He exhorts them to perseverance in all good and acknowledges their charitable contributions to him.
He exhorteth them to perseu•rant•, 2 and certaine by name to vnitie, • to modestie, • to peace vvithout solicitude or careful anxietie, 8 to al that good is, 9 to such things as they see in him self. 10 that be reioyced in their contribution, not for his ovvne neede, but for their merite.
1Therefore my dearly beloved brethren and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.Per la qual cosa, fratelli, miei carissimi, e amatissimi, mio gaudio, e mia corona: per tal modo tenetevi saldi nel Signore, o carissimi.THERFORE, my deerest brethren and most desired, my ioy and my crovvne: so stand in our Lord, my deerest.Itaque fratres mei carissimi, et desideratissimi, gaudium meum, et corona mea: sic state in Domino, carissimi. 2I beg of Evodia and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord.Prego Evodia, e prego Sintiche, che abbiano gli stessi sentimenti nel Signore.'Euchodia' I desire & Syntyché I beseeche to be of one minde in our Lord.Evodiam rogo, et Syntychen deprecor, idipsum sapere in Domino. 3And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.Prego anche te, compagno fedele, porgi la mano a queste, le quali hanno meco combattuto per il vangelo con Clemente, e con gli altri miei ajutanti i nomi de' quali sono nel libro della vita.Yea and I beseeche thee my sincere companion, helpe those vvomen that haue laboured vvith me in the Gospel vvith Clement, and the rest my coadiutors, vvhose names are in the booke of life.Etiam rogo et te, germane compar, adjuva illas, quæ mecum laboraverunt in Evangelio cum Clemente, et ceteris adjutoribus meis, quorum nomina sunt in libro vitæ. 4Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice.State allegri sempre nel Signore: Io dico per la seconda volta e state allegri.Reioyce in our Lord alvvaies: againe I say reioyce.Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete. 5Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh.La vostra modestia sia nota a tutti gli uomini: il Signore è vicino.Let your modestie be knovven to al men. Our Lord is nigh.Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus: Dominus prope est. 6Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.Non vi affannate per niente: ma in ogni cosa siano manifestate a Dio le vostre richieste per mezzo dell'orazione, e delle suppliche unite al rendimento di grazie.Be nothing careful: but in euery thing by praier & supplicatiō vvith thākesgiuing let your petitions be knovven vvith God.Nihil solliciti sitis: sed in omni oratione, et obsecratione, cum gratiarum actione petitiones vestræ innotescant apud Deum. 7And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.E la pace di Dio, la quale ogni intendimento sormonta, sia a guardia de' vostri cuori, e delle vostre menti in Cristo Gesù.And the peace of God vvhich passeth al vnderstanding, keepe your hartes and intelligences in Christ IESVS.Et pax Dei, quæ exuperat omnem sensum, custodiat corda vestra, et intelligentias vestras in Christo Jesu.
8For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things.Del rimanente, o fratelli, tutto quello, che è vero, tutto quello, che è puro, tutto quello, che è giusto, tatto quello, che è santo, tutto quello, che rende amabili, tutto quello, che fa buon nome, se qualche virtù, se qualche lode di disciplina, a queste cose pensate.For the rest brethren, vvhat things so euer be true, vvhatsoeuer honest, whatsoeuer iust, vvhatsoeuer holy, whatsoeuer amiable, vvhatsoeuer of good fame, if there be any vertue, if any praise of discipline, these things thinke vpon.De cetero fratres, quæcumque sunt vera, quæcumque pudica, quæcumque justa, quæcumque sancta, quæcumque amabilia, quæcumque bonæ famæ, siqua virtus, siqua laus disciplinæ, hæc cogitate. 9The things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace shall be with you.Le quali e apparaste, e riceveste, e udiste, e vedeste in me, queste mettete in pratica: e il Dio della pace sarà con voi.Vvhich you haue both learned, and receiued, and heard, & seen in me: these things doe ye, and the God of peace shall be vvith you.Quæ et didicistis, et accepistis, et audistis, et vidistis in me, hæc agite: et Deus pacis erit vobiscum. 10Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly that now at length your thought for me hath flourished again, as you did also think; but you were busied.Io mi son poi grandemente rallegrato nel Signore, che finalmente una volta siate rifioriti a pensare a me, come pur pensavate: ma non avevate opportunità.And I reioyced in our Lord excedingly, that once at the length you haue reflorished to care for me, as you did also care: but you vvere occupied.Gavisus sum autem in Domino vehementer, quoniam tandem aliquando refloruistis pro me sentire, sicut et sentiebatis: occupati autem eratis. 11I speak not as it were for want. For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith.Non parlo come per riguardo alla (mia) indigenza: imperocché ho imparato ad esser contento di quello, che io mi trovo.I speake not as it vvere for penurie, for I haue learned, to be cōtent vvith the things that I haue.Non quasi propter penuriam dico: ego enim didici, in quibus sum, sufficiens esse. 12I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound (every where and in all things I am instructed): both to be full and to be hungry: both to abound and to suffer need.So essere umiliato, so anche essere nell'abbondanza; (dappertutto, e a tutte le cose sono stato avvezzato) ed esser satollo, e patir la fame; e aver copia, e patire inopia:I knovv both to be brought lovv, I knovv also to abound: (euery vvhere, and in al things I am instructed) both to be ful, & to be hungrie, both to abound, and to suffer penurie.Scio et humiliari, scio et abundare (ubique et in omnibus institutus sum): et satiari, et esurire, et abundare, et penuriam pati.
13I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me.Tutte le cose mi sono possibili io colui, che è mio conforto.I can al things in him that strengtheneth me.Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat. 14Nevertheless, you have done well in communicating to my tribulation.Per altro ben avete voi fatto nell'essere entrati a parte della mia tribolazione.Neuerthelesse you haue done vvel, communicating to my tribulation.Verumtamen bene fecistis, communicantes tribulationi meæ. 15And you also know, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only.Ma voi pur sapete, o Filippesi, come nel principio del vangelo, allorché io partii dalla Macedonia, nissuna chiesa ebbe comunicazione con me in ragione di dare, e di avere, eccettuati voi soli:And you also knovv ô Philippians, that in the beginning of the Gospel, vvhen I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated vnto me in the account of gift and receite, but your only:Scitis autem et vos Philippenses, quod in principio Evangelii, quando profectus sum a Macedonia, nulla mihi ecclesia communicavit in ratione dati et accepti, nisi vos soli: 16For unto Thessalonica also you sent once and again for my use.Imperocché anche a Tessalonica mi mandaste una, e due volte il bisognevole.for vnto Thessalonica also, once and tvvise you sent to my vse.quia et Thessalonicam semel et bis in usum mihi misistis. 17Not that I seek the gift: but I seek the fruit that may abound to your account.Non che io cerchi il dono, ma cerco il frutto abbondante a vostro conto.Not that I seeke the gift, but I seeke the fruite abounding in your account. But I haue al things,Non quia quæro datum, sed requiro fructum abundantem in ratione vestra. 18But I have all and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, an odour of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.Ed io ho ritirato il tutto, e sono nell'abbondanza: sono ripieno, ricevuto avendo da Epafrodito quello, che avete mandato, odore soave, sacrificio accetta, grata a Dio.and abound: I vvas filled after I receiued of Epaphroditus the things that you sent, an odour of svveetenes, an acceptable host, pleasing God.Habeo autem omnia, et abundo: repletus sum, acceptis ab Epaphrodito quæ misistis odorem suavitatis, hostiam acceptam, placentem Deo. 19And may my God supply all your want, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Il mio Dio poi adempia tutti i vostri desiderj secondo le sue ricchezze con la gloria in Cristo Gesù.And my God supply al your lacke according to his riches in glorie, in Christ IESVS.Deus autem meus impleat omne desiderium vestrum secundum divitias suas in gloria in Christo Jesu.
20Now to God and our Father be glory, world without end. Amen.A Dio poi, e padre nostro gloria de' secoli de' secoli: così sia.And to God & our father be glorie vvorld vvithout end. Amen.Deo autem et Patri nostro gloria in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. 21Salute ye every saint in Christ Jesus.Salutate ciascuno de' santi in Cristo Gesù.Salute ye euery saincte in Christ IESVS.Salutate omnem sanctum in Christo Jesu. 22The brethren who are with me salute you. All the saints salute you: especially they that are of Caesar’s household.Vi salutano i fratelli, che sono con me. Vi salutano tutti i santi, e principalmente quegli, che sono della casa di Cesare.The brethren that are vvith me, salute you. Al the sainctes salute you: but especially they are of Caesars house.Salutant vos, qui mecum sunt, fratres. Salutant vos omnes sancti, maxime autem qui de Cæsaris domo sunt. 23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.La grazia del Signor nostro Gesù Cristo col vostro spirito. Così sia.The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be vvith your spirit. Amen.Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Amen.
4:2
I beg of. St. Chrysostom, Theodoret, and many others, think that these were two ladies particularly famous in the Church at Philippi, for their virtue and good works. Some critics are of opinion that Syntyche was a man. It is certain, at least, that this name agrees amongst the Greeks better with a man than a woman; and perhaps the latter of these two may be the husband of Evodia.
4:3
Witham
I entreat thee, my sincere [Ver. 3. Germane compar. suzuge gnesie. St. Chrysostom (log. ig. p. 76.) expounds it by sunergos and sustratiotes. He tells us some fancied it was St. Paul's wife; but, says he, alla ouk estin, etc.] companion. St. Chrysostom expounds it of his fellow labourer or fellow soldier, and says that some pretended that by it was meant St. Paul's wife; but this he absolutely rejects, as do all the ancient interpreters, who teach us that St. Paul was never married, if we except the particular opinion of Clement of Alexandria, (lib. 3. strom. p. 448. Edit. Heinsii) who at the same time tells us, that St. Paul and those ministers of the gospel who had wives, lived with them as if they had been their sisters. The pretended reformers, who bring this place to shew that bishops and priests may marry, will they be for living after this manner? See 1 Corinthians 7:7, 8. But even Calvin, Beza, and Dr. Hammond, expound this of some man that laboured with St. Paul. (Witham)
Calmet
It seems probable that St. Paul is here speaking to one of the persons mentioned in the preceding verse. Others think that he is speaking to the gaoler[jailer] whom he had converted at Philippi. It seems most probable, however, that St. Paul is here speaking to the bishop of the Church, at Philippi. As to the opinion that he is speaking to his wife, we have elsewhere refuted that sentiment. (Calmet)
St. Paul says of himself that he had no wife, (1 Corinthians 7:8.) and all the Greek Fathers are very positive on this point.
With Clement. St. Jerome, Estius, and some others, believe that this Clement was the fourth pope that governed the Church, after Sts. Linus and Cletus: this at least is the common opinion.
Witham
Those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, not by preaching, but by assisting other ways to promote the gospel. (Witham)
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Witham
But in every [Ver. 6. Sed in omni oratione, etc. all en panti, te proseuche; no copies, pase.] thing by prayer, etc. By the Greek, the sense and construction cannot be in every prayer; but in every thing, in all circumstances, have recourse to prayer. (Witham)
4:8
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, etc. Here the apostle enumerates general precepts of morality, which they ought to practise.
Whatsoever things are true. In words, in promises, in lawful oaths, etc. he commands rectitude of mind and sincerity of heart.
Whatsoever things are modest. By these words he prescribes gravity in manners, modesty in dress, and decency in conversation.
Whatsoever things are just. That is, in dealing with others, in buying or selling, in trade or business, to be fair and honest.
Whatsoever things are holy. By these words may be understood, that those who are in a religious state professed, or in holy orders, should lead a life of sanctity and chastity, according to the vows they make; but these words being also applied to those in the world, indicate the virtuous life they are bound by the divine commandments to follow.
Whatsoever things are amiable. That is to practise those good offices in society that procure us the esteem and good will of our neighbours.
Whatsoever things are of good repute. That is, that by our conduct and behaviour we should edify our neighbours, and give them good example by our actions.
Challoner
If there be any virtue, if there be any praise of discipline: that those in error, by seeing the morality and good discipline of the true religion, may be converted. And finally, the apostle commands not only the Philippians, but all Christians, to think on these things: that is, to make it their study and concern, that the peace of God might be with them. (Challoner)
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Witham
Hath flourished again. Literally, that you have flourished again, to think or care for me, which appears by your sending me a supply of money. (Witham)
From hence it would appear, that the Philippians had in some respect been wanting in attention to this apostle: that their former liberality, which for a time had been slack and dead, had again revived.
4:11
Witham
I have learned....to be content therewith. Literally, to be sufficient. I know how to be in a low condition. (Witham)
4:14
Witham
In communicating;[Ver. 14. Communicantes, sugkoinonesantes. See Philippians 1:5. etc.] that is contributing to relieve my wants. (Witham)
4:15
Witham
Giving and receiving; by my giving you spiritual instructions, and you returning me temporal assistance; and know that these, your charities, are an odour of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice to God. (ver. 18.) (Witham)
4:19
Witham
May God supply all your want.[Ver. 19. Omne desiderium vestrum; the common Greek copies, chreian; though some epithumian; some charan, gaudium; and some pharin, gratiam.] See the Greek, which determines the signification of the Latin. (Witham)
4:8
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, etc.... Here the apostle enumerates general precepts of morality, which they ought to practise. Whatsoever things are true.... in words, in promises, in lawful oaths, etc., he commands rectitude of mind, and sincerity of heart. Whatsoever modest.... by these words he prescribes gravity in manners, modesty in dress, and decency in conversation. Whatsoever just.... That is, in dealing with others, in buying or selling, in trade or business, to be fair and honest. Whatsoever holy.... by these words may be understood, that those who are in a religious state professed, or in holy orders, should lead a life of sanctity and chastity, according to the vows they make; but these words being also applied to those in the world, indicate the virtuous life they are bound by the divine commandments to follow. Whatsoever lovely.... that is, to practise those good offices in society, that procure us the esteem and good will of our neighbours. Whatsoever of good fame.... That is, that by our conduct and behaviour we should edify our neighbours, and give them good example by our actions. If there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline.... that those in error, by seeing the morality and good discipline of the true religion, may be converted. And finally, the apostle commands, not only the Philippians, but all Christians, to think on these things.... that is, to make it their study and concern that the peace of God might be with them.
4:23
THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS
Colossa was a city of Phrygia, near Laodicea. It does not appear that St. Paul had preached there himself, but that the Colossians were converted by Epaphras, a disciple of the Apostles. However, as St. Paul was the great Apostle of the Gentiles, he wrote this Epistle to the Colossians when he was in prison, and about the same time that he wrote to the Ephesians and Philippians. The exhortations and doctrine it contains are similar to that which is set forth in his Epistle to the Ephesians.
4:1
1. My ioy.] The revvard of preachers. He calleth them his ioy and crovvne, for that he expected the crovvne of euerlasting life as a revvard of his labours tovvardes them. Vvhereby vve may learne also, that besides the essential glorie vvhich shal be in the vision and fruition of God, there is other manifold fellcitie incident in respect of creatures.
•. Sincere companion.] The English Bibles vvith one consent interprets the Greeke vvordes, faithful yokefellovv, Suspitious translation. perhaps to signifie (as some vvould haue it) that the Apostle here speaketh to his vvife: but they must vnderstand that their Maisters Caluin and Beza mislike that exposition, S. Chrys. Theodore. Occum. Theophyl. and al the Greeke fathers almost much more reiect it, and it is against S. Paules ovvne vvordes speaking to the vnmaried. S. Paul had no vvife. That it is good for them to remaine so, euen as him self did. 1 Cor. 7, 8. Vvhereby it is euident he had no vvife, and therfore meaneth here some other his coadiutor and fellovv-labourer in the Gospel.
4:2
Euodia
4:3
This Clement vvas aftervvard the 4 Pope of Rome from S. Peter, as S. Hierom vvriteth according to the cōmon supputation.
4:4
In the liturgy The Epistle vpon the 3 Sunday in Aduent.
4:6
〈Greek〉
4:10
This reflorishing is the reuiuing of their old liberalitie, vvhich for a time had been slacke & dead. S. Chrys.
4:15
He counteth it not mere almes or a free gift that the people bestoweth on their Pastors or preachers, but a certaine mutual traffike as it vvere, and enterchange: the one giuing spiritual, the other rēdering tēporal things for the same.
4:18
1•. Acceptable.] Hovv acceptable almes are before God, Almes giuen religiously. vve see here: namely vvhen it is giuen for religion to deuout persons for a recompense of spiritual benefites. for so it putteth on the condition of an oblation or sacrifice offered to God, and is most acceptable and svvete in his sight.
4:19
〈Greek〉
4:1
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 2.54
… He gives laws for slaves and masters, rulers and ruled, husbands and wives, parents and children, marriage and celibacy, self-discipline and indulgence, wisdom and ignorance, circumcision and uncircumcision, Christ and the world, the flesh and the spirit. On behalf of some he gives thanks, others he upbraids. Some he names his joy and crown,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 11
… iv. 19 ). For I am persuaded, that Christ has been formed in you. Other language I will use towards you; “My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 13
… i. 11, 13, 10 .) And to the Galatians, he says, “My little children of whom I am again in travail.” ( Gal. iv. 19 .) To the Ephesians again, “For this cause I bow my knees” for you. ( Eph. iii. 14 .) And to the Philippians,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Ephesians 23
… He hath set them in due array. Observe how he also puts on the armor. “Stand therefore,” saith he. The very first feature in tactics is, to know how to stand well, and many things will depend upon that. Hence he discourses much concerning standing, saying also elsewhere, “Watch ye, stand fast.” ( 1 Cor. xvi. 13 .) And again, “So stand fast in the Lord.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 13
Chap. iv. ver. 1 . “Wherefore,” saith he, “my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 22.54
… But she that is borne is the most and the soonest fruitful, that she may be loved, if not for herself, at least for her children. For the toil of the righteous is specially fruitful in those whom they beget for the kingdom of God, by preaching the gospel amid many trials and temptations; and they call those their joy and crown
Pseudo-Clement The Second Epistle of the Same Clement 6
… and do ye promote all those things which are profitable. For ye are “our joy, and our crown,” and our hope, and our life, “if so be that ye stand in the Lord.”
4:2
St Ignatius of Antioch † AD 108 Epistle to the Antiochians 7
Ye have been the disciples of Paul and Peter; do not lose what was committed to your trust. Keep in remembrance Euodias,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 13
Ver. 2, 3 . “I exhort Euodia, and exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women.”
4:3
Tertullian † AD 220 The Chaplet, or De Corona 13
… There are also provincial crowns of gold, needing now the larger heads of images instead of those of men. But your orders, and your magistracies, and your very place of meeting, the church, are Christ’s. You belong to Him, for you have been enrolled in the books of life.
