← Back to the beginning of Philippians 4
Ver. 8. Whatsoever things are true] This is that little Bible, as the eleventh to the Hebrews is by one fitly called a little Book of Martyrs. In this one verse is comprised that Totum hominis, whole of man, Ecclesiastes 12:13; that Bonum hominis, good of man, Micah 6:8. For if ye do these things here enjoined, ye shall never fall, but go gallantly into heaven, as St Peter hath it, 2 Peter 1:10,11.
Ver. 9. And heard, and seen in me] Est aliquid quod ex magno viro vel tacente proficias. The very sight, nay, thought, of a good man often doth good. Whereas the tongue or heart of a wicked man “is little worth,” Proverbs 10:20. If their thoughts and discourses were distilled, they are so frothy they would hardly yield one drop of true comfort. And the God of peace] “Not only the peace of God,” as Philippians 4:7. Austin somewhere fisheth a mystery out of the word pax, peace, which consisteth of three letters, saith he, to note the Trinity, from whom is all true peace. Others have observed that all the letters in Jehovah are quiescent, be at peace, letters to teach the same truth.
Ver. 10. Hath reflourished] Ανεθαλετο. It had deflourished then for a season, and withered, as an oak in winter, Isaiah 6:13, and as a teil tree whose sap is in the root. The best tree may have a fit of barrenness. So may the best men suffer some decays for a season; the spiritual life may run all to the heart, as a people conquered in the field runs to the castle. Howbeit, as Eutychus’s life was in him still, and he revived, though he seemed to be dead, and as trees in the spring grow green again, so do the relapsed saints.
Ver. 11. In respect of want] The wicked in the fulness of his sufficiency is in straits, Job 20:22. Contrariwise, the godly man in the midst of his straits is in a sufficiency. “He hath all things,” as having the haver of all things. For I have learned] In Christ’s school, for nature teacheth no such lesson. “ Optat ephippia bos piger, optat arare caballus. ” Horat. The labourers were not content with their penny, Matthew 20:13. They that have enough to sink them, yet have not enough to satisfy them; as a ship may be overladen with gold and silver, even unto sinking, and yet have compass and sides enough to hold ten times more. It is God only that fills the heart, and maketh a man say truly with Jacob, and not feignedly, as Esau, I have enough, my brother. Esau had a deal, but Jacob had all, because he had the God of all (Rabb-li, Col-li, Genesis 33:9,11).
Ver. 12. I know both how, &c.] Sound bodies can bear sudden alternations of heat and cold: so cannot distempered bodies. Both how to be abased] So Chilo (one of the seven wise men of Greece) said to his brother, who took it ill that he was not chosen to be one of the judges, I know how to be injuriously dealt with; but I hardly believe him. Socrates also could tell Archelaus, that offered him large revenues, My mind and mine estate are matches. But flesh and blood could never carry him so far, for all his saying so. It is God alone that fashioneth a man’s heart to his estate, Psalms 33:15, as a suit of clothes is fitted to the body. I am instructed] μεμυημαι, I am initiated; I am a young scholar, newly entered in this high point of heavenly learning of Christian practice. I have entered into religion, as it were, I have consecrated myself (the word is wondrous significant) and am religiously taught it; I see it is a mystery, but I have got the mastery of it. To suffer want] Either patiently to wait for what I desire, or contentedly to lack what God denieth. Εγω μεν επισταμαι αδικεισθαι. Laert. Arrian. apud Stobaeum.
Ver. 13. I can do all things] A Christian walks about the world like a conqueror, having power given him over all, Revelation 2:26,27. It was a vain brag of that heathen prince that caused it to be engraven upon his tombstone, παντα ποιειν εδυναμην, I could do all things. (Cyrus Major. Arrian.) None can say so but the man in Christ, without whom also he himself can do nothing, John 15:5. Suffer nothing, as the word ισχυω here used properly signifieth.
Ver. 14. Ye have well done] For hereby as you have sealed up your love to me, and engaged me to pray for you (as for Onesiphorus, 2 Timothy 1:16), so you have gotten a good testimony to yourselves that ye are members of Christ’s mystical body. The tongue is far enough from the toe, the heel from the head, yet when the toe or heel is hurt, the rest of the members sympathize and seek help for it. So here.
Ver. 15. But ye only] One poor Philippian shamed a hundred close fisted Corinthians. Araunah gave like a king, 2 Samuel 24:23, and is therefore crowned and chronicled: Zechariah 9:7 “Ekron shall be as the Jebusite,” that is, as this famous Jebusite Araunah, that parted with his freehold for pious uses. (Tremel.)
Ver. 16. Ye sent once and again] Charity’s fountain runs fresh, More perennis aquae, and is never dried up. “The liberal man deviseth liberal things,” and holdeth that only his own that he hath given to others. Hoc habeo quodcunque dedi, saith Seneca (De Ben. vi. 3).
Ver. 17. Not because I desire a gift] As those cormorants that “with shame do love, Give ye,” Hosea 4:18, as if they could speak no other but the Doric dialect, the horse leech’s language. St Paul was none of these. That may abound to your account] For God keeps an exact account of every penny laid out upon him and his, that he may require it; and his retributions are more than bountiful.
Ver. 18. I have all] viz. That you sent, and I give you an acquittance, which the Greeks, from the word απεχω here used, call Αποχη. Compare Proverbs 3:27. I abound, I am full] As a bird with a little eye, and the advantage of a wing to soar with, may see far wider than an ox with a greater; so the righteous with a little estate, joined with faith and devotion, may feel more comfort and see more of God’s bounty than one of vast possessions, whose heart cannot lift itself above the earth. They say, it is not the great cage that maketh the bird sing. Sure we are, it is not the great estate that brings always the inward joy, the cordial contentment. A staff may help a traveller, but a bundle of staves may be a burden to him. The greatest thing in the least compass, saith one, is a contented mind in a man’s body; which if a man have, deliciosius vivit etiam is qui teruntium non habet, quam si in unum hominem confles sexcentos Sardanapalos, he hath all things, though he want everything.
Ver. 19. But my God] Whom I serve as an ambassador in bonds, Ephesians 6:20, and therefore surely he will repay you the sums you have sent me. Shall supply] Gr. πληρωσει, shall fill up, as he did the widow’s vessels: Shut the doors upon thee, saith the prophet, 2 Kings 4:4. It was time to shut the doors, when one little vessel must overflow and fill up many greater. According to his riches in glory] All God’s supplies to his come tipped and gilt with a glory upon them, saith one. Providences below, graces within, heaven above; as they have a lovely scarlet blush of Christ’s blood upon them; so they are rayed upon with a beam of divine love to them that are in Christ.
Ver. 20. Now unto God] Paul cannot mention God’s bounty without a doxology.
Ver. 21. Every saint] A great encouragement to the meaner to be so respected.
Ver. 22. All the saints salute you] Christianity is no enemy to courtesy. God’s scholars are taught better manners than to neglect so much as salutations. They that are of Caesar’s household] When Caesar himself lived and died an unconverted caitiff (wretch) and a castaway. So did Seneca, for aught we can find by his writings, though some would have him to be here designed among the rest. [See Trapp on “Ro 1:18”]
Ver. 23. The grace of our Lord] With this wish of grace, grace to them, he both begins and ends. Wisdom is the principal thing, Proverbs 4:7.