be hindered by
any afflictions that the wicked imagine and work against them.
(d) So is
the joy of the world distinguished from our joy.
Php 4:5
4:5 {4} Let your {e} moderation be
known unto all men. {5} The Lord [is] at hand.
(4) The second is, that taking all
things in good part, they behave themselves moderately with all men.
(e)
Your quiet and settled mind.
(5) The taking away of an objection: we must
not be anxious because of impatience, seeing that God is at hand to give us
help in time for all our miseries.
Php 4:6
4:6 {6} Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with {f} thanksgiving let your requests
be made known unto God.
(6) The third is, that we are not
too anxious for anything, but with sure confidence give God thanks, and
desire from him whatever we have need of, that with a quiet conscience we
may wholly and with all our hearts submit ourselves to him.
(f) So David
began very often with tears, but ended with thanksgiving.
Php 4:7
4:7 And the {g} peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your {h} hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
(g) That great quietness of mind,
which God alone gives in Christ.
(h) He divides the mind into the heart,
that is, into that part which is the seat of the will and affections, and
into the higher part, by which we understand and reason about
matters.
Php 4:8
4:8 {7} Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things {i} [are] honest, whatsoever things [are]
just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever
things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any
praise, think on these things.
(7) A general conclusion, that as
they have been taught both in word and example, so they build their lives to
the rule of all holiness and righteousness.
(i) Whatever things are such
that they beautify and set you apart with a holy gravity.
Php 4:10
4:10 {8} But I rejoiced in the Lord
greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein
ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
(8) He witnesses that their
liberality was acceptable to him, with which they helped him in his extreme
poverty: but yet so moderating his words, that he might declare himself void
of all suspicion of dishonesty, and that he has a mind content both with
prosperity and adversity, and to be short, that he rests himself only in the
will of God.
Php 4:11
4:11 Not that I speak in respect of {k}
want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be
content.
(k) As though I am speaking
concerning my want.
Php 4:12
4:12 I know both how to be {l} abased,
and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am {m} instructed
both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
need.
(l) He uses a general word, and yet
he speaks but of one type of cross, which is poverty, for poverty commonly
brings all types of discomforts with it.
(m) This is a metaphor taken
from holy things or sacrifices, for our life is like a sacrifice.
Php 4:15
4:15 {9} Now ye Philippians know also,
that in the {n} beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no
church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye
only.
(9) He witnesses that he remembers
also their former benefits, and again puts away sinister suspicion of greedy
desire, in that that he received nothing from anyone else.
(n) At the
beginning, when I preached the Gospel among you.
Php 4:17
4:17 {10} Not because I desire a gift:
but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
(10) He witnesses again that he
admits well of their benefit, not so much for his own sake as for theirs,
because they gave it not so much to him, as they offered it to God as a
sacrifice, of which the Lord himself will not be forgetful.
Php 4:18
4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am
full, having received of Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you,
an {o} odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to
God.
(o) He alludes to the sweet smelling
savours that were offered under the old Law.
Php 4:22
4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly
they that are of {p} Caesar's household.
(p) Those who belong to the emperor
Nero.
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