Tertullian † AD 220 To His Wife i.4
… Fleshly concupiscence claims the functions of adult age, craves after beauty’s harvest, rejoices in its own shame, pleads the necessity of a husband to the female sex, as a source of authority and of comfort, or to render it safe from evil rumours. To meet these its counsels, do you apply the examples of sisters of ours whose names are with the Lord,
Tertullian † AD 220 Five Books in Reply to Marcion 3
Well known was he to apostolic men:
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 6.36
… for this cause untutored souls have gone astray.” Among the Gentiles, too, it is recorded that many a one, when pestilential disease broke out in his country, offered himself a victim for the public good. That this was the case the faithful Clement assumes, on the faith of the narratives, to whom Paul bears witness when he says,
Eusebius of Caesarea † AD 339 The Church History of Eusebius 3.4.10
10. Clement also, who was appointed third bishop of the church at Rome, was, as Paul testifies, his co-laborer and fellow-soldier.
Eusebius of Caesarea † AD 339 The Church History of Eusebius 3.15
In the twelfth year of the same reign Clement succeeded Anencletus after the latter had been bishop of the church of Rome for twelve years. The apostle in his Epistle to the Philippians informs us that this Clement was his fellow-worker. His words are as follows:
Eusebius of Caesarea † AD 339 The Church History of Eusebius 5.6.2
2. Anencletus succeeded him, and after Anencletus, in the third place from the apostles, Clement received the episcopate. He had seen and conversed with the blessed apostles,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 30
… See then how these were in that state and became very honorable, and yet their occupation was far from being honorable; for they were “tent-makers.” Still their virtue covered all this, and made them more conspicuous than the sun. And neither their trade nor their marriage ( συζυγία cf.
Pseudo-Clement The First Epistle of the Blessed Clement, the Disciple of Peter the Apostle 6
… That John, again, who “reclined on the bosom of our Lord, and whom He greatly loved,” —he, too, was a holy person. For it was not without reason that our Lord loved him. Paul, also, and Barnabas, and Timothy, with all the others, “whose names are written in the book of life,”
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 18.0
The former subject of the Sedition continued; also of fasting; and upon the Apostolic saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 18.3
3. For there is nothing whatever that will be able to afflict one who is well ordered in mind, and careful about his own soul; but he will enjoy a pure and continued pleasure. And that this is true ye have to-day heard from Paul, who exhorts us, saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 37
8. Heardest thou not what Paul saith, “Rejoice in the Lord?”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 15
… ( τοὺς ἐν πολλῇ φιλοσοφί& 139· .) Dost thou wish to find rest in the life to come? Suffer affliction in this life for Christ’s sake: there is nothing equal to this rest. The Apostles rejoiced when scourged. Paul gives this exhortation, saying, “Rejoice in the Lord.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 16
Now these things I have spoken, that we should not make enjoyment every way our object. How then does Paul say, “Rejoice alway?” He does not say simply, “Rejoice,” but he adds, “in the Lord.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on First Corinthians 15
… He freed thee from death; and called thee to a kingdom. Thou therefore who hast obtained and art still obtaining such things, how can it be less than thy duty to “keep the feast” all thy life? Let no one then be downcast about poverty, and disease, and craft of enemies. For it is a festival, even the whole of our time. Wherefore saith Paul, (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 4.28
… Here righteousness is prescribed to us when it is said, “Do righteousness;” peace is prescribed when it is said, “Have peace among yourselves;” joy is prescribed when it is said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Pope St Leo I the Great † AD 461 Sermons 28
Though all the divine utterances exhort us, dearly beloved, to “rejoice in the Lord always
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Tertullian † AD 220 On the Apparel of Women ii.13
Perhaps some (woman) will say: “To me it is not necessary to be approved by men; for I do not require the testimony of men: God is the inspector of the heart.” (That) we all know; provided, however, we remember what the same (God) has said through the apostle: “Let your probity appear before men.”
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 1
… better things than that of Abel, having our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel, holding in our hands the rod and staff of the Lord, by which that saint was comforted, who said , ‘Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me;’ and to sum up, being in all respects prepared, and careful for nothing, because, as the blessed Paul saith, ‘The Lord is at hand
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 22.2
The voice should be modulated; no one ought to answer another, or do anything, roughly or contemptuously, but in all things moderation
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 226
… nor do I consent to destroy His due glory. These are truly my doctrines. If any one wishes to accuse me for them, let him accuse me; let my persecutor persecute me. Let him who believes in the slanders against me be ready for the judgment. “The Lord is at hand.” “I am careful for nothing.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 71
But art thou impatient? Hear him saying, “Yet a little while, and He that cometh will come, and will not tarry. The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing;”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 74
Hence then we learn, that He doth not so much as tarry. For this judgment is not the Lord’s, but that of the evil servant’s mind, wherefore also he is blamed for this. For in proof that He doth not tarry, hear Paul saying, “The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing;”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 2
… Clearly to learn the beginning. This, Moses learned, and the time when, and how long ago: and he enumerates the years. And the wise Solomon saith, “I will make mention of things from the beginning of the world.” And that the time is at hand, they do know: as Paul saith, “The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 12
For not only from the greatness of the blessings and His loving kindness, but also from the shortness of the time he urgeth them continually. Wherefore he saith also elsewhere, “For now is our salvation nearer.” ( Rom. xiii. 11 .) And again; “The Lord is at hand.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians introductory-discourse
… iii. 2 .), and giving admonition to keep away from them, and teaching to whom it is right to attend, and discoursing at length on moral points, and bringing them to order, and recalling them to themselves, by saying, “The Lord is at hand” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 5
Here then he instructs the one party to be thus minded. But when he too, who enjoys such honor from thee, is thus affected toward thee, consider what a double wall there is erected of gentle forbearance [comp.
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 34
… Hast thou spoken ill of thy brother, and injured him? Cease finding fault, and apply kindness. Let us thus act with respect to each point in which we have offended, and let us not carelessly pass by our sins, for there awaiteth us hereafter, there awaiteth us a season of account. Wherefore also Paul said, “The Lord is at hand: be careful for nothing.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 1
[2.] Well also said he, “at the end of the days,” for by this he both stirs them up and encourages them desponding of the future. For as he says also in another place, “The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 19
[3.] ( Ver. 24, 25 ) “And” (he says) “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” And again in other places, “The Lord is at hand; be careful for nothing.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 122
… do it also with a more willing mind than ye were wont; and amid all the vexations of this life bear in your hearts the apostolic exhortation: “The Lord is at hand: be careful for nothing.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 133.2
… “Let your moderation,” he says, “be known unto all men;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 47.6
… but yet through His secret Mercy, feel Him present. For He who ascended into Heaven that He might be removed from your eyes, promised unto you, saying, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Justly then the Apostle so addressed us, “The Lord is at hand; be careful for nothing.”
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Tertullian † AD 220 On Prayer 11
That we may not be as far from the ears of God as we are from His precepts, the memory of His precepts paves for our prayers a way unto heaven; of which precepts the chief is, that we go not up unto God’s altar before we compose whatever of discord or offence we have contracted with our brethren. For what sort of deed is it to approach the peace of God
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 3
… Yea, moreover, being grievously vexed, we will give thanks. For the blessed Apostle, who gave thanks at all times, urges us in the same manner to draw near to God saying, ‘Let your requests, with thanksgiving, be made known unto God
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on First Corinthians 2
[1.] That which he exhorts others to do, saying, “(
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Ephesians 19
That is, “let your requests be made known unto God, with thanksgiving” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 130.18
… Whence, also, when the same apostle says, “Let your requests be made known unto God,”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 9.17
… “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Pseudo-Clement The Second Epistle of the Same Clement 1
… And those among us who are gifted in speaking will speak such words as are earnest, and serious, and chaste, in the fear of God, and exhort them to please God in everything, and abound and go forward in good works, and “be free from anxious care in everything,”
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St Theonas of Alexandria † AD 300 The Epistle of Theonas, Bishop of Alexandria, to Lucianus, the Chief Chamberlain 9
… But look to this as the chief gain you are to make by them, that, in all due patience, ye may discharge the duties of your office religiously and piously—that is, in the love of Christ—and despise all transitory objects for the sake of His eternal promises, which in truth surpass all human comprehension and understanding,
St Basil the Great † AD 379 De Spiritu Sancto 19
48. “ Be it so,” it is rejoined, “but glory is by no means so absolutely due to the Spirit as to require His exaltation by us in doxologies.” Whence then could we get demonstrations of the dignity of the Spirit, “passing all understanding,”
St Basil the Great † AD 379 De Spiritu Sancto 28
… They ought rather to bewail their weakness, in that we are powerless to express in words our gratitude for the benefits which we are actually receiving; for He “passes all understanding,”
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 28
V. But enough has been said on this point. As to what concerns us, it is not only the Peace of God
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 1.10
… For me the knowledge of the mystery of His generation is more than I can attain to, —the mind fails, the voice is dumb—ay, and not mine alone, but the angels’ also. It is above Powers, above Angels, above Cherubim, Seraphim, and all that has feeling and thought, for it is written: “The peace of Christ, which passeth all understanding.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Three Homilies Concerning the Power of Demons 1
… and what is this? “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” For neither speech, nor any mind is able to set forth the tender care of God. On this account he then says that it is past finding out, and elsewhere “The peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 20
… For this avails very greatly in inciting unto all virtue; and therefore he concluded his discourse with it. But if His Gift be unspeakable, what can match their frenzy who raise curious questions as to His Essence? But not only is His Gift unspeakable, but that “peace” also “passeth all understanding,” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 2
… Since neither can tongue speak nor thought hear anything suitable to our God. And why speak I of tongue or thought? For not even the understanding which far excels these, will be able to comprehend anything accurately, when we desire to utter aught concerning God. For if “the peace of God surpasseth all understanding” (
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 125.14
… seek peace and pursue it.” For if we do not hate evil we cannot love good. Nay more, we must do good if we are to depart from evil. We must seek peace if we are to avoid war. And it is not enough merely to seek it; when we have found it and when it flees before us we must pursue it with all our energies. For “it passeth all understanding;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 130.27
… At the same time, because this blessing is nothing else than the “peace which passeth all understanding,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 22.29
… And if I should speak of my mind or understanding, what is our understanding in comparison of its excellence? For then shall be that “peace of God which,” as the apostle says, “passeth all understanding,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Enchiridion 63
This peace, as Scripture saith, “passeth all understanding,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 1.2
… And this is the peace which is given on earth to men of goodwill; this the life of the fully developed and perfect wise man. From a kingdom of this sort brought to a condition of thorough peace and order, the prince of this world is cast out, who rules where there is perversity and disorder.
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 13.10
For Holy Scripture supports the freedom of the will where it says: “Keep thy heart with all diligence,” but the Apostle indicates its weakness by saying “The Lord keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
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Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis 2.5.3
… And what answer shall we make to Paul, when he says, “If there be any virtue, and, if there be any praise, think on these things, which ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me?”
Eusebius of Caesarea † AD 339 The Church History of Eusebius martyrs-of-palestine.12
… I judge it more suitable to shun and avoid the account of these things, as I said at the beginning. But such things as are sober and praiseworthy, according to the sacred word,—“and if there be any virtue and praise,”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 14
Ver. 8 . “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just.” What is “Finally”? It stands for, “I have said all.” It is the word of one that is in haste, and has nothing to do with present things.
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 1.38
… “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in uncorruptness.” “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory.
Sulpicius Severus † AD 420 The Doubtful Letters of Sulpitius Severus 2.8
… “The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, how she may please God, that she may be holy both in body and spirit” [she careth, he says, for the things of the Lord; she does not care for the things of the world, or of men, but for the things of God]. What, then, are the things of the Lord? Let the Apostle tell: “Whatsoever
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 231.4
… if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Good of Widowhood 27
… if any virtue, if any praise, these things think on, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me.”
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St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 48.3
… “These things do, and the God of peace shall be with you.”
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians introductory-discourse
… when I know your state.” This, “that I also,” is as if he meant “as you for full assurance sent to know the things concerning me, so ‘I also,’ that I may be of good comfort when I know the things concerning you.” Since then they had also been a long time without sending (for this he proves by saying, “Now at length you have revived your thought for me”) (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.26
… For he hath received from the Philippians those things which they had sent from Epaphroditus; but yet I see why he rejoiced. For whereat he rejoices, upon that he feeds; for speaking in truth, “I rejoiced,” saith he, “in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again, wherein ye were also careful,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 50.11
… “Not because I ask a gift,” he saith, “but I require fruit.” And he giveth thanks, saying, “Because at length ye have budded forth again to be thoughtful for me.”
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.7
… And again, Are ye so foolish, that, having begun in the Spirit, ye are now made perfect in the flesh ( Ibid. 3 )? But the faults of those who are ashamed he reprehends as though sympathizing with them, saying, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last ye have flourished again to care for me, as indeed ye did care, for ye lacked opportunity (
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St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Duties of the Clergy 2.17
89. Therefore the man of good counsel says: “I have learnt in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 10.31
… neither if we eat not, are we the worse;” which is to say, that neither shall the one make me to abound, nor the other to be wretched. I heard also another voice, “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound . . . I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.26
… Therefore, adds he, “not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 5.11
… (1) because the monastic mind ought always to be accustomed to practise endurance and abstinence, and like the Apostle, to learn to be content in whatever state he is.
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 6.10
… “For I have learnt in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith. I know both how to be brought low and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things in Him which strengtheneth me.”
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St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 49
9. So take these as an example, beloved Dracontius, and do not say, or believe those who say, that the bishop’s office is an occasion of sin, nor that it gives rise to temptations to sin. For it is possible for you also as a bishop to hunger and thirst
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Duties of the Clergy 2.17
… that is, he wanted no greater honour, he sought for no further services, he was not desirous of vainglory, nor did he look for gratitude where it was not due; but patient in labours, sure in his merits, he waited for the end of the struggle that he must needs endure. “I know,” he says, “how to be abased.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 12
If thou sayest, I am not able to preside over many, I ought to lead a solitary life; thou offerest an insult to virtue, for it can make use of every state, and shine through all: only let it be in the soul. Is there a famine? or is there abundance? It shows forth its own strength, as Paul saith, “I know how to abound, and how to be in want.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Good of Marriage 25
… Nor doth any use them well, save who hath power also not to use them. Many indeed with more ease practise abstinence, so as not to use, than practise temperance, so as to use well. But no one can wisely use them, save who can also continently not use them. From this habit Paul also said, “I know both to abound, and to suffer want.”
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St Ignatius of Antioch † AD 108 Epistle to the Smyrnæans: Shorter and Longer Versions 4
… But, [in fact,] he who is near to the sword is near to God; he that is among the wild beasts is in company with God; provided only he be so in the name of Jesus Christ. I undergo all these things that I may suffer together with Him, He who became a perfect man inwardly strengthening me.
Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis 3.2.5
… yet not one of them could sustain, without destruction to himself, the whole simultaneous assault of these opposing powers, unless indeed the might of Him alone were to work in him, who said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And therefore Paul exclaims with confidence, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me;”
Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus 8.70
… and from His victory we take courage. Should He even wish us again to contend and struggle for our religion, let the enemy come against us, and we will say to them, “I can do all things, through Christ Jesus our Lord, which strengtheneth me.”
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 1.38
… But how could He ever be the Paraclete, and the atonement, and the propitiation without the power of God, which makes an end of our weakness, flows over the souls of believers, and is administered by Jesus, who indeed is prior to it and Himself the power of God, who enables a man to say:
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 10.28
… Hence it is that Jesus does not trust Himself to him who believes in His name. We must, therefore, cleave to Him rather than to His name, lest after we have done wonders in His name, we should hear these words addressed to us which He will speak to those who boast of His name alone. With the Apostle Paul
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 12.12
… Of those, then, who seek to enter in, those who are not able to enter will not be able to do so, because the gates of Hades prevail against them; but in the case of those against whom the gates of Hades will not prevail, those seeking to enter in will be strong, being able to do all things, in Christ Jesus, who strengtheneth them.
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 10
… But the man who is in Christ, combating those things that are contrary, and opposing wrath by long-suffering, contumely by meekness, and vice by virtue, obtains the victory, and exclaims, ‘I can do all things through Christ Who strengtheneth me;’ and, ‘In all these things we are conquerors through Christ Who loved us
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 21.4
… For as Christ after His Baptism, and the visitation of the Holy Ghost, went forth and vanquished the adversary, so likewise ye, after Holy Baptism and the Mystical Chrism, having put on the whole armour of the Holy Ghost, are to stand against the power of the adversary, and vanquish it, saying, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 10.31
… But remember, O Lord, “that we are dust,” and that of dust Thou hast created man; and he “was lost, and is found.” Nor could he do this of his own power, seeing that he whom I so loved, saying these things through the afflatus of Thy inspiration, was of that same dust. “I can,” saith he, “do all things through Him which strengtheneth me.”
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on 2 Timothy 3
… It is in thy power if thou wilt, without entering into the course, to be a sharer of the crowns reserved for him, by standing by him, preparing his mind, and animating and exciting him. Hence it is that Paul elsewhere says, “Ye have done well that ye did communicate with my affliction. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.26
… Joy. Let us hear what follows. “Notwithstanding,” saith he, “ye have well done that ye did communicate with My affliction.”
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Pope St Clement I † AD 99 The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 47
Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached?
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians introductory-discourse
… And he bears testimony to them not only in faith, or in perils, but also in well-doing, where he says, “That even in the beginning of the Gospel, ye sent once and again unto my need” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 1
And not only in his bonds did they have fellowship with him, but also from the beginning. For hear him saying, “And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the Gospel, no Church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving, but ye only.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
Ver. 15 . “Ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church had communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.26
… For, saith he, “ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 81.4
4. “Take the Psalm and give the tabret” ( ver. 2 ). Both “take,” and “give.” What is, “take”? what, “give”? “Take the Psalm, and give the tabret.” The Apostle Paul saith in a certain place,
John Cassian † AD 435 The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults 7.17
… “For ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I came from Macedonia, no church communicated with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; because even in Thessalonica once and again you sent to supply my needs:”
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 17
… But now we have never prayed in respect to that nor said, ‘Grant me not to covet other men’s goods;’ but to stand in need, this we think a fit subject of deprecation . Yet Paul stood in need many times, and was not ashamed; nay, even prided himself upon it, and praised those that had ministered to him, saying, “For ye sent once and again to my need;” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 23
… For he thus persuades those who had been beaten [by them] in the matter of supporting the Apostle, not to be also beaten in the succor they gave to the poor. And he says this also in his Epistle to the Macedonians themselves, “For in my necessities ye sent unto me once and again, even in the beginning of the Gospel;” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
Ver. 16 . “For even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again unto my need.”
