Commentary on Philippians, Argument
THE ARGVMENT OF the epiſtle of S, Paule written vntounto 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 onelyonly 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 vntounto the Philippians, when they by Epaphroditus their Paſtor, had ſent vntounto 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 vntounto 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 were 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 vntounto 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 vntounto that he vſeth many arguments. And that he might the better keepe them in their dutie, he promiſeth that he will ſend Timotheus vntounto 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 onelyonly 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 vsus 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.