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St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 4.8.3
… their substance is the offerings ( fructifications ) of the Lord: these shall they eat.” Wherefore also Paul says, “I do not seek after a gift, but I seek after fruit.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 20
… next, through them ye send up thanksgiving to God, for they glorify Him for the obedience of your confession.’ For that he may not represent them as giving thanks on this account solely, (I mean, because they received somewhat,) see how high-minded he makes them, exactly as he himself says to the Philippians, “Not that I desire a gift.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
Ver. 17 . “Not that I seek for the gift.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Titus 6
… Could not Paul, who supported others by his own hands, have maintained himself without assistance from others? But you see him receiving and requesting aid. And hear the reason for it. “Not because I desire a gift,” he says, “but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.26
41. Was it on account of his own necessities that he said, “Ye have sent unto my necessity? Rejoiceth he for that? Verily not for that. But whence know we this? Because he himself continues, “Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 2.1.3
… so the apostle also might fitly say, In this work of pleasing men, it is not men, but God, that I please; because I do not aim at pleasing men, but have it as my object, that those whom I wish to be saved may imitate me. Just as he says of an offering that is made for the saints, “Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 50.11
… Which is the earth that is fruitful? That which is to be set on the right hand, unto which it shall be said, “I was an hungred, and ye gave Me to eat:” truly fruitful earth in which the Apostle doth joy, when they sent to him to supply his necessities: “Not because I ask a gift,” he saith, “but I require fruit.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 107.8
… thou findest it not among them, but through the whole world it is celebrated in the Church. “From the rising of the sun to the setting thereof the name of the Lord is praised.” …“And they sowed fields, and planted vineyards, and gat fruit of corn” ( ver. 37 ): at which that workman rejoiceth, who saith, “Not because I desire a gift, but I seek fruit.”
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St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 4.18.4
4. Inasmuch, then, as the Church offers with single-mindedness, her gift is justly reckoned a pure sacrifice with God. As Paul also says to the Philippians, “I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you, the odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, pleasing to God.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Lord's Prayer 33
… The blessed Apostle Paul, when aided in the necessity of affliction by his brethren, said that good works which are performed are sacrifices to God. “I am full,” saith he, “having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 9
This man had been publicly sent by the city of the Philippians, who had come as minister to Paul, and perchance bringing him some contri bution, for toward the end of the Epistle he shows that he also brought him money, when he says, “Having received of Epaphroditus the things that came from you.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
… And afterward, when they had no care for other virtues, and trusted to their offerings alone, behold, how again he setteth them right by saying, “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?” ( Ps. l. 13 .) This Paul also saith. “Not that I seek,” saith he, “for the gift.”
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 77.4
… This is not however the place to preach penitence, neither am I writing against Montanus and Novatus. Else would I say of it that it is “a sacrifice…well pleasing to God,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.26
… Therefore he who serves God and not his own belly, I plainly see why he may rejoice; I see it, and I rejoice with him exceedingly. For he hath received from the Philippians those things which they had sent from Epaphroditus;
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Tertullian † AD 220 To His Wife i.4
… who prohibits care to be taken about to-morrow’s food and clothing, promising that He knows what is needful for each of His servants—not indeed ponderous necklaces, not burdensome garments, not Gallic mules nor German bearers, which all add lustre to the glory of nuptials; but “sufficiency,”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
Ver. 19 . “And may my God fulfill every need of yours, according to His riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.”
Theodoret of Cyrus † AD 458 Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyprus 147
… whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” And considerably farther on he says “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And when he requites with benediction the liberality of the Philippians he says “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
… Amen.” For the glory of which he speaks belongs not only to the Son, but to the Father too, for when the Son is glorified, then is the Father also. For when he said, This is done to the glory of Christ, lest any one should suppose that it is to His glory alone, he continued, “Unto our God and Father be the glory,” that glory which is paid to the Son.
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
… He either saith, “The brethren which are with me,” because he hath no one like-minded of those who are with him, (where he doth not speak of those in the city, for how were they constrained to undertake the affairs of the Apostles?) or that he did not refuse to call even those brethren.
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St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus, II 1
… these opinions, even the heretics beyond the Church’s pale have never ventured to broach; these opinions, those presbyters who preceded us, and who were conversant with the apostles, did not hand down to thee. For, while I was yet a boy, I saw thee in Lower Asia with Polycarp, distinguishing thyself in the royal court,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans the-argument
… for he had not as yet set foot in the city of the Romans when he wrote this Epistle, and this he shows by saying, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift.” ( Rom. i. 11 .) But it was from Rome he wrote to the Philippians; wherefore he says, “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cæsar’s household” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 30
… ix. 5 .) And it was customary of old for the thing to be so called. But as he has here added “of the Gospel,” on this ground we assert that he speaks not of money only, but of all other things. As if he had said, I know that when I come I shall find you with the honor and freshness of all good deeds about you, and worthy of countless praises in the Gospel.
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 32
… ( Matt. x. 11 .) “Erastus, the chamberlain of the city, salutes you, and Quartus a brother.” There is a purpose in his adding “the chamberlain of the city,” for as he wrote to the Philippians, “They of Cæsar’s household salute you” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 15
Ver. 22, 23 . “All the saints salute you, especially they that are of Cæsar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
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1. AND SO, MY DEAREST AND MOST DESIRED BRETHREN, — ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐπιπόθητοι, that is, as Vatablus says, beloved and desired; or, as Erasmus says, lovable and desirable. MY JOY AND MY CROWN. — He calls the Philippians his "joy" and his "crown" by metonymy, because namely they were the cause and object of his joy and crown: for Paul rejoiced seeing them converted by him to persist and grow in faith and virtue, and from the labor which he had expended in converting and perfecting them, and was still expending, he hoped to receive from God a crown of glory. Thus holy Bishops called their people their crown, because the people like a crown surrounded the Bishop and depended upon him: as St. Cornelius the Pontiff and Martyr, as is found in the Acts of his martyrdom, when interrogated by the Prefect Volusianus why he received letters from St. Cyprian contrary to the precepts of the Emperor and contrary to the commonwealth, answered: "I received letters from the crown of the Lord, not contrary to the commonwealth:" calling the faithful people of Christ, surrounding him and the Bishops, the crown of the Lord. Thus St. Amandus dying and ascending to heaven appeared to the blessed Aldegond absent and praying, in an august form, encircled by a crown of white-robed ones; and when she inquired who that venerable one was, toward whom all the white-robed ones looked, she heard from an angel: This is Amandus beloved of God, who departs from the world to heaven, attended by holy souls, whom he instructed by word and example to all virtue, and therefore is honored by them as a father and with them ascends gloriously to the joys of the Lord. Witness is the author of the Life of St. Gislenus, chapter xii, and the author of the Life of St. Aldegond, chapter xvii. For if in this life a parent is encircled by a crown of children, and, as the Wise Man says, Proverbs xvii, 6: "The crown of the old men are the children of their children;" if, I say, a father of a family, if a prince is surrounded by a crown of his own, and, as St. Job says of himself, chapter xxix, 25: "He sitteth as a king with the army standing about him:" why should not spiritual parents, who have begotten sons to live eternally in heaven, be surrounded and adorned by their crown? Hence the Apostle calls the Thessalonians, epistle I, chapter ii, verse 19, his crown of glory: concerning which I shall speak there. SO STAND IN THE LORD, DEAREST. — Stand, and persist constant in the faith, hope, grace, and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ, in that manner in which I taught that you ought to stand in them, in the preceding chapter, and in that manner in which I rejoiced that you had begun to stand, chapter i, 6; namely that you flee heretics, and do not admit circumcision and Judaism, but depend solely upon Christ and Christ's law, and your conversation be with him in the heavens, expecting the same Savior returning from the heavens, that he may configure you to himself in the resurrection. "Stand" therefore, that is persevere; for, as St. Bernard says, epistle 129 to the Genoese: "Without perseverance neither obedience has reward, nor benefit has grace, nor strength has praise." A just man is like a cube, which stands upright and firm against every motion of fortune, says Simonides. He stands therefore in the Lord, who truly can say with the Psalmist: "But it is good for me to adhere (in Greek προσκολλᾶσθαι, that is to be glued) to God," Psalm lxxii, 28. But by what bond, by what glue shall we be glued to God? St. Bernard answers, On the Triple Cohesion: "There are three bonds by which we are bound to him, and first receive ropes, second wooden or iron nails, third glue. The first binds strongly and harshly, the second more strongly and harshly, the third sweetly and securely. By a rope, in a manner, one is bound to the Redeemer, if perhaps while troubled by a more vehement temptation, he proposes to himself the contemplation of honor, the memory of the promise, and by this rope meanwhile he holds himself, lest the purpose be entirely broken: a hard indeed and troublesome bond, but also very dangerous and which one cannot hold for long, since ropes rot, and the bond of shame either we forget or break quickly. But there is one who is fastened to the Lord of majesty by nails, whom the fear of God binds, who does not shrink at the face of men, but at the memory of infernal torments: and this one indeed does not fear to sin, but to burn. Yet it is impressed more harshly and strongly than the first; because while that one wavers in purpose, this one does not lose purpose. The third truly is glued to him by glue, that is by charity, who, bound so sweetly as securely, adhering to God is one spirit with him."
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2. I beseech Euodia, and I beseech Syntyche (for beseech, in Greek it is the same verb as a little before, namely παρακαλῶ, that is I beseech) TO BE OF ONE MIND IN THE LORD. — These two women, say Theodoret, Theophylactus, Anselmus, were chief among the Christians at Philippi, who strove to advance the Christian cause. Whence he adds concerning them: "Help them, who have labored with me in the Gospel." The Apostle therefore exhorts them to be of one mind in the Lord for advancing the Christian cause, that is, that they be in agreement with that agreement whose bond is the Lord. Thus Theodoret, Theophylactus, Anselmus. For nothing so disturbs and impedes the course of the Gospel and piety as diversity of opinions and minds in those who preside or direct the matter.
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3. AND I BESEECH THEE ALSO, TRUE YOKEFELLOW. — In Greek γνήσιε σύζυγε, which Faber Stapulensis, Zwingli and Erasmus translate as true wife: as if Paul here addresses his wife; for in Greek she is called σύζυγος, that is, of the same yoke (namely marriage), or wife. But this interpretation is refuted by Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylactus, Oecumenius, indeed also by Calvin and Beza. First, because if Paul had meant his wife here, he would rather have said in the feminine γνησία σύζυγα, that is, true wife: but now he speaks in the masculine γνήσιε σύζυγε; for although the Attics sometimes use this in the feminine, it is commonly taken in the masculine; nor is the Apostle so refined as to employ Atticisms. Thus Theophylactus. Second, because Paul's wife would rather have dwelt in Tarsus or Jerusalem than in Philippi, says Theophylactus. Third, because in I Corinthians vii, 7, Paul numbers himself among the unmarried. To the argument I reply, σύζυγος signifies any companion who acts the same with us, as it were conjugal, who draws the same yoke. Thus Christ in Nonnus calls himself σύζυγος of the Father. Thus in II Corinthians vi, 14, when the Apostle commands the faithful, saying: "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers," he forbids not only marriages with unbelievers, but also that the faithful should enter into any other closer association or familiarity with unbelievers: therefore σύζυγος here calls his companion and colleague, namely some distinguished teacher, who had drawn with him the same yoke of evangelical preaching, just as in chapter ii, 25, he called Epaphroditus his συστρατιώτην, that is, fellow soldier, and Clement and others in this verse he calls συνεργούς, that is, his fellow workers. Thus Theodoret, Haymo, Anselm. Whence Vatable thinks Paul by this name designates Epaphroditus: but because Epaphroditus was not in Philippi, but in Rome with Paul, and he brought these letters of Paul to the Philippians, it is more true that Paul designates some other, whom the Philippians sufficiently recognized by this title and name of yokefellow. Chrysostom, however, thinks σύζυγος here is understood as a husband, or certainly the brother of Euodia or Syntyche. Oecumenius, Lyra and the author of the Commentary on this epistle, which is found among Jerome's works, and Dionysius the Carthusian following these, think 'true yokefellow' to be the proper name of a man, who is here called Paul's. There is therefore nothing here which persuades that Paul was married. It is remarkable that Catharinus here asserts that in the Revelations of St. Brigid it is found that Paul was a husband, and he adds that according to some Paul's wife was called Phoebe, of whom in Romans xvi, 1. For the very opposite is found in book II of her Revelations, chapter vii, and in book VIII, chapter i. HELP THOSE WOMEN (Euodia and Syntyche) WHO HAVE LABOURED WITH ME IN THE GOSPEL. — In Greek συνήθλησάν μοι, that is, who have contended with me athletically for the Gospel. WITH CLEMENT. — This is Clement of Rome, disciple of Sts. Peter and Paul, who succeeded Peter in the pontificate after Linus and Cletus. WHOSE NAMES ARE (written) IN THE BOOK OF LIFE. — Note: A book in Hebrew is called a catalogue of "life," that is of the living, or of those who are written for eternal life: but this catalogue exists in the mind of God's foreknowledge and predestination; this therefore is called ἀνθρωποπαθῶς a book, or catalogue of God, in which God has as it were written the names of all the just, who persevere in justice and die in grace, so that he may give them life and eternal crown, says Theophylactus. For thus among men, those who are chosen for some office or dignity are written in a book, as soldiers and senators, who were hence called Conscript Fathers, as St. Thomas says. Whence in Hebrew ספר חיים sepher chaiim signifies both the book of the living and the book of life. In like manner the same mind, foreknowledge and reprobation of God can be called a book of death, in which God writes all those who die in sin, so that he may punish them with eternal death. Thus Theophylactus, although St. Thomas does not admit a book of death, but only of life, because Scripture has made mention of this name, not that one, and because God, whose nature is goodness, by himself ordains and writes his own to life, but to death not by himself, but as if forced by the malice and sins of the wicked, destines and transcribes the impious. Note secondly, that men are described in the book of life in a twofold manner. First, absolutely and completely: thus are written all and only those who die in grace, and are therefore elected to eternal life. Secondly, only in an inchoate manner: thus are written in the book of life all the just who are still struggling in life against the world, the flesh and the devil, so that, if they persevere in justice, they may be written completely in the book of life, and be elected and attain to eternal life; if they do not persevere, they are blotted out of the book of the living, as David says, Psalm lxviii, 29. In this second manner Paul says that Clement and his other helpers, still living, are written in the book of life: for he does not wish to make them altogether certain of their perseverance, salvation and election to glory, and to reveal this to all the Philippians; nor again does he wish to say that he has received from God a revelation concerning their salvation and glory; but only that they, as regards their present state of grace, are inchoately in the book of life. See what is said Ephes. i, 5, and cap. xiii. In another sense, Eccli. xxiv, 32, the "book of life" is called the sacred Scripture itself, or the book of the Law and the Prophets; for thus it is said there: "All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of the Most High, and the knowledge of truth. The law commanded Moses in the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and promises to Israel." The sense of this passage is: All these things which I have already said concerning the dignity, utility and fruit of wisdom, understand, are contained and provided by the book of life, that is, the book of the Law and the Prophets, which if you keep, you will attain to eternal life; which book is also the covenant of God containing his ultimate and supreme will, and the pact with men, and therefore is itself the knowledge of truth; the book, I say, of the law, which Moses commanded, giving precepts of justice, which were to be as it were a perpetual inheritance to Israel, and promised to it the fertile inheritance of Judaea in this life, and of the heavenly kingdom in the future. Sacred Scripture is therefore called the "book of life," because it contains both the promises of present and eternal life, and the precepts necessary and fitting for obtaining this life. Note: The first who mentions the book of life is Moses, Exodus xxxii, 32: "Or," he says, "forgive them this sin (of the worship of the calf), or if thou wilt not, blot me out of thy book, which thou hast written." Then David, Psalm lxviii, 29: "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living." In the New Testament, however, Christ mentions it in Luke x, 20, Paul here, and St. John, Apocalypse xx, 15.
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4. REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS: AGAIN I SAY, REJOICE. — "In the Lord," in afflictions endured on account of faith and the Lord, says Chrysostom and Theophylactus; but this is too narrow. Secondly, therefore, genuinely and adequately: "Rejoice in the Lord," that is, in the Lord's faith, grace, religion, hope, and reward which He has promised you, as if to say: Rejoice, not because you are rich, noble, wise, but because you are Christians, because you have the Lord Christ, who has redeemed you from death, enriched you with His grace, and called you to heavenly glory; rejoice, I say, always, both in time of adversity and of prosperity, both in persecution and in peace. "Again I say" and repeat, "rejoice in the Lord," that is, in the service, protection, and promises of so great a Lord, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Rejoice, says Anselm, not in the world, but in the Lord; for just as no one can serve two masters, so no one can rejoice both in the Lord and in the world; for these two joys are contrary to each other: for the joy of the world is unpunished wickedness. Let men revel, let them fornicate in spectacles, let them jest in drunkenness, let them gorge themselves in filth, and let these evils not be hindered by hunger, not by any sickness, not by any adversity; but let all things abound in the peace of the flesh, in the security of the mind, and behold the joy of the world. And therefore rejoice not in the world, but in the Lord, that is, not in iniquity, but in truth, not in the flower of vanity, but in the hope of eternity. And St. Bernard, sermon 4 in the Vigil of the Nativity: "Rejoice," he says, "in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice. Rejoice in the gift, again rejoice in the promise, because both the thing itself is full of joy, and the hope is full of joy. Rejoice, because you have already received the gifts of the left hand. Rejoice, because you already await the rewards of the right hand. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me. The left hand, indeed, lifts up, the right hand sustains. The left hand heals and justifies, the right hand embraces and beatifies. In His left hand are merits, in His right hand, however, are rewards. In the right hand, I say, are delights, in the left are medicines." St. Basil asks, question 493 in the Brief Rules: "What sort of joy is it that is in the Lord? And what is it that, doing which, we ought to rejoice?" and he answers: "To rejoice in those things which are done according to the commandment of the Lord is to rejoice in the Lord. Wherefore whenever we fulfill the commandments of God, or suffer anything on account of the name of the Lord, we ought to rejoice and congratulate one another." This joy is useful, indeed necessary, to the Christian man, so that he may live pleasantly and proceed eagerly in virtues, so that he may perform heroic works, so that he may overcome the sadnesses and diffidences which either nature or the demon suggests, and all temptations. "One," says St. Anthony in Athanasius, "one, I say, is the way of overcoming the enemy: spiritual joy and the constant remembrance of the soul always thinking of the Lord, which, driving out the games of demons as if they were smoke, will pursue adversaries rather than fear them." And indeed the Christian has not one, but many matters and causes of joy, namely as many as he has received from God, both common and particular benefits, or hopes and expects to receive; and especially if he thinks of the eternal life prepared for him in heaven by God, how should he not cast off all sadness? "Thou shalt be delighted in the Lord," says Isaiah lviii, 14, "and I will lift thee up above the heights of the earth, and will feed thee with the inheritance of Jacob thy father." Thus that great Apollo, in Palladius, in the Lausiac History, chapter lii, used to stir up those brothers of his in the desert, although they lived quite solitary and austere lives, to perpetual spiritual joy, so that Palladius says of them: "It was possible to see them exulting in the desert, so much so that no such exultation on earth could be seen, nor bodily joy: for there was not among them anyone sad or sorrowful." He then adds the manner and reason by which Apollo instilled this joy in them: "If anyone," he says, "appeared to show sadness, immediately father Apollo asked him the cause, and revealed what was hidden in the heart of each one. And he said: We ought not to be sad on account of salvation, since we are to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven: the Gentiles will be sad, the Jews will weep, sinners will mourn; but the just will rejoice, and those who are occupied with earthly things in mind rejoice in earthly things; but we, who have been deemed worthy of such great hope, how should we not rejoice perpetually? since the Apostle persuades us to rejoice always and to pray without ceasing." Thus far Apollo. And this is what the Apostle says: "Rejoice in the Lord." St. Basil inquires, sermon 4 from 29 various ones, which is on thanksgiving, how a Christian amid so many miseries, misfortunes and adversities of this life can always rejoice; and he answers: "The soul, he says, which once has bound itself in every way with desire for its Creator, and has now grown accustomed to delight itself in the contemplation of such great beauty of His, will altogether not allow that vehement joy and the most delightful diffusion of its spirit to be interrupted or changed by the manifold and successive change of carnal affections: but rather those things which bring sorrow to others, it will turn to an increase and accession of joy for itself. Of such a kind was the Apostle, while he was well pleased in infirmities, in tribulations, in persecutions, in necessities, transforming his poverty into glory and exultation." And Chrysostom, homily 48 to the People, answers the same question in such a way as to teach sailors, merchants and any men to seek joy from all their labor, and yet not to find it; but Paul opens to us the fountain and treasure of joy: "For he did not simply say: Rejoice always, but adds the cause of continuous pleasure, subjoining: Rejoice in the Lord always. One rejoicing in the Lord cannot fall from this pleasure by any accident: for all other things in which we rejoice are changeable, nor do they bring us so much pleasure that they expel and overshadow the sadness born from other things: but the fear of God has both of these; for it is stable and unmoved, and emits such great joy that no sense of other evils can seize us. For you who fear God as you ought, and trust in Him, have gained the root of pleasure and have every fountain of joy. And just as a spark falling into an immense sea is easily extinguished in a short time, so whatever things strike one who fears God, falling as it were into a vast sea of joy are extinguished and lost. And truly this is most wonderful, that when those things which are wont to sadden are present, he himself remains rejoicing." And below, that the saints always rejoice in whatever affliction, thus running through individual points, he demonstrates saying: "Let there be someone having nothing in himself to be condemned, but relying on a good conscience, and yearning for future things, and awaiting that blessed hope, what, I ask, will be able to bring him into sadness? For first, death seems to be more intolerable than all things: but the expectation of this not only does not sadden him, but also delights him; for he knows that the presence of death is a liberation from evils, and a course toward crowns. Second, but if the death of children is bitter? Yet he bears this generously, and will say the words of Job: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Third, that if the death of children cannot sadden him, much less can the loss of money, and accusations, and calumnies, touch so great and generous a soul, nor bodily pains. Since the Apostles were scourged and rejoiced at the sight of the council, because they were deemed worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus. They were instructed by Christ to rejoice in reproaches: Rejoice, He says, and exult, when they shall say all evil against you, lying, because your reward is very great in heaven. Fourth, but he falls into death. Yet he heard another admonishing and saying, that just as gold is proved in fire, so acceptable men are in the furnace of humiliation. Since therefore neither death, nor loss of money, nor bodily sickness, nor ignominy, nor insult, nor anything of this kind can sadden him, but rather delights him more than ever, how will he ever have matter for sadness?"
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5. LET YOUR MODESTY BE KNOWN TO ALL MEN. — That is to say, as Anselm says: Let your joy be in the Lord, as I have said; but let men see the modesty of your conversation, so that by your example they may learn to act modestly. St. Bernard connects this somewhat differently, in his sermon on that passage of the Apostle, "The kingdom of God is not food and drink." For he says: "There is a twofold joy which you have in the Holy Spirit, namely first, from the memory of future goods; secondly, from the endurance of present evils. For nothing in these savors of the flesh, nothing worldly, nothing vain, but it is of the Spirit of truth and heavenly wisdom, whose sweetness is tasted beforehand in both. Rejoice in the Lord always, says the Apostle, again I say, rejoice. And having followed the matter of this twofold joy, he added: Let your modesty be known to all men: for the Lord is nigh. What is modesty but gentleness and patience? Let us therefore rejoice in those things which we expect: because the Lord is nigh. Let us rejoice again in those things which we endure, that our modesty may be known to all. Surely tribulation worketh patience, and patience trial, and trial hope, and hope confoundeth not." Most excellently Cicero, and from him St. Augustine, in the book On the Happy Life: "Modesty," he says, "is indeed named from measure, and from temperance temperance. But where there is measure and temperance, there is neither excess nor deficiency." And further down: "Therefore measure of the mind is wisdom." And soon after: "But if you ask what wisdom is? it is nothing else but measure of the mind, that is, by which the mind balances itself, so that it neither runs out into excess, nor is constrained below what is full." And a little earlier: "Tullius in a popular oration says: Let each one accept as he will; I however judge frugality, that is modesty and temperance, to be the greatest virtue. Most learnedly and fittingly indeed." Elegantly a wise man, when asked: "What is a rose?" says: "It is the purple of spring. What is modesty?" says: "It is the purple of virtues." For no purple adorns a cardinal or king as modesty adorns one endowed with virtue. Modesty therefore illustrates the other virtues like royal maidens with a royal garment. Whence Euripides, in Medea, calls modesty "the most beautiful gift of the gods." For, as Hugo of St. Victor says, "the habit of the mind is known in the state of the body. And so the motion of the body is a kind of voice of the mind." Hence St. Augustine in the Rule thus ordains: "In all our movements, let nothing be done which might offend anyone's sight, but what befits our holiness." Note: For modesty, in Greek it is τὸ ἐπιεικές, which first signifies equity; secondly, humanity; thirdly, moderation of mind, by which we also bear and endure adversities, persecutions, injuries and even enemies themselves moderately. Thus Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylactus understand it, as if Paul wished that the Philippians against the Gentiles and others who persecute and afflict them should not become enraged, should not be indignant, but through moderation of mind should patiently bear all things however hard, and toward their enemies be gentle, kind and peaceful. This sense is very apt for this place, persons and time. Fourthly, τὸ ἐπιεικές signifies modesty, as our translator renders it, which is a virtue that sets a measure to external actions, namely which moderates words, gait, dress, and every gesture and motion both at table, in the streets, in the temple, in schools, and in any other place. See what is said in Galatians v, 23. The Apostle therefore wishes that Christians display modesty to all, by which they may testify to the moderation of their inner mind, and by which they may draw others to Christianity and to imitate their modesty. Thus indeed St. Bernard by his appearance and composed manner invited all to the love of God and purity of life. For, as the author of his Life says, book III, chapter 1: "There appeared in his flesh a certain spiritual grace; in his countenance shone forth a brightness not earthly but heavenly; in his eyes there radiated a certain angelic purity and dove-like simplicity; so great was the beauty of his inner man that it burst forth by evident signs outwardly, and the outer man also appeared to be abundantly suffused with the overflow of internal purity and grace." By this modesty also excelled St. Malachias, Bishop of Ireland, who moved no member without reason, as St. Bernard says in his Life. And St. Lucian, presbyter and martyr, who by his modest, cheerful and pious appearance alone converted many to Christ. For so great was the serenity, sweetness and light of his countenance that rays seemed to vibrate from it; so great was the holiness and beauty of his manners that he appeared an angel, not a man; and no one could look upon him without being inflamed with faith and love of Christ; so much so that Galerius Maximianus the emperor, the fiercest enemy of Christians, did not dare to look upon him face to face. Hear the author of his Life, and from him Baronius, in the year of the Lord 311: "When Maximianus heard of Lucian from many, so great was the reverence that sat upon his face that, if he had seen him alone, he would have run the risk of becoming a Christian; after he ordered that he be brought, fearing lest such a thing should happen to himself, he separated the conversation by interposing a veil, and sent his words to him from afar, using an intermediary for speech." Wherefore deservedly the Author of the Commentary, book II on Job among the works of Origen (for Origen it cannot be, since he preceded Lucian by many years), speaking of the glorious life and martyrdom of Lucian: "Thus, he says, was the blessed and glorious Lucian perfected, bright in life, bright in faith (bright also in modesty, as much as in countenance), bright also in the perfection of his endurance. For this reason Lucian was named as if bright, either shining with his own light, or shining forth to others." Moreover, the author of his Life indicates the cause and source of such modesty in Lucian, while at the beginning of his life he thus describes his early years: "He spent a great portion of his life in prayers and tears. He was as far removed from buffoonery and laughter as he judged these things to be truly ridiculous. But toward those who mourned, he strove to imitate them, and thought them worthy of the beatitudes. Having embraced silence and devoted to continual meditation, he always appeared thoughtful and full of sadness to those who approached him, even though his spirit was perpetually exulting and rejoicing within him. If ever a word seemed to come forth from his mouth, it was the divine Scripture that he spoke. For so great was his divine love for it that he scarcely wished to take sleep because of his continual meditation upon it:" whence also he made a Greek edition of the Scriptures from the Hebrew text, which is called the Lucian edition. These first rudiments of his piety tore his soul away from earthly things and imbued it with divine things, so that, full of God, he put on as it were a divine countenance and divine manners. St. Ephrem also beautifully describes the particular acts of this modesty and temperance, as he himself calls it, in all directions, in his book On Virtues and Vices, in the chapter On Temperance and Continence, when he says: "The temperate man restrains his tongue by the bridle of modesty from insults, and abstains from curses, does not delight in idle talk, does not stir up one against another by calumny and detraction: he conceals secrets, and covers the affairs of others with silence. The temperate man is said to be so in hearing, who does not lend his ears to vain and malicious things. In the eyes, who does not look about at things that can delight, or which it is wicked to see. He is temperate in mind, who so governs it that anger does not carry him away, nor is he quickly exasperated. In glory modesty is seen, when someone so moderates his mind that he is not overcome by the pursuit of honors, dignities, or praises. In thoughts, when someone by fear of God restrains flattering and smiling thoughts. In food, when someone does not delight in more delicate things, nor seeks food outside the appointed time for eating, nor anticipates the hour, lest he eagerly require the variety and beauty of dishes. In drink, when he does not immoderately enjoy not only wine, but not even water." Thus he speaks. More briefly St. Bernard, in epistle 113: "Discipline," he says, "composes the mind and body, bends the neck, lowers the eyebrows, composes the countenance, binds the eyes, restrains laughter, moderates the tongue, bridles the appetite, calms anger, forms the gait." And another Doctor: "Let jests," he says, "be without malice, jokes without baseness, voice without clamor, gait without tumult: speak little, think much, arm yourself with shame, let your face look to the earth, your mind to heaven." The Lord is nigh. — Some indeed add a word; but neither the Syriac, nor the Greek, nor the corrected Latin has it, and without it the sense is clearer: for the Apostle wishes to give a general stimulus both to the modesty and joy which preceded, and to peace of mind, prayer and the other virtues which he subjoins. This is a stimulus, if we think that the Lord is nigh: already the sense is, "The Lord is nigh," that is, Christ the judge draws near, that he may behold, succor and aid our patience and modesty. Thus Anselm. Secondly and genuinely, "The Lord is nigh," that is, Christ the judge draws near, that he may come to judgment, that he may crown our patience and modesty, that he may complete our joy, and that he may avenge and punish the injuries of those who persecute us with honor.
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6. Be therefore careful for nothing, — that is to say, Let not anxiety trouble you concerning temporal goods or evils, whether you be despoiled of goods, or punished with exile, or afflicted with diseases or other misfortunes; because for all these things the Lord, coming shortly, will bestow eternal goods upon you. Thus Chrysostom, Theodoret and Theophylactus. Note: This passage can be understood of particular judgment, that is to say, The end of our life is near, inasmuch as it is very brief, for we shall soon die, and consequently particular judgment is near, and the Lord is near, who in that judgment as president and judge will judge us. Secondly and better, you may understand it of the universal judgment: for thus the Apostle is wont to speak of it as if it were at hand and near, so that Christians may always have it before their eyes, and prepare themselves for it. Whence the Apostle is wont to call the day of universal judgment the day of the Lord; the Lord therefore is near, because the end of the world and the day of universal judgment are near, which the Lord will exercise before the whole world; near, I say, with respect to the very long foreknowledge and eternity of God, in which a thousand years are as yesterday that is past, that is to say, Therefore cultivate modesty, patience and other virtues, that in the day of judgment you may be joyful and secure, and that from Christ the judge you may receive public praise and the crown of glory. Thus Chrysostom and Theophylactus. Concerning which matter beautifully the same Chrysostom, homily 37 on John: "The time," he says, "of rendering an account is at hand. Therefore Paul says: The Lord is near, be careful for nothing, the Lord is near, we are not far from the end, but already the world hastens on; this war, this affliction, this earthquakes, this extinguished charity signifies. For just as the body, with death approaching, is afflicted with innumerable evils, and a house near to falling crumbles into ruins: so the world of earth hastening to its end is worn away by such evils on all sides; for if in Paul's times the Lord was near, now assuredly he is nearer. If three hundred years ago Paul said the end of times was at hand, what is to be said now?" He adds then that the day of judgment, as it is near, so also it will come suddenly and unexpectedly, saying: "Let us therefore restrain our affections, let us exercise ourselves in the fear of God; for if we give ourselves license, losing all expectation of such things, the advent of God will come upon us suddenly. Which by these words Christ signifies: As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be, etc., as Paul: When they shall say, Peace and security, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as a woman in travail. Often pregnant women, while going about and playing, while bathing, while enjoying spectacles, are seized by sudden pains: in this condition we also are placed in this life. Let us therefore always be prepared." In every prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. — Note, that in omni cannot refer to prayer: for in the Greek there is a disagreement of gender; for παντί, that is, in every, is of masculine gender: προσευχῇ however, that is, prayer, is of feminine. Whence Oecumenius and the Greeks supply ἐν παντί, understand πράγματι, that is, in every, understand, matter and business, concerning which you are anxious. The Syriac in παντί, understands χρόνῳ, that is, in every time, that is, always. "In prayer," that is, through prayer and earnest supplication joined with thanksgiving (for this prayer and supplication is pleasing to God, and provokes God's grace and aid, which proceeds from a grateful soul and is conditioned by thanksgiving), make known and set forth your petitions to God, that you may seek and obtain his aid.
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7. And the peace of God which surpasseth all understanding. — First, "The peace of God," say Chrysostom and Theophylactus, is the reconciliation which God made with men, when being angry with them of old, He was made placated through Christ. Whence Christ is called "our peace," that is, the cause of peace, Ephesians II, [14]. This peace the Prophets and Angels sang to Christ being born, singing: "Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will." Secondly: "Peace," says Anselm, by which God is at peace with Himself and most quiet, whose nature is peace, says Ambrose, shall guard your hearts, and communicate to them His peace; for God is uncreated peace, by participation of which angels and men are made peaceful. Thirdly, others understand peace with men and forgetfulness of injuries, concerning which see Chrysostom in the moral homily 14. Fourthly and best, Ambrose says: "Peace," which the holy soul has with God, is the tranquility of conscience; "which surpasseth all understanding," in Greek νοῦν, that is, intellect, as if to say, It cannot be understood what and how great this peace is. SHALL GUARD, — In Greek φρουρήσει, that is, shall guard, as if Paul promise them this guardianship, and its confidence may encourage them. But more aptly Our [translation] renders it, "shall guard": for the Hebrews often take the future for the optative, which they lack, and the copula and requires this, namely that it connect the same tenses and moods. Since therefore the optative mood has preceded, namely, "let it be known, be ye, let them be made known," it follows that this also in the same mood should be rendered by the optative: for all things both preceding and following are of one wishing. Now "shall guard," that is, like a military guard against all enemies protects; for φρούριον signifies a guard which is wont to be applied to besieged cities. YOUR HEARTS (that is, your wills, lest any temptation, any persecution, cause you to be torn away from faith, justice, virtue) AND YOUR UNDERSTANDINGS (that is, your intellects, lest you be led into some error against the faith, or into some erroneous practical judgment and adverse to good morals) IN CHRIST JESUS, — that is, through Christ, says Oecumenius. Secondly and better, "in Christ," so that namely "in Christ," that is in the faith and grace of Christ, you may remain and grow, and thus be more closely joined to Christ. Note: Paul here suggests to Christians that they oppose peace to all their enemies as an impenetrable shield, because truly this peace destroys all suggestions of the demon, flesh and world: nay, it surpasses all the threats and torments of tyrants. Whence St. Tiburtius the martyr, when he had despised all the torments of Torquatus the tyrant and executioner, added the cause of this contempt and magnanimity, saying: "All punishment is vile to us, where a pure conscience is our companion;" namely: Let this be a wall of bronze, To be conscious of nothing to oneself, to grow pale at no guilt. See what I said I Timothy I, 5. Hence it is that the devil with all effort strives to rob us of this peace, urging us to sins; or certainly to disturb it, by sending scruples, diffidences, sorrows, temptations. Note secondly: This peace first brings serenity to the mind; secondly, joy: for a secure mind is like a continual feast; thirdly, confidence, and from it magnanimity; for he who knows that he has peace with God, that he is in God's grace, nay, that he is God's friend and son, that he has God as father; a father, I say, most loving, who has the greatest care and providence for his children, and makes all things work together for their good, for the greater merit of grace and glory: he, I say, who seriously thinks upon and weighs these things, he trusts wholly in God, commits himself and all his things to Him, and does not doubt that God will direct and prosper him and his actions, and will protect him against enemies and tyrants however fierce. He therefore, certain of the protection and paternal direction of God his father, rests in it and sleeps secure, and says: Even if the broken world should fall upon him, The ruins will strike him unafraid; no one will harm me, unless he first harm God and overcome Him. Note thirdly: This peace and confidence makes us to all demons and all enemies, not only impregnable, but also terrible and formidable. "For who, says Ambrose, does not fear him whom he knows to be God's friend, who has God as protector, nay, as avenger, for whom God fights, that He may make him triumph? II Corinthians II, 14."
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8. FURTHERMORE, BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, — that is, sincere and free from hypocrisy: or more generally, so that this first epithet may embrace all the other things that follow, which he then explains in detail, "whatsoever things are true," in the truth of life, that is, conformable to Christian law, profession and perfection. Whence Theophylactus: "True," he says, that is, endowed with virtues: for every vice is a lie, says Chrysostom. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, — σεμνά, that is, grave, severe, honest, modest. Thus the Syrian, Theophylactus, Erasmus, as if to say, Which are such as to adorn you with a certain holy gravity: for these are indeed honest. For dishonest things love levity and light gestures, and flee from sanctity. St. Ambrose translates it, magnificent. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HOLY. — Our Interpreter reads ἅγια, now they read ἁγνά, that is, chaste, unless you say that holiness here, as also elsewhere, signifies chastity, as in I Cor. VII, verse 34, of a virgin it is said: That she may be holy, that is, pure and chaste, in body and spirit. He opposes, says Chrysostom, chastity to those whose god is their belly, of whom in the preceding chapter. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY. — προσφιλῆ, that is, whatsoever things are suited to nourishing or promoting friendship, concord and benevolence: for he wishes Christians to make themselves lovely to all, even to Gentiles, so that they may win them over to themselves, and thus draw them to Christ and virtue; for by this loveliness, as it were by bait, men are caught. Thus Christ and the Apostles strove to make themselves loved by all, by showing themselves benevolent, affable, courteous to all: hence Paul became all things to all men. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD FAME, — which may bring you and Christ and Christianity a good name and reputation. Ambrose translates it, whatsoever things are praiseworthy; Erasmus wrongly translates it, whatsoever things are of good omen, or are of good augury: for although the Greek εὔφημα may also signify this, yet that meaning does not suit this place. For what connection or affinity is there between things that are honest, just, holy, and things that are of good omen? εὔφημα therefore here signifies things that are of good fame, as Beza admits; for φήμη signifies fame. IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE OF DISCIPLINE, THINK ON THESE THINGS. — In the Greek there is not "of discipline," but only εἴ τις ἔπαινος, that is, if there be any praise, namely of good life and discipline, as if to say, Whatever is praiseworthy in discipline, whatever is that which keeps you in holy discipline and exercises you in it, and which commends Christian discipline to Gentiles, "these things," that is, the aforesaid, "think on," so that you may do and carry them out. Note: The Apostle commands to pursue not praise, but praiseworthy things. "Do praiseworthy things," says Chrysostom, "but not for the sake of praise."
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9. WHICH ALSO YOU HAVE LEARNED, AND RECEIVED, AND HEARD, AND SEEN IN ME, THESE DO: AND THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU. — From this it is clear that Paul prescribed to the Philippians many particular things concerning bearing, dress, table, conversation, gestures, manners and all modesty in the temple, in the streets, in banquets, especially with Gentiles, and taught them by word and example (how namely they ought to conduct themselves in all things), which things are not recorded in writing, yet he wishes them to be observed by them; therefore Scripture alone is not the norm of what is to be believed and done, as the Novationists wish. Note: He calls God "the God of peace" as the author and lover of peace, as if to say, God, who loves peace, will be with you, and will foster peace with you and make you enjoy mutual peace: nay, he will procure for you peace and the favor of the Gentiles.
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10. AT LENGTH SOMETIME (after a longer delay and torpor) you have flourished in feeling for me. — In Greek ἀνεθάλετε τὸ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ φρονεῖν, that is, you have grown green again in feeling for me. Where note: It is a metaphor from plants, which wither in winter, grow green again in spring, as if to say, Thus you, O Philippians, were in a certain coldness of charity toward me and as if withered: now in a new spring and with the spirit as if breathing upon you, you have grown green again, revived and grown vigorous. Thus Chrysostom and Theophylactus. Secondly, φρονεῖν, that is to feel, is taken for φροντίζειν, that is to care, to bear care and solicitude. Thus it is taken in Colossians III, 2, and elsewhere, as if to say, You had grown lukewarm and torpid somewhat toward me and my care, O Philippians; but now you have resumed your former affection, care, solicitude in nourishing and cherishing me. Thus Chrysostom and Theophylactus. AS ALSO YOU WERE FEELING, — ἐφ᾿ ᾧ, in which you were feeling, as if to say, In which matter you were accustomed to feel, that is to be solicitous for me, namely in procuring nourishment and the necessities of life for me. BUT YOU WERE OCCUPIED. — Because he tacitly reproached them for their torpor and blamed their negligence, here he mitigates the rebuke and excuses them, saying: "You were occupied," in Greek ἠκαιρεῖσθε, that is you did not have opportunity, namely to come to my aid, you did not have at hand what you might send. For, as Chrysostom says, you had straitened circumstances at home, you did not have wherewith to help me, want and poverty occupied you, and closed and bound your hands. Add, just as the Greek εὐκαιρεῖν signifies not only I have opportunity, but also I am wealthy and rich, as Henry Stephanus teaches from the Suda and Athenaeus: thus its contrary, ἀκαιρεῖν, signifies not only I am destitute of opportunity, but also of resources, I am poor. Thus also St. Chrysostom and Theophylactus explain it. Whence Our Author aptly renders (whatever Beza may object) "you were occupied," namely by your poverty, in sustaining yourselves and caring for your own, as if to say, I attribute not so much to your negligence, that you have sent nothing to me hitherto, as to your want. Others interpret: You did not have opportunity, that is a trustworthy messenger, by whom you might send.
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11. NOT AS IF ON ACCOUNT OF WANT, — that is, as the Syriac version translated it more clearly, not because I have suffered or suffer want, I say this, namely that I rejoice in your solicitude for me and your almsgiving. For I have learned (by exercise, use and habit) TO BE CONTENT IN THOSE THINGS WHICH I HAVE (those things which I possess, which are at hand to me) — sufficient. In Greek αὐτάρκης εἶναι, that is to be sufficient and content to myself. Note that it is proper to God to be sufficient to himself, and from this the Hebrews call him Saddai, as if סדי scedai, that is he to whom all sufficiency belongs, or he who has all sufficiency. Hence some think that from this Hebrew name די dai, that is sufficiency, the name God, and θεός and Zeus, are to be derived, so that all these are the same as the Hebrew saddai and the Greek αὐτάρκης. For God is he who in himself perfect, sufficient, blessed, needs nothing, and all other things need him; and this is what the Psalmist says, Psalm XV, 2: "I said to the Lord: Thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods." Where note that such sufficiency in God is an abundance, by which he not only suffices for himself, but also for all creatures, and abundantly supplies to each what is fitting; and this is what the Hebrew saddai signifies, that is he who has all sufficiency and abundance in such a way that he bestows and communicates it to others like a cornucopia, as if to say Most Sufficient, Most Abundant, Most Copious, from whose fullness, as John says, cap. I, we have all received. Hence St. Paul, explaining the force of the word Saddai, I Timothy cap. VI, 17: "Command the rich," etc., "not to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who giveth us all things abundantly to enjoy," that is who is saddai. Thus also R. Saadias: "Therefore," he says, "God is called Saddai, because he himself abounds, and supplies all the defects of all creatures." For this reason the Greeks translate the Hebrew Saddai now as Αὐτάρκης, now as Παντοκράτωρ, the Latins moreover as Almighty throughout. "Aquila," says Jerome to Marcella, "translated ἱκανόν, which we can take as robust and sufficiency for accomplishing all things." Paul explains the same force of the word Saddai, Acts XVII, 24: "God," he says, "who made the world and all things, etc., nor is he served by human hands as if needing something, since he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things, etc.; for in him we live, and move, and are." God is therefore called Saddai not only by this name because he is almighty and can do all things, but also because he is efficacious, and efficaciously works and does all things in all things, and by his care, prudence, wisdom, goodness all things exist, live, are moved; and because all men, and indeed all creatures, from his inexhaustible fullness, receive existence, life, operations, and all goods, as from an eternal treasure and perennial fountain. Whence Plato, distinguishing these three things ἔνδειαν, αὐτάρκειαν and ὑπέρχυσιν, that is want, sufficiency and redundance, or effusion, attributes to God alone ὑπέρχυσιν, that is the abundance and effusion of goodness. "Just as," he says, "some bowl full of wine overflows, so also God's goodness, most full in itself, overflows and pours forth into men and other creatures." The Nazianzen reproves Plato thus far only, Oration On the Son, because he seems to indicate by this example a certain natural effusion, not voluntary and free: for otherwise the Nazianzen admits this effusion in God, Oration 2 On Easter. Hence it is an excellent and divine good, and therefore a primary participation of divine virtue, perfection and happiness, if someone be αὐτάρκης, that is, self-sufficient, content with his lot and his condition, to such a degree that desiring nothing he lacks nothing, but rather communicates his lot and his possessions to others and pours them out liberally. Such a man Paul here proposes to all as an example to be imitated; and this virtue was taught to him both by continual pilgrimage and by imprisonment. The Reverend Vendevillius, recently Bishop of Tournai, a man of apostolic zeal, was accustomed to assert that he had learned this by actual fact and by like experience; who, when he was still acting as a counselor, was captured by heretics and led toward Holland, and when he was forced to live in a narrow prison on harsh food and was treated roughly, nevertheless lived in sound health, vigorous and strong; and finally, when freed from prison and returned to us, being asked how he had fared in prison, he answered that he had learned by patience what he would never have believed unless he had experienced it, that nature is content with so few things; indeed that it thrives and flourishes: "I have learned," he said, "in prison to be sufficient for myself, and to be content with few and base things, I who, accustomed to a more tender and soft life, thought it impossible for me to live thus; and so the prison was for me a notable school, a benefit, for which I render immense thanks to God." On this sufficiency I have said more at I Timothy VI, 6, and II Corinthians IX, 8.
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12. I know both how to be humbled, and how to abound; and TO BE FILLED, AND TO HUNGER; AND TO ABOUND, AND TO SUFFER WANT. — Vatablus and Erasmus translate it, I know how to be humble, I know also how to excel, that is, I know what disposition of mind I ought to have when God humbles me, and again, when He makes me excel above others; for excellence properly is opposed to humility, not to abundance. And the Greek περισσεύειν signifies not only to abound, but also to excel. But Our Author translates it better, I know both how to be humbled, and how to abound: for the Apostle does not speak of humility of mind, but of poverty. For the Hebrews call דך dac both the poor and needy, and the humble, vile and abject; and עני ani both the poor and needy, and the humble, meek and gentle: for he who is poor is as it were despised as vile, and the same person speaks humbly and gently to the proud rich. "To be humbled" therefore here signifies to be poor and in want; whence it is opposed to it, not to be proud, but "to abound"; for the Apostle treats of scarcity and abundance of things. Again, "to be humbled," that is, to fast: for the Hebrews call ענות נפש anot nephes, that is, to humble, or to afflict the soul, fasting. Whence immediately, explaining further, he adds, and to be filled, and to hunger; and to abound, and to suffer want, as if to say, I know how to bear want, I know how to bear also abundance, I know how to conduct myself in want, I know how to conduct myself also in abundance: in the former namely not to be sad, not to be cast down, to be content with little I know; in the latter not to be dissolute, not to be delicate, but to distribute what is superfluous to the poor. Thus Chrysostom and Theophylactus. EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL THINGS I AM INSTRUCTED. — In Greek μεμύημαι, that is, I am initiated into mysteries, I am imbued with sacred rites. It signifies therefore first, that in Christians every abundance as well as every want, and the whole of life is as it were a perpetual sacrifice consecrated to God, whose rite and manner Christ taught us, and teaches His holy initiates, namely secretly and inwardly, that mystery which lies hidden from all others. Secondly, this mystery is to know how to bear both poverty and wealth, how to conduct yourself both at feasts and banquets, and in want, hunger and thirst, namely so that in both cases you maintain moderation, and preserve the peace and patience of your soul; for it is not less, but rather greater virtue, if sitting at a splendid and sumptuous table you are not captivated by so many allurements and delights, you do not exceed the bounds of temperance, but keep yourself in your accustomed continence and frugality, than if invited by a rustic to dinner you are content with dark bread and lard, and seek nothing more. "It is a great and rare virtue," says Bernard, "to hunger amid feasts, to be cold amid garments, to be humbled amid honors. Hannibal knew how to hunger and suffer want, he knew not how to be filled and abound: for the delights of Capua enervated the unconquered Hannibal, and delivered him now unwarlike to be conquered by the Romans." Thirdly, just as mysteries were formerly learned by initiates both by study and by experience, and then were practiced by those same persons now sufficiently taught and instructed: so Paul signifies that he, as it were an initiate, was first taught by Christ this mystery of Christian continence both in abundance and in want of things, and now practices it and reduces it to practice. TO ABOUND AND TO SUFFER WANT, — περισσεύειν καὶ ὑστερεῖσθαι, that is to abound and to be in want, to have what is superfluous and to suffer what is lacking, as if to say: I know how to conduct myself when I abound in goods and when I am destitute of them, I know how to use what is superfluous and what is lacking. St. Gregory beautifully explains this passage, hom. 16 in Ezech.: "Is there, brethren, any art in being humbled and abounding, in being satisfied and hungering, in abounding and suffering want; that so great a preacher should insinuate that he knows these things as something great? It is truly an art and a wonderful knowledge of discipline, which must be learned by us with the whole striving of our heart. For he whom want does not break, whom it does not withdraw from giving thanks, whom it does not kindle to desire temporal things, knows how to be humbled: for in this place the Apostle says to be humbled means to endure want; for immediately on the contrary he adds: I know also to abound. For he who is not puffed up by things received, who does not twist them to the use of vain glory, who does not possess alone what he has received, but mercifully divides it with the needy, knows how to abound. He who uses received food not for the gorging of his belly, but for the restoration of strength, and gives to the flesh no more than necessity demands, knows how to be satisfied. He who bears the lack of food without murmuring, and does not do anything for the sake of necessity of virtue, whereby his soul might incur the snare of sin, knows how to hunger. He therefore whom neither abundance lifts up into pride, nor necessity stirs to covetousness, knows how to abound, knows how to suffer want. Since he immediately added: I can do all things; lest we should believe these to be words of elation, he added: In him who strengtheneth me, and what follows." Moreally, St. Chrysostom, hom. 79 in Joan., tom. III, teaches that this chiefly differs in angels from us, that they do not need so many things as we do, and therefore the fewer things we need, the more we approach them and God himself: but the more things we abound in, the more we turn toward this fleeting life, and the more unlike angels we are. For true freedom is to need nothing whatsoever; which freedom God alone possesses. The freedom next to this is to need the fewest things; which the angels have. This we both can and ought to imitate, lest we who are Christians suffer ourselves to be overcome by the Gentiles, who lived content with few things, joyful and cheerful, such as Crates, Socrates, Diogenes and others. For Socrates often, when he saw the multitude of things publicly sold, would say: "How many things I do not need!" In the ease of his living he gloried, saying: "He who eats most pleasantly needs least seasoning, and he is most near to the gods who needs the least." Laertius is witness in his account of Socrates. So Cicero, V Tuscul., relates that Anacharsis, a Scythian philosopher, wrote to his countrymen: "For me, a Scythian garment is clothing; a Scythian hide is covering; callused soles are shoes; the earth is my bed; hunger is my sauce," etc. Hear also Seneca lib. XIX, Epist. 414: "There is no reason, he says, for you to praise yourself greatly, if you have despised golden couches; for what virtue is there in despising what is superfluous, especially for a man who is a philosopher? Then admire yourself, when you have despised necessities; then I will admire you, when you have despised even coarse bread." Surely, "frugality is a great revenue (not only of wealth, but also of virtue)." For just as the most expedient way of increasing wealth is to reduce expenses, as Socrates taught Aeschines; so the most expedient way of increasing continence and virtue is to reduce delights and pleasures. Hear what Cato the Elder did: "Neither, he says, have I any building, nor any precious garment in my possession, nor a precious slave, nor a maidservant. If there is anything I use, I use it; if there is not, I am that by which each one is able to use and enjoy through me." Hear the Poet: Who is rich? he who desires nothing: and who is poor? the covetous man.
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13. I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me. — For "can," in Greek it is ἰσχύω, that is, I am able, strong, powerful. Secondly, for "strengtheneth," in Greek it is ἐνδυναμοῦντι, that is, who strengthens me inwardly, makes me able and robust, namely by suggesting to the soul, mind, and will the forces of his grace. "How great, says St. Bernard, serm. 85 in Cant., is the voice of confidence, I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me! Nothing renders the omnipotence of the Word clearer than that it makes all omnipotent, who hope in him. Finally, all things are possible to him who believes. Is he not omnipotent, to whom all things are possible? Thus the mind, if it does not presume of itself, but if it be strengthened by the Word, will surely be able to rule itself, so that all iniquity may not rule over it: thus, I say, leaning on the Word and clothed with power from on high, no force, no fraud, no enticement will be able either to cast down him who stands, or to overcome him who rules."
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14. VERILY YOU HAVE DONE WELL IN COMMUNICATING TO MY TRIBULATION,—that is, because you have shared with me your goods and resources in my tribulation, when I was in bonds, you have done well: for thus you have relieved my chains and tribulation and have as it were derived and received a part of my tribulation from my shoulders onto your own shoulders; and consequently, just as you wished to make yourselves partakers and to communicate in my tribulation and chains, so also shall you be partakers of the reward which I expect from God on account of this tribulation, and in it you shall communicate with me.
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15. NO CHURCH COMMUNICATED WITH ME IN THE MATTER OF GIVING AND RECEIVING, EXCEPT YOU ALONE.—"In the matter," that is in the reckoning and compensation of giving and receiving, namely by compensating the spiritual things received from me with their temporal gifts, or rather stipends. Thus Chrysostom and Theophylactus. He alludes to the account books, the ledgers and account books of merchants, who on one part or page of the book write down their gifts and expenditures, on the other the receipts, which they have received for their expenditures; so as to signify that there is a certain exchange as it were of goods between preachers and hearers, namely that preachers deliver the Gospel, truth and spiritual goods, while hearers repay them with food and temporal goods. Again he signifies that each man has such an account book with respect to God, as will be evident in verse 17, as if to say, From you alone, O Philippians, have I received what I may enter into the ledger of givings and receivings, which the Rabbis call מתן ומשא mattan umassa, or, as Adam more clearly says, as if to say, I have two account books, one of which contains those things which I have given (namely the preaching, labors, expenditures and goods of the Gospel): when I examine these, I see that I have given much and expended much to the Churches of Macedonia, yet have received nothing from them, except from you alone, who are at Philippi. The Apostle says this in order to remove from himself the suspicion of avarice and love of riches, lest they think that he is everywhere collecting these stipends from all, and thus enriching himself and coveting wealth.
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16. Because also to Thessalonica (in Greek, to Thessalonica, namely when I was there) once and twice (once and again) to my need (εἰς χρείαν, to relieve my want; or, as the Syriac version, that which I lacked) YOU SENT.
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17. NOT BECAUSE I SEEK THE GIFT (Syriac, not because I require a present), BUT I SEEK ABUNDANT FRUIT IN YOUR ACCOUNT.—Thus the Roman version, although the Greek texts have, to your account. Note: "Account" here, as also in verse 15, signifies a reckoning. For he persists in the metaphor of the account books which merchants make so that the reckoning of receipts and expenditures may be clear. He says therefore that each Christian must make with God such an account book not of paper, but of the thing itself, of the very deeds (which are preserved both in our memory and rather in God's memory), in which as it were on one part he writes those things which he has received from God, on the other those which he has expended in God's honor and service, such as acts of virtue, especially almsgiving, as if to say, While I silently urge you to relieve my want, O Philippians, I seek not my own, but your gains, so that you may accumulate for yourselves great works and merits of almsgiving, which you may write in the ledger of your account with God to be made, as expended for God's sake, and which you may reckon to God himself in your account as your credit, so that he himself may repay these to you and settle them with eternal reward. Thus Cosmas the Medici, who was the first of the great Dukes of Tuscany, expended much on the poor, and when someone from his household called him excessively liberal, he replied that he had never been able in the book of accounts to be made with God to reach the point where he could pay what he owed to God: for the more he gave, the more he received, and he always found himself a debtor, and God a creditor. He had learned this from St. Gregory of Nazianzus, who in his Oration On the Love of the Poor says: "You will never overcome God's liberality and beneficence, even though you have made a loss of all your resources, even though you have added yourself to your resources. For this very thing, to receive, is God giving something to us." And Gregory of Nazianzus adds two remarkable similitudes: one of a shadow, which can never go beyond the body, since it advances together with the body's advance; the other of the head, beyond which the other members can never grow, since however much they may increase, the head likewise rises up and remains above.
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I have all things. — In Greek, ἀπέχω, that is, I have received those things which you sent to me as a tax and stipend owed to my preaching among you. Thus Theophylactus. And I abound. — Your alms have plainly relieved my poverty, so that now I abound in the necessities of life. For thus he explains himself when he adds: I am filled, — I am satisfied. St. Cyprian, explaining the Lord's Prayer, reads, I shall be satisfied, that is to say, All my want, all my hunger, all my need, all my desire has been fulfilled. HAVING RECEIVED FROM EPAPHRODITUS THOSE THINGS YOU SENT, A SWEET ODOUR, AN OFFERING ACCEPTED, PLEASING TO GOD. — Note: He calls alms a "sacrifice" and offering, not a proper one, but a metaphorical one, as is evident. Secondly, this "sacrifice" he calls by apposition "a sweet odour;" for he alludes to the ancient sacrifices, which ascended to God through fire and smoke, and therefore God was said to smell them as if they were offered to him, as if they gave forth a sweet odour and breathed upon the nostrils of God. Whence also incense was placed upon them, both to excite a sweet and pleasant odour, and so that through incense (by which God is worshipped in the custom of all nations) it might be signified that they were offered and dedicated to God, that is to say, Alms are a fragrant sacrifice to God and to Christians. Your alms, like incense or a most sweet perfume, or rather like a victim and sacrifice, which with incense through fire and smoke ascends to God with a most sweet odour, were most pleasing and delightful to me, and not only to me, but to God himself. Thus in Hebrews XIII, 16, it is said: "Do not forget to do good and to impart to others: for by such sacrifices God's favour is obtained."
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19. MAY GOD FILL ALL YOUR DESIRE. — The Greek texts vary here: some read χαράν, that is, joy, and thus it may appear that Our Author read it thus, so that by metonymy through joy he understood desire; for our joy is not otherwise fulfilled than when our desire is fulfilled; others read χάριν, that is, grace; others and more χρείαν, that is, need. Whence the Syriac, Vatablus and others translate, And may God himself fill all your need according to his abundance, that is to say, You have deprived yourselves of those things which you sent to me, and from your scarcity and poverty you have fulfilled my want; I in turn beseech God that he may supply your need, indeed all your desire. For this is what alms merit, and it is fitting that, if we are liberal toward the poor for God's sake, God in turn be much more liberal toward us, so that we lack nothing, as I said in II Corinthians IX, 6. According to his riches, — that is to say, It is easy for God to repay you, to enrich you, to fulfill your goods; for he is most rich. Thus Chrysostom. IN GLORY, — that is, with glory. Thus Vatablus. Or by simple Hebraism, "in glory," that is, gloriously, that is to say, May God make you glorious both by eternal celebrity and glory before God, and in the present before men, so that they, seeing your poverty and munificence, and on the other hand God's providence and liberality toward you, so that you lack nothing; may glorify and celebrate both your virtue and the goodness and magnificence of the God of Christians. In Christ Jesus. — That is, through Christ Jesus. Secondly, and more sublimely, in the mind of Paul, that is to say, According to the riches of glory, which he showed in Christ and Christ's Church, and which befit Christ the only-begotten Son of God, and his disciples and sons, namely Christians.
The Concluding Blessing: Now to God and Our Father Be Glory Forever and Ever To God and our Father be glory forever and ever. — O that such a blessed lot might fall upon us, that we might say this perpetually: What are, how immense are, how eternal are "forever and ever!" What are, how delightful are, how glorious are in the heavens "the holy of holies!"
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21. SALUTE EVERY SAINT IN CHRIST, — that is, Christian, who is sanctified by baptism through Christ, and by profession and Christian calling is holy, as I have already said above.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
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Supra proponit eis exempla sequenda, hic, per admonitionem moralem, ostendit qualiter se debeant habere. Et primo ostendit qualiter se habeant in futurum; secundo commendat eos de praeterito, ibi gavisus sum autem, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo monet ad persistendum in iam habito; secundo ad proficiendum in melius, ibi gaudete in domino semper, et cetera. Iterum prima dividitur in duas partes. Quia primo inducit ad perseverandum in generali; secundo ponit speciales modos ad singulares personas, ibi Euchodiam rogo, et cetera. Circa primum primo commemorat ad eos suum affectum; secundo ponit monitionem, ibi sic state, et cetera. Affectum autem suum commendat quintupliciter. Primo secundum fidem ostendens eos sibi dilectos; unde dicit fratres, scilicet per fidem. Matth. XXIII, 8: omnes vos fratres estis. Secundo per charitatem; unde dicit charissimi. I Cor. X, 14: charissimi mihi, et cetera. Tertio secundum desiderium; unde dicit desideratissimi. Supra: testis est mihi Deus quomodo cupiam, et cetera. Et dico desideratissimi, quia desidero vos, vel quia me desideratis. Quarto per gaudium; unde dicit gaudium meum. Et hoc, scilicet quia estis boni. Prov. X, 1: filius sapiens laetificat patrem, et cetera. Quinto per rationem gaudii; unde dicit corona mea. I Thess. c. II, 19: quae est enim spes nostra aut gaudium, aut corona gloriae, nonne vos? et cetera. Deinde cum dicit sic state, etc., ponit monitionem de perseverantia, dicens sic state, etc., id est sicut ego perseverate; vel sic: sicut statis. Matth. X, 22: qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. Deinde cum dicit Euchodiam rogo, etc., singulares monitiones ponit. Et primo de concordia, secundo de sollicitudine adiutorii, ibi etiam rogo et te. Hae duae mulieres sanctae ministrabant sanctis in civitate Philippensi; et forte erat aliqua discordia inter eas, ideo eas ad concordiam revocat. II Cor. ult. XIII, 11: idem sapite. Deinde cum dicit etiam rogo et te, etc., quemdam rogat ut adiuvaret quasdam personas. Et dicit compar, quia socius erat praedicationis eius. Prov. XVIII, 19: frater qui iuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas fortis. Adiuva illas, et cetera.
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Et ad hoc rogo omnes, quorum nomina, et cetera. Quod ponit ne si alios non nominaret, turbarentur; quasi dicat: non est magnum si non scribo omnium nomina, quia sunt scripta in meliori loco. Matth. V, 12: gaudete et exultate, et cetera. Liber vitae secundum Glossam est praedestinatio sanctorum, et hoc est verum secundum rem, sed differt ratione. Sciendum est autem, quod olim erat consuetudo, quod qui ordinabantur ad aliquod officium, vel dignitatem, scribebantur in matricula, sicut milites et senatores, qui palatio conscripti erant. Omnes autem sancti praedestinati eliguntur a Deo ad magnum, scilicet ad vitam aeternam. Et haec ordinatio est praedestinatio. Conscriptio huius ordinationis dicitur liber vitae: haec conscriptio est in memoria divina, quia inquantum ordinat, praedestinat. Inquantum vero immobiliter scit, dicitur esse praescriptio. Firma ergo notitia de praedestinatis dicitur liber vitae. Sed numquid aliqui inde delentur? Sciendum est, quod aliqui sunt scripti simpliciter, aliqui secundum quid. Sunt enim aliqui praedestinati a Deo, ut habituri simpliciter vitam aeternam, et isti sunt scripti indelebiliter. Aliqui ut habeant vitam aeternam non in se, sed in sua causa, inquantum ordinantur ad iustitiam praesentem, et tales dicuntur deleri de libro vitae, quando excedunt a praesenti iustitia.
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Deinde cum dicit gaudete in domino, etc., hortatur eos ad proficiendum in melius, et primo ordinat eorum animum ad proficiendum in melius; secundo actum eorum, ibi de caetero, et cetera. Animum autem ordinat tripliciter, et primo quantum ad spirituale gaudium; secundo quantum ad spiritualem quietem, ibi nihil solliciti, etc.; tertio quantum ad pacem, ibi et pax, et cetera. Circa primum primo describit quale debeat esse nostrum gaudium; secundo ostendit gaudii causam, ibi dominus prope, et cetera. Necessarium est enim cuilibet volenti proficere, quod habeat spirituale gaudium. Prov. XVII, 22: animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit, et cetera. Conditiones autem quatuor veri gaudii tangit apostolus, et primo quod debet esse rectum, quod est quando est de proprio bono hominis, quod non est quid creatum, sed Deus, Ps. LXXII, 28: mihi adhaerere Deo bonum est, et cetera. Tunc autem rectum est quando in domino. Ideo dicit in domino. Neh. VIII, v. 10: gaudium domini est fortitudo vestra. Item continuum; unde dicit semper. I Thess. ult.: semper gaudete. Quod fit quando non interrumpitur peccato: tunc enim est continuum. Aliquando vero interrumpitur per tristitiam temporalem, quod significat imperfectionem gaudii. Cum enim quis perfecte gaudet, non interrumpitur eius gaudium, quia parum curat de re parum durante. Et ideo dicit semper. Item multiplicatum debet esse; si enim gaudes de Deo, imminet tibi gaudere de eius incarnatione. Lc. II, 10: evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quia natus est, et cetera. Item ut gaudeas de actione. Prov. XXI, 15: gaudium est iusto facere iudicium, et cetera. Imminet etiam tibi gaudium de contemplatione. Sap. c. VIII, 16: non habet amaritudinem conversatio illius. Item si gaudes de bono proprio, imminet tibi gaudere similiter de bono aliorum. Item si de praesenti, imminet etiam de futuro; et ideo dicit iterum, et cetera. Item debet esse moderatum, ne scilicet effluat per voluptates, sicut facit gaudium mundi. Et ideo dicit modestia vestra, etc.; quasi dicat: ita sit moderatum gaudium vestrum, quod non vertatur in dissolutionem. Iudith ult.: populus erat iucundus secundum faciem sanctorum, et cetera. Prov. XII, v. 11: qui suavis est, vivit in moderationibus.
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Et dicit nota sit omnibus hominibus; quasi dicat: vita vestra sic moderata sit in exterioribus, ut nullius offendat aspectum: impediret enim conversationem vestram. Deinde cum dicit dominus enim prope est, tangitur causa gaudii. Homo enim gaudet de propinquitate amici. Dominus quidem prope est praesentia maiestatis. Act. XVII, v. 27: non longe est ab unoquoque. Item est prope propter propinquitatem carnis. Eph. c. II, 13: qui eratis longe, facti estis prope. Item est prope per inhabitantem gratiam. Iac. IV, 8: appropinquate Deo, et appropinquabit vobis. Item per exauditionis clementiam. Ps. CXLIV, 18: prope est dominus invocantibus eum. Is. XIV, 1: prope est, ut veniat tempus eius, et dies eius non elongabuntur, et cetera. Deinde cum dicit nihil solliciti, etc., ostendit quod mens nostra debet esse quieta; et primo ostendit superfluam sollicitudinem; secundo ostendit quid loco eius in mente succedat, ibi sed in omni oratione, et cetera. Et satis convenienter subdit nihil solliciti, etc., ad hoc quod dixerat: dominus prope est; quasi dicat: ipse omnia tribuet, unde non necesse est quod sitis solliciti. Matth. VI, 25: ne solliciti sitis animae vestrae quid manducetis, neque corpori vestro, quid induamini, et cetera. Sed contra, quia dicitur Rom. XII, 8: qui praeest in sollicitudine. Respondeo. Dicendum est, quod sollicitudo quandoque importat diligentiam quaerendi quod deest, et hoc est commendabile, et opponitur negligentiae; quandoque anxietatem animi cum defectu spei et timore de obtinendo id, circa quod sollicitatur, et hanc prohibet dominus Matth. VI, et hic apostolus, quia non debet desperare quin dominus det necessaria. Sed loco sollicitudinis debemus habere recursum ad Deum. I Petr. ult.: omnem sollicitudinem proiicientes in eum, quoniam ipsi est cura de vobis. Et hoc fit orando. Et ideo dicit sed in omni, et cetera. Et convenienter postquam dixit dominus prope est, subdit de petitione. Novo enim domino venienti porriguntur petitiones. Et ponit quatuor quae necessaria sunt in qualibet oratione. Oratio enim importat ascensum intellectus in Deum. Et ideo dicit in omni oratione. Eccli. XXXV, 21: oratio humiliantis se nubes penetrabit, et cetera. Item debet esse cum fiducia impetrandi, et hoc ex Dei misericordia. Dan. IX, 18: neque enim in iustificationibus nostris prosternimus preces ante faciem tuam, sed in miserationibus tuis multis, et cetera. Et ideo dicit obsecratione, quae est contestatio per Dei gratiam et eius sanctitatem, et ideo se humiliantis est. Prov. c. XVIII, 23: cum obsecratione loquitur pauper. Et hoc fit cum dicimus: per passionem et crucem tuam, et cetera. Quia vero ingratus de beneficiis acceptis, indignus est ut alia accipiat, ideo subdit cum gratiarum actione. I Thess. ult.: in omnibus gratias agite. Et tunc proponit petitionem. Et ideo dicit petitiones vestrae. Matth. VII, 7: petite, et accipietis. Et haec quatuor si bene consideremus, habent omnes orationes Ecclesiae. Primo enim invocatur Deus; secundo commemoratur divinum beneficium; tertio petitur beneficium; quarto ponitur obsecratio: per dominum nostrum, et cetera.
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Sed notandum quod dicit petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum. Numquid dominus nescit hoc? Ideo hoc tripliciter exponitur in Glossa. Primo innotescant, id est, approbentur ante Deum, et appareant quasi dignae et sanctae. Ps. CXL, 2: dirigatur, domine, oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo, et cetera. Vel innotescant nobis ipsis, quod semper sint apud Deum; quasi dicat: non oretis propter favorem populi. Matth. VI, 6: tu autem cum oraveris, intra in cubiculum tuum, et clauso ostio, ora patrem tuum in abscondito, et cetera. Vel innotescant his qui sunt apud Deum, id est, Angelis, per quorum ministerium deferuntur Deo, non quasi ignoranti, sed quia intercedunt pro nobis. Apoc. VIII, 4: ascendit fumus incensorum de orationibus sanctorum de manu Angeli coram Deo, et cetera. Deinde cum dicit et pax, etc., ordinat animum quantum ad pacem per illa supradicta dispositum. Et hanc per modum orantis optat. Pax, secundum Augustinum, est tranquillitas ordinis, perturbatio enim ordinis est destructio pacis. Haec ordinis tranquillitas tripliciter consideratur. Primo prout est in principio ordinis, scilicet in Deo. Rom. XIII, v. 2: quae a Deo sunt, ordinata sunt, et cetera. Ab isto profundo, in quo est pax, derivatur primo et perfectius in beatos, in quibus nulla est perturbatio, et nec culpae, nec poenae, et consequenter derivatur ad sanctos viros. Et quanto est magis sanctus, tanto minus patitur perturbationem mentis. Ps. CXVIII, 165: pax multa diligentibus legem tuam, et non est illis scandalum, sed perfecta est in beatis. Is. ult.: ecce ego declinabo super eam quasi fluvium pacis, et cetera. Quia vero cor nostrum ab omni perturbatione non potest esse alienum nisi per Deum, oportet quod per ipsum fiat. Unde dicit Dei. Et hoc secundum quod consideratur in ipso principio, exuperat omnem sensum creatum, quia, ut dicitur I Tim. ult.: lucem habitat inaccessibilem. Iob XXXVI, 26: ecce Deus magnus vincens scientiam nostram, et cetera. Et secundum quod est in patria, superat omnem sensum Angelorum; sed secundum quod est in sanctis in via, exuperat omnem sensum humanum non habentium gratiam. Apoc. II, v. 17: vincenti dabo manna absconditum, et dabo illi calculum, et cetera.
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Haec ergo pax custodiat corda vestra, id est affectus vestros, ut in nullo declinetis a bono. Prov. IV, 23: omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit. Item intelligentias vestras, scilicet ut in nullo devietis a vero. Et hoc in Christo Iesu. Per cuius scilicet charitatem conservatur affectus a malo, et per cuius fidem intellectus perseverat in vero. Deinde cum dicit de caetero, etc., ordinat actum, et primo inducit eos ad bene agendum, ubi ponit actionis obiectum, scilicet bonum quod agitur, secundo motivum actus, tertio actum, quarto fructum actus. Haec quatuor sunt hic. Obiectum autem boni actus, vel est obiectum cognitionis, vel affectionis. Quantum ad intellectum est verum, quantum ad affectum est bonum. Et ideo dicit de caetero, id est ex quo sic estis firmati, cogitate quae sunt vera per fidem. Zach. VIII, v. 19: pacem et veritatem diligite, et cetera. Quantum autem ad affectum, sciendum est, quod quaedam sunt de necessitate virtutis, quaedam superaddita. De necessitate virtutis sunt tria. Primo ut integer sit in se; et quantum ad hoc dicit quaecumque pudica, id est casta. Iac. III, 17: quae desursum est sapientia, primum quidem pudica est, et cetera. Item quod sit directus ad proximum; unde dicit quaecumque iusta, et cetera. Matth. V, 6: beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam, et cetera. Item ordinatus ad Deum; unde dicit sancta. Lc. I, 75: serviamus illi in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris, et cetera. Obiecta autem necessitati superaddita sunt duo, primo quod sit inductivum ad amicitiam; secundo quod sit conservativum bonae famae. Quantum ad primum dicit quaecumque amabilia, id est, quae inducunt ad mutuam amicitiam. Eccle. VII, 39: non te pigeat visitare infirmum. Ex his enim in dilectione firmaberis. Prov. XVIII, 24: vir amicabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.
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Quantum ad secundum dicit quaecumque bonae famae. Multa enim possent fieri cum bona conscientia, quae tamen propter famam sunt dimittenda. Eccli. XLI, 15: curam habe de bono nomine. Hoc enim magis permanebit, quam mille thesauri magni et pretiosi. Motivum ad operandum est duplex. Primo inclinatio interioris habitus; secundo exterior disciplina seu instructio. Quantum ad primum dicit si qua virtus, id est habitus virtutis est in vobis, scilicet inducat vos ad hoc. Eccli. XLIV, 6: divites in virtute pulchritudinis studium habentes, pacificantes in domibus suis. Quantum ad secundum dicit si qua laus, id est laudabilis disciplina, scilicet est in vobis, facite bona. Ps. CXVIII, 66: bonitatem et disciplinam et scientiam doce me, et cetera. Et exponit qualis sit ista disciplina, dicens haec cogitate, scilicet quae didicistis me docente. Matth. XI, 29: discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde, etc., et I Thess. c. II, 13: cum accepissetis a nobis verbum auditus Dei, accepistis illud non ut verbum hominum, sed sicut est vere verbum Dei, et cetera. Et vidistis, per exempla. Sic enim patet motivum actus et obiectum, quia disciplina habetur per doctrinam. Et oportet quod primo capiatur; unde dicit haec cogitate.
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Item quod ei assentiatur; unde dicit et didicistis et accepistis. Item habetur per auditum et visum; unde dicit quae audistis et vidistis. Bonus actus est duplex, scilicet unus interior, qui ponitur ibi haec cogitate, I Tim. IV, 15: haec meditare; exterior ibi agite, Is. I, 16: quiescite agere perverse, discite benefacere, et cetera. Fructus est Deus, ibi et Deus pacis, etc.; quasi dicat: si hoc feceritis, erit vobiscum Deus. II Cor. ult.: pacem habete, et Deus pacis et dilectionis erit vobiscum.
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Superius ostendit apostolus qualiter fideles se debeant habere in futurum, hic commendat eos de praeterito sibi impenso beneficio. Et primo ponit commendationem; secundo terminat epistolam in oratione et salutatione, ibi Deus autem, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo commendat eos de beneficio impenso; secundo beneficium diffusius exponit, ibi non quasi, et cetera. Item prima pars dividitur in tres particulas, quia primo ponit gaudium conceptum ex eorum beneficio; secundo commendat eorum beneficium, ibi quoniam tandem, etc.; tertio excusat tarditatem, ibi occupati, et cetera. Dicit ergo: moneo ut gaudeatis, sed ego gavisus sum propter ea quae fecistis, non in rebus, sed in domino. Hab. III, 18: ego autem in domino gaudebo, et cetera. Gavisus sum, inquam, vehementer, quia propter filios meos. Deinde ponitur materia gaudii, ibi quoniam tandem, et cetera. Bona opera sunt opera misericordiae, et dicuntur flores, quia sicut ex flore fructus provenit, ita ex eis fruitio vitae beatae percipitur. Eccli. XXIV, 23: flores mei fructus honoris et honestatis. Quando ergo opus bonum intermittitur, et postea resumitur, dicitur reflorere. Isti autem aliquando providerant apostolo, et iterum nunc providerunt; ideo dicit eos refloruisse. Et hoc exponit, cum subdit pro me sentire, id est mihi compati. Supra I, 7: sicut est mihi iustum hoc sentire pro omnibus vobis, et cetera. I Mach. X, 20: quae nostra sunt sentias nobiscum, ut conserves amicitias ad nos, et cetera. Sicut et olim sentiebatis, scilicet quando mihi providistis. Et hoc tandem aliquando, quia licet tarde, tamen aliquando fecistis. Rom. I, 10: si quomodo tandem aliquando prosperum iter habeam, et cetera. Deinde cum dicit occupati, etc., excusat tarditatem; quasi dicat: non imputo negligentiae vel culpae, sed necessitati, quia eratis occupati propter tribulationes quas passi estis. Eccli. XL, 1: occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et cetera.
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Deinde cum dicit non quasi propter, etc., beneficium exponit, et primo causam gaudii; secundo beneficium quo floruerunt, ibi scitis autem et vos; tertio commemorat beneficium praesens, ibi habeo autem omnia. Item primo excludit causam gaudii aestimatam; secundo declarat propriam mentis constantiam, ibi ego enim didici, etc.; tertio approbat beneficentiam, ibi verumtamen bene fecistis. Dicit ergo: non gaudeo propter penuriam a vobis propulsam, quae gravis erat. Is. XLVIII, 10: elegi te in camino paupertatis. Sed tamen non deprimit animum, nisi eorum qui in divitiis delectantur, aut qui gloriantur in substantia. Et hoc ideo, quia apostolus non tristatur de paupertate, cuius ratio est constantia mentis eius, quam primo ponit, secundo causam eius, ibi omnia possum, et cetera. Item primo ponit constantiam in speciali casu, secundo generaliter in omnibus, ibi ubique, et cetera. Dicit ergo: paupertatem non timeo, quia didici, et cetera. Nihil demonstrat ita mentem sapientis perfecti, sicut quod sciat uti quolibet statu. Sicut enim est bonus dux qui in quolibet exercitu operatur secundum exigentiam eius, et coriarius qui ex quolibet corio facit optimos sotulares: sic ille perfectus est qui scit uti quolibet statu, ut si sit in magno, non elevetur, et si in minimo, non deiiciatur. Et ideo dicit didici, et cetera. Is. l, 5: dominus Deus aperuit mihi aurem, ego autem non contradico, retrorsum non abii, et cetera. Et hoc sufficit, si parum habeo; si multum, scio me contemperare. Et ideo se exponit, dicens scio humiliari. Humilitas autem quandoque dicit virtutem quamdam, Lc. XIV, v. 12, et XVIII, 14: qui se humiliat, exaltabitur, quandoque deiectionem, Ps. CIV, 18: humiliaverunt in compedibus pedes eius. Et sic loquitur hic, dicens scio humiliari, id est, abiectionem sustinere moderate, sicut oportet. Et quia homines exaltantur per divitias et deprimuntur per paupertatem, ideo exaltationem vocat abundantiam. Et in utroque est periculum, quia ex abundantia erigitur animus contra Deum, ex paupertate deiicitur. Et ideo dicitur Prov. XXX, 8: paupertatem et divitias ne dederis mihi. Sed apostolus loquitur melius, quia virtute in utroque scit uti, et hoc ubique, id est in omni loco, negotiis, statibus, et conditionibus, institutus sum. II Cor. c. VI, 4: in omnibus exhibeamus nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros, et cetera. Deinde cum dicit omnia possum, etc., ponit causam suae constantiae, dicens omnia possum, quasi dicat: non possem hos insultus sustinere, nisi manu Dei me confortante. Ez. III, 14: manus domini erat mecum. Is. XL, 31: qui sperant in domino, habebunt fortitudinem, assument pennas sicut aquilae, et cetera. Sed numquid superfluit quod misimus, cum scias egere?
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Non, quia licet sciam penuriam pati, quod est virtus, tamen non debet mihi subventio subtrahi. Rom. XII, 13: necessitatibus sanctorum communicantes. Hebr. X, 34: nam et vinctis compassi estis. Et sic patet causa gaudii. Secundo commemorat praeteritum beneficium, ibi scitis autem. A quibusdam enim nihil accipiebat, scilicet Corinthiis et Thessalonicensibus, et quia Corinthii erant avari, et cum turbatione ministrassent, et quia Thessalonicenses erant otio dediti, laborabat, dans eis exemplum laborandi. Isti vero erant boni in absentia et praesentia. Unde dicit II Cor. XI, 8: alias Ecclesias expoliavi, accipiens stipendium ad ministerium vestrum.
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In ratione dati spiritualis et accepti temporalis. I Cor. IX, 11: si nos vobis spiritualia seminavimus, non magnum est si nos carnalia vestra metamus? Quia et Thessalonicam, et cetera. Et hoc est argumentum, quod Papa potest ab una Ecclesia accipere in subsidium aliarum, non autem sine quacumque causa. Sciendum est autem, quod cum quis dat aliquid alicui, duo sunt consideranda, scilicet substantia muneris et meritum dantis. Qui gaudet de temporalibus, gaudet de substantia muneris, nec quaerit nisi dantem, et hic est mercenarius; qui autem quaerit dantis meritum, quaerit fructum virtutis et iustitiae, et talis est pastor.
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Fructum, inquam, qui abundat in ratione vestra. Ratio dicitur dupliciter. Vel secundum quod est virtus animae, et sic omnis virtus est rationis. Rom. XII, 1: rationabile obsequium vestrum. Quandoque est ratiocinatio et computatio. Matth. XVIII, 23: qui voluit rationem ponere cum servis suis. Ideo dicit abundantiam in ratione, quia plus dabant, quam tenerentur; quia quidam tantum in praesentia, sed isti etiam mittebant Romam. Habeo autem quae misistis.
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Repletus sum acceptis, scilicet his, quae misistis in odorem, et cetera. Lev. III, 5 et IV, 31: offerte holocaustum in odorem suavitatis domino. Est enim odor Deo suavis devotio offerentium, et inter omnes hostias multum valent eleemosynae. Hebr. XIII, 16: beneficentiae autem et communionis nolite oblivisci, talibus enim hostiis promeretur Deus.
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Deinde cum dicit Deus autem, etc., finit epistolam in oratione, et primo ponit orationem, Deus autem meus. Unus Deus est omnium per creationem et potentiam, sed meus, quia singulariter ei servio. Rom. I, 9: testis enim est mihi Deus cui servio. Impleat, etc., quia implestis meum. Et hoc potest dominus, quia abundat secundum divitias. Rom. X, 12: idem dominus omnium, dives in omnes qui invocant illum, et cetera. Et hoc verum in gloria, scilicet sua, quia ibi implebitur totum desiderium. Ps. XVI, 15: satiabor cum apparuerit gloria tua. Ps. CII, v. 5: qui replet in bonis desiderium tuum. Et hoc est in Christo, id est per Christum. II Petr. I, 4: per quem maxima nobis et pretiosa donavit. Et de omnibus his sit Deo, Trinitati, et patri nostro gloria. I Tim.
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I, 17: soli Deo honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum. Saeculum est spatium seu duratio generationis aut memoriae hominum.
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Posita primo oratione, et secundo gratiarum actione, tertio ponit salutationem, dicens salutate omnem sanctum, id est fideles in Christo, quia per Christum sanctificati. Hebr. XIII, 12: ut sanctificaret per suum sanguinem populum, extra portam passus est. Maxime, et cetera. Et per hoc intelligitur quod multos de familia Caesaris convertit. Supra c. I, 13: ut vincula mea manifesta in Christo fierent in omni praetorio, et caeteris hominibus, et cetera. Quamvis autem Matth. XI, 8 dicatur: qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt, tamen ad promovendum bonos, et impediendum malos, videtur licitum sanctis in curiis regum commorari, sed non propter delicias et concupiscentiam voluptatum.
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Et dicit qui de Caesaris domo sunt, ut eos animet ad gaudium et ad fidem.
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Deinde ponit suam salutationem de manu sua, dicens gratia domini, et cetera.
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1. Itaque fratres mei charissimi et desideratissimi. Prosequitur exhortalionem cum amica et honorabili allucutione, laudem eoium continente. Graece, dilecti et desiderati: quae tamen in Graeco nomina verbalia sunt, non participia, quasi dicat amabiles et desiderabiles: id est, quos merito amet, quorumque praesentia frui desideret. Sic enim dixit cap. 1. Testis mihi est Deus, quomodo cupi(*m omnes vos in visceribus Jesu Christi.
Gaudium meum, et corona mea. Vocat eos gaudium suum, quia de eorum fidei constantia gaudebat: quanquam hoc gaudium adhuc augeri vult per eorum profectum. [Implete, inquit, gaudium meum cap. 2. Coronam autem suam eos vocat, quod essent, vel ornamertum capitis ejus, de quo gloriari posset: vel potius, quia pro labore' praedicationis evangelicae, qua eos ad Christum adduxerat, coronam a Deo expectabat: de qua 2 Tim. 4. Reposita est mihi corona justitiae, quam reddet mihi Dominus in illa die. Similis locus est 1 Thess. 2. in fine.
Sic state in Domino, carissimi. Hoc est: Quod panlo ante admonui, ut sitis unanimes in fide Christi: in eo persevevate. Aut, secundum Graecos, sicut hactenus immoti et firmi statis in fide, sic deinceps persistite ob spem gloviae a Christo expectandae. Repetit autem, carissimi, sive dilecti, quo magis exprimat amoris sui erga eos affectum.
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2. Euodiam rogo et Syntychem deprecor, Id ipsum sapere in Domino. Legendum Euodiam. Sic enim non solum habent Graeci et Syri codices, verum etiam legunt veteres Latini expositores suffragantibus item manuscriptis exemplaribus nonnullis et editione Ciementina. Porro in Graeco ejusdem verbi repetitio est: Euodiam obsecro, et Syntychen obsecro: vel: Euodiam hortor, et Syntychen hortor. Apparet autem has duas feminas apud Philipjenses fuisse primarias ecclesiae cooperatrices, inter quas aliquid dissidii coortum fuerit. Eas rogat et hortatur, ut idem sapiant, sive sentiant, in Domino: id est, ut concordes sint in charitate Christi. Idem sapere pro eo, quod est concordes esse, jam supra legimus cap. 2. et 3. et alibi.
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3. Etiam rogo et te germane compar. Etiam, Graece vat, Latinis quoque receptum afiirmar.di adverbium est, non conjunctio copulans. Proinde alii clarius vertunt: Sane rogo et te compar ger-.Aane. Est autem hic verbum a superiore diversum, epcoTdi, quod tantum rogo significat. Jam pro eo, quod Latina ver sto habet, germane compar, vel, recto ordiie, compar germane, Graece est ouCuys yvTfjois: quod ad verbum sonare videtur prima fronte: conjux germane, vel feminino genere, conjux germana. Nam Graeci vocativi, licet terminationem habeant masculinara, tamen etiam femininum genus admittunt: sicut Erasmus probat in annotationibus. Hinc igitur orta celebris quaestio de uxore Pauli. Quod enim uxorem habuerit, eamque adhuc eo tempore viventem, quo hanc scripsit epistolam, ex isto potissimum loco, ubi eam alloqui videtur, colligunt quidam neoterici: adeo ut Faber Stapulensis ausus fuerit vetere: ingenua conjux. Quam etiam versionem suam Jate mordicusque defendit in comment. Erasmus quoque, licet in annotationibus ambi^ue disputet de hac rc: vertere tamen non dubitavit, feminino genere, compar germana. Quod etapprobatinparaphrasi, Paulum ita loquentem faciens: Quin et te rogo vera, germauaque conjux. Eadem interpretatio Cajetano et Catharino placuit. Quorum rationes, seu conjecturas apud ipsos videre est, neque enim magni sunt momenti: ut nec illae, quas Erasmus et Faber pro hac sententia adferunt. Quod enim ad Graecum textum attinet: neutxUm vocabulum proprie femininum est, sed alterum quidem commune, alterum vero masculinum: quod licet Attico more pro feminino possit usurpari, non tamen verisimile est, a Paulo faclum id esse, ut qui imperitus erat sermone, nec Atticismis utebatur. Certe ad tollendam sermonis ambiguitatem potius dixisset pTjaia quam yv^ois, si mulierem se alloqui significari voluisset: quomodo Aristoteles Atheniensis philosophus etiam extra amphiboliam lib. 9. hist. animal. cap. 32. dixit yuvaTxa yvrjotav, non Yvigoiov, significare volens uxorem germanam et legitimam. Unde non inepte (quod putat ErasmusJ commentarium de uxore Theophylactus refellit, cum dicit, Apostolum, si suam uxorem intelligi voluisset, debuisse dbere genere feminino yvr^ota o6Cuys. Pariter autem, quamvis non eadem ratione, commentariam illum reprobant Chrysostomus, Theodoretus et Oecumenius, stultum esse dicentes, in his verbis suspicari carnale conjugium Pauli. Quin et catena Genevensis, etsi ex haereticis auctoribus conflata, versionem tamen femininam, una cum expositione de uxore Pauli, rejicit, et contrarias ratinnculas dissolvit. His^ adde, quod multi veterum diserte negant Paulum uxorem habuisse, ut Tertull. lib. 1. ad uxoretn cap. 3. et in libro de monogamia cap. 3. et 8., Hilarius in Psalm. 127., Epiphanius haeresi 58., quae est Valesiorum, Ambrosius in exhort. ad virgines, Hieronymus lib. 1. contra Jovin. et in epist. 22., quae est ad Eustoch. de custodia virg.. Augustinus lib. de gratia et lib. arbit. cap. 4., lib. de bono conjug. cap. 10., lib. 1. de adult. conj. cap. 4. et de opere mon. cap. 4. Nec quisquam Patrum invenitur diversum sensisse, uno excepto Clemente Alexandrino, qui lib. 3. Stromatum circa medium. cum ex hoc Joco. tum ex illo 1 Cor. 9., ubi scriptum est: Nunquid non habemus potestatem sororem mulierem circumducendi etc., probare se putat Paulum uxoratum fuisse, tametsi continentem. Quam ejusdem auctoris sententiam referunt quidem Eusebius lib. 3. hist. eccl. cap. 24. et Nicephorus lib. 2. cap. 44. et ante eos tacito nomine auctoris Origenes, exponens illud Rom. 1. Paulus servus Jesu Christi. Sed ita referunt, ut tamen non approbent. Verum unius Clementis presbyteri (cujus opera a Gelasio pontifice censentur inter apocrypha) privata opinio caeterorum omnium Patrum constanti assertioni praeponderare non potest. Nam quod ad locum attinet epistolae 1. ad Cor. 9., de eo plenr respondimu.s in ejus epistolae expositione. Et quidem Paulum vitam egisse cielibem ex ejusdem epistolae cap. 7. luculente monstravimus. ubi ait: Volo omnes homines esse, sicut meipsum. Et rursum: Dico non nuptis et viduis: bonum est illis, si sic permaneant sicut et ego. Nec vero quisquam adeo vecors erit, ut dicat post illud tempus (scriptae sunt enim epistolae ad Corinth. multo ante epistolam ad Philipp.) Paulum accepisse uxorem; nam id non solum indignum est, de eo cogitare, tanto Apostolo, jamque aetate provecto ac senescente: verum etiam pugnasset cum ipsiusmet exhort.itione ad Cor. facta, in qua suum illis proposuerat exerrplum ad continentiam perpetuam. Opponitur quidem et Ignatii martyris auctoritas, in cujus epistola ad Philadelphios habeatur, Petrum et Paulum et reliquos Apostolos conjugatos fuisse, excepto Joanne. Sed inane e^se hoc argumentum probant vetusta exemplaria ex diversis ac diversarum regionum bibliothecis deprompta: quae Paulinomen non habent adscriptum: quemadmodum osteudnnt Turrianus lib. 1. contra Magdeburgenses cap. 2. et in defensione conetit. Apostolicarum Clementis ad lib. 6. cap. 18., Pamelius iu Tertul. de monog. scholio 13., Beliar. lib. 1. de clericis cap. 20. et Baronius tom. 1. Annalium, ad annum Christi 57. Cujus etiam rei certum argumentum (ut alias omittam conjecturas, quas bonas et solidas adfert Baronius) sumitur ex eo, quod loquitur Ignatius de Apostolis, qui cum Christo fuerant conversati, qualis utique Paulus non fuit. Porro citat huc Catharinus etiam testimonium ex revelationibus Brigittae, quod non vult temere sperni. Sed abeque temeritate ei respondetur, ecclesiam eas revelationes ignorare. Jam quod ad piaesentem Apostoli locum attinet. ratio non permittit eum de Pauli uxore intelligi. Primum, quia minime decebat, ut in epistola, quam ad (otam ecclesiam Philippensium dabat, hac uteretur apostropha, qua ita singulariter uxorem suam compellaret. Deinde, si id voluisset: certe non appellasset eam uxorem, seu conjugem, sed sororem, scilicet ad insinuandum, quod inter ipsos, ut omnes fatentur, jam cessaret carnale commercium. Denique, etsi conjugem adhuc superstitem habuisset: non eam secum traduxisset in Graeciam aut Macedoniam: praesertim cum alibi neget se sororem mulierem circumducere, nec ratio erat, cur illam PhiKppis sineret morari, in qtra urbe non diu versatus fuerat: sed potius eam reliquisset Hierosolymis, aut in sua, vel ejus patria, apud agnatos Christianos, ut recte ratiocinatur Oecumenius. Igitur ut ad declarationem verborum textus revertamur, pro ejus intellectu sciendum est: Apostolum passim in epistolis suis uti m?taphoricis locutionibus, quod notius est, quam ut prcbatione egeat. Hinc autem est, quod suos ic evangelio adjutores tianslatitiis vocibus varie nominet: ac saepissime quidem cooperarios, Graece aovspyoog, ducta metaphora ab operis agrariis aut fabrilibus. Unde cum dixisset 1 Cor. 3. Dei sumus cooperarii, explicans latentem metaphoram, subjunxit: Dei agricultura estis, Dei aedificatio estis. Ubi et mox seipsum architectum vocat. Interdum vero metaphoram a militia sumens, commilitiones eos appellat. Ac ne longius abeamus, utriusque exemplum haec ipsa epistola subministrat: nam Epaphroditum cap. 2. cooperarium simul et commilitionem suum vocat. Et rursus in hoc capite Clementis et caeterorum aovspy iov suorum meminit. interdum quoque de eis ut synathletis loquilur, id est, certaminis sociis, quale est pugilum, aut disco, luctave certantium. Atque hujus exemplum habemus hoc ipso capite. Quod enim ait: Quae mecum laboraverunt in evangelio, eam quam dixi in Graeco significationem habet, ut infra explicabitur. Ad eundem igitur modum hoc loco quemdam insjgnem suum adjutorem vocat yvqaiov aoCoyov, id est, germanum ac sincerum conjugalem: sumpta nimirum metaphora ajumentis, praesertim bobus, in aratro trahendo vel alio opere conjunctis ac combiuatis. Hujusmodi enim par proprie significatur Graeco vocabulo Coyog, quod Latini jugum vocant. Unde illud evangelicum: Jugaboum emiquinque, Luc. 14. Kaec autem metaphora bene congruit cum eo, quod ad Cor. dixerat: Dei agricultvra estis: nam in agricultura praecipuus labor esse solet boum conjugatorum seu conjugalium, ut interdum vocantur etiam a Latinis auctoribus. QuocircaMacarius Aegyptius monachus scribit, LXX. discipulos, quos Christus misit binos ad praedicandum, missosfuisse 0'jQdyooQ, id est, conjugales, tanquam paria jumentorum sub uno jugo laborantium. Neque enim Graeca vox proprie significat ccs, quos Latine conjuges vocamus, id est, maritum et uxorem: sed generatim eos, qui socii sunt ejusdem operis, velut idem jugum trahentes. In qua significatione ttiam profani auctores Graeci vocabulum hoc usurparunt, ut Aiistophaues, Plato et alii. An autem Graeca vox aliquando dicatur de marito et uxore; nondum compertum habeo. Est vero huic metaphorae boum conjugatorum admodum affinis et illa boum triturantium, qua idem Apostolus utitur non semel, cum illud ex iege: Non alligabis os bovi trituranti, interpretatur de praedicatore evangelico 1 Cor. 9. et 1 Tim. 5. Porro quod Latini quidam, ut Primasius et auctor commontarii apud Hieronymum, eosque secuti Liranus et Carthusianus, existimant, Germanum esse proprium nomen viri, falli in eo videntur. Nam Graeca dictio yvrjaiog appellativa est: qua et alibi utitur Apostolus, ut in salutatione ad Tira. 1. et ad Tit. vocans eos germanos ac sinceros filios. 0?cumenius putat dici posse, alterum vocabulum atKoyoq esse proprium nomen: sed neque id probabile. Si quaeras, quem hominem voluerit Apostolus designare: respondet Theophylactus, aut fratrem, aut maritum alterius praedictarum mulierum: aut forte custodem illum carceris a Paulo conversum Act. 16. Alii, unum ex episcopis vel diaconis, quos salutat initio epistolae. Verum nihil certi. Quisquis autem fuerit, multum ab Apostolo honoratur, dum eum vocat germanum, hoc est, sincerum ndjutorem ac laboris socium. Quo nomLie jam supra cap. 2. suum Timotheum laudaverat, dicens se neminem alium habere, qui tam germane atque sincere, sic enim in Graeco est, pro Philippensibus solicitus esset. Illum igitur virum, tacito ejus nomine, compellans, rogat ut faciat, quod sequitur.
Adjuva illas, quae mecum laboraverunt in Evangelio. Duas feminas intelligit, quas modo nominavit. Illae, inquit, versantur in opere ad utilitatem ecclesiae pertinente: hoc opus et tu cum iis capesse, easque adjuva. Tale qiud enim significat Graecum verbum aoXAajij3avou. Quamquam etiam verti potest, suscipe eas: quomodo vertit interpres Theophylacti, ut sensus sit: Suscipe earum infirmitatem, easque inter se reconcilia. Sic enim Theodoretus exponit. Quod autem sequitur: Quae mecum laboraverunt in evangeJio. tale est ac si diceret: Nam profecto dignae sunt hac mea commendatione, quia cum apud vos essem, mecum laboraverunt, sive ut in Graeco est, decertarunt, evangelii causa. Significatur autem certamon, quale est athletarum, id est, ut vehemens ac laboriosum. Unde non incommode vertit noster interpres, laboraverunt. Sic de Prisca et Aquila dicit Rom. ult., quod pro ipso cervices suas supposuerant. Non enim mulieres in evangelio collaborasse Paulo pulandae sunt, quasi ipsae evangelium simul cum eo praedicaverint: sed quia propter evangelii negotium promovendam ac defendendum, labores et pericula subierant. Hic observanda est in Graecis verbis ex praepositione aov compositis quaedam allusio, quasi dicat Apostolus: Adjuva eas, quae me adjuverunt in certamine; vel: Suscipe eas, quae me susceperunt officio suo usque ad periculum.
Cum Clemente et caeteris adjutoribus meis. Graece cooperariis meis. Non est sensus: Laboraveruntmecum, atque etiam laboraverunt cum Clemente et adjutoribus meis. Sic enim in Graeco idem casus dativus retinendus fuisset, quod non est factum: sed sensus est, eas mulieres una cum Clemente caeterisque Pauli cooperariis Paulo socias et adjutrices fuisse laboris ac certaminis in evangelio. Hinc colligitur, etiam Clementem Philippis adfuisse Paulo, quando propter evangelium periclitatus est, ut scribitur Act. 16. Non enim apparet, de quo alio certamine possit hic locus accipi. Porro Clementem hunc Hieronymus in lib. de script. eccles. et Primasius in comment. eum intelligunt, qui post Petrum Romanae ecclesiae pvaesedit. Quibus et ipsa ecclesia consentit, dum locum hunc inter missarum solemnia recitat in festo ejusdem beati Cltjmentis.
Quorum nomina sunt in libro vitae. Hoc est, de quibus bene et merito confido, propter piam operam quam evangelio praestant, quod eorum nomina scripta sint ia libro vitae; ne quis hinc suspicetur (quod non est verisimile), Paulo revelatam fuisse divinitus illorum praedestinationem. Etenim per librum vitae tam hoc loco, quam Apoc. 20., metaphorice significatur notitia Dei, qua firmiter in mente retinet eos, quos ad vitam praedestinavit aeternam. Nominis rationem docte explicat S. 1'homas in comment. et 1. q. 24. a. 1. Adjecit autem Apostolus hanc partem, ne, quia solum Clementem et duas mulieres nomiuaverat, caeteri cooperarii ejus offenderentur, quod nominati non essent, quasi dicat, quorum multo felicius alibi scripta nomina, quam si hic adscriberentur. Scripta sunt enim in libro vitae.
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4. Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete. Verbum Graecum yjxipzTz. significat etiam: Valete, atque eo modo Faber transtulit parum memor Apostolicae consuetudinis, qua passim in epistolis suis gaudium spirituale commendat, atque ad illud fideles hortatur, ut Roman. 12. Spe gaudentes, 2 Cor. 6. quasi tristes, semper autem gaudentes etc. 13. De caetero, fratres, gaudete, et 1 Thess. 5. Semper gaudete. Quin et in hac epistola capite superiori jam dixerat: De caetero fratres mei gaudete in Domino: hoc ipsum igitur, atque eodem sensu nunc iterum inculcat. Nam quia Philippenses in magnis proptei evangelium versabantur afflicaonibus: Apostolus non contentus semel eos excitasse ad gaudendum in Domino, eandeo exhortationem hic ante finem epistolae repetit atque congeminat, utens eleg&nti schemate, quod epanaiepsin vocant. Dicit autem, semper gaudete: sicut alibi pr accipit semper et sine intermissione orare; et sicut ipse initio hujus epist. nec non Rom. 1. Ephes. 1. Col. 1. et initio utriusque epist. ad Thessal. dicit, se pro iis, ad quos scribit, Deo semper gratias agere, eommque memoriam apud Deum semper habere. Sensus igitur est: Quam frequentissime excitate ac renovate in vobis gaudium spirituale, recolentes animo ineffabile beneficium vocationis vestrae, qua vocati estis per fidem in spem vitae et gloriae aeternae. Haec enim omnibus piis justissima gaudendi causa est, maximumque sclatium, etiam in mediis periculis etpressuris; tametsi et de eo ipso gaudendum erat Philippensibus, quod, ut habetur cap. 1., donatum illis esset, non solum credere in Christum, sed etiam pro eo pati: quemadmodum et de Apostolis scriptum est Act. 5., quod ibant gaudentes a conspectu concilii, quoniam digni habiti erant pro nomine Jesu contumeliam pati. Quo spectat et illud Jacobi Apostoli praeceptum: Omne gaudium existimate, cum in tentationes, id est, tribulationes, varias incideritis.
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5. Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus. Pro modestia Graece est, t6 S7:isixsq;, adiectivum neutrum substantivi loco positum ] quomodo Graece dicitur to TrpSTtov, quod Latini decorum vocant. Significat autem to S7usixsg vel STctsixsia eam vitae ac morum compositionem, qua quis cum aliis hominibus omni justitia, aequitate, modestia,facilitate conversatur, quam et Ambrosianus rationabilem conversationem exponit. Idem nomen eodem 8ignihVatu est apud Apostolmn Tit. 3. vers. 2. et alibi. Hanc autem virtutem (si tamen una virtus est, et non potius multarum complexio) exigit Apostolus a fidelibus agentibus inter infideles, nt per hanc eorum conversationem bene ubique audiat nomen Christianum. Unde et Petrus 1 epist. 2. ait: Conversationem vestram inter gentes habentes bonam, ut ex bonis operibus vos considerantes, glorificent Deum in die visitationis. Nonnulli modestiam interpretantur animi modeiationem, qua etiam dura quaeque patienterac moderate feruntur: quia, inquiunt, agitur hoc loco de tribulationibus. Atqui hic intellectus non videtur explere vim Graeci vocabuli, neque perinde convenire cum eo, quod dicit: nota sit omnibus hominibus, quod quidem in priorem acceptionem optime quadrat. Hic igitur aliis verbis monet Philippenses, quod jam ante monuerat cap. 2., ut sitis sine querela, et simplices filii Dei sine reprehensione, in medio nationis pravae et perversae, inter quos lucetis sicut luminaria in mundo.
Dominus prope est. Iterumconsolatur. Afflictiones. inquit, hujus vitae non diu durabunt: cito veniet tempus retributionis a Domino: quapropter jubeo vos omnes, bono et laeto esse animo. Alii sic exponunt, prope est Dominus, id est, paiatus ad succurrendum vobis in omni necessitate, si tamen eum invocaveritis, juxta illud Psalm. 144. Prope est Dominus omnibus invocantibus eum. At magis verisimile est, Apostolum de judicio loqui et suo more per Dominum, Christum intelligere: de quo etiam paulo aute dixerat, eum de coelis adfuturuin remuneratorem piorum. Et quamvis de extremo judicio loquatur sicut alibi saepe: verificatnr tamen sententia per judicium particulare, quod fit in morte cujusque: quia talis quisque judicabitur in universali judicio, qualis in morte repertus et judicatus fuerit. Vide Hebr. 10. vers. 25.
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6. Nihil soUciti sitis: sed in omni oratione et obsecratione cum gratiarum actione peliticnes vestrae innotescant apud Deum. Illud: In omni videtur prima facie jungendum cum oratione et obsecratione, et id vult textus Ambrosianus, qui sic habet: Sed per omnem orationem et precem. Verum Graeca manifeste reclamant. Est enim 7tavT'. neutruis generis, cum sequentia substantiva sint feminini: proinde Graeci interpretes subaudiunt 7tpaY(naTi, in omni re seu negotio. Opponit enim Apostolus quod dicit: in omni. ei quod dixerat: nihil; quare utrumque de re accipiendum est. Illud etiam obsorvnndum, quod cum supra monuissetPhilivpenses, quid eorum vellet innotescere omnibus hominibus: non injucundo schemate nunc subjicit, quid velit innotescere Deo. Sensu6 itaque est: De nulla re, quae vobis aut desit, aut contingat, anxie sitjs soliciti, quasi diffidentes paternae providentiae Dei; sed quacuuque re opus habueritis, et in quacunque ocourrente necessitate, recurrite ad Deum orando et obsecrando, ut tribuat id, quod petitis; simul et gratias agendo de acceptis. Quod enim ait: Innotescant apud Deum, improprius est sermo, qui secundum Aquinatem sic explicari potest: Fundite devotas et ferventes ad Deum preces, quae dignae sint exaudiri, et quae probentur Deo. Dicitur enim Deus scire ea, quae probat; nescire, quae improbat. Qua de re vide etiam Augustinum epist. 112. ad Probam de orando Deo. Porro petitiones aut sunt desideria animo concepta, quae quodammodo notificantur Deo, quando oratione explicantur; oratio namque est sanctorum desideriorum ad Deum elocutio: aut sani ipsa postulata, id est, res, quae oratione et obsecrationepetuntur. Inter orationem autem et obsecrationem quid sit discriminis, haud plane constat, si de Graecis vocibus agatur. Dictum est aliquid ea dc re super Ephes. 6., sed amplius dicetur ad 1 Tim. 2., ubi eadem vocabula leguntur ordine commutato. Addit autem Apostolus: cum gratiarum actione, nam, ut ait Chrysostomus, quomodo petet quis futr.ra, qui de praeteritis gratiam non habet?
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7. Et pax Deiy quae exsuperat omnem sensum. Graece, vouv, id est, mentem, ut legit Ambrosianus, sive intellec tum, ut legit Augustinus Ench. 63. et in epist. 121.
Custodiat corda vestra, et intelligentias vestras in Christo Iesu. Graece et Syriace, custodiet: quemadmodum apparet etiam Ambrosianum legisse: tametsi ex commentariis Chrysostomi, Theodoreti et Theophylacti prorsus appareat in eorum codicibus scriptum fuisse: custodiat. Dicunt enim, Apostolum hic precari Philippensibus pacem. Atque eo modo vertit etiam Stapulensis. Pacem Dei interpretantur Graeci reconciliationem, quam Deus cum hominibus fecit: de qua Apostolus multa ad Eph. 2. Haec pax, secundum eosdem auctores, omnem intellectum superat, quia omnem opinionem et expectationem humanam excedit, quod Deus pro inimicis sibi reconciiiandis filium suum dederit in mortem. Quod vero sequitur: Custodiat corda vestra etc, quia minus commode ad pacem, id est, reconciliationem refertur: ideo supposito mutato ad Deum referunt, hoc sensu: Qui nos tam incogitabili et insperato beneficio sibi reconciliavit, idcm ipse custodiat vos et muniat, ne quid mali veiitis aut cogitetie. Caeterum Augustinus hunc Apostoli locum tractans Ench. 62. et 63. duos alios sensus adfert, unum, quo pax Dei intelligatur ea, qua secundum eundem Apostolum Ephes. 1. et Col. 1. coelestia cum terrestribus, id est, angeli cum hominibus pacificantur: et hanc pacem excellere uicit omnem intellectum humanum, non tamen angelicum, id est, eorum, qui semper vident faciem Patris. Alterum vero sensum, quem priori praefert, ut pax Dei sit illa, qua de Deo beata est intellectualis creatura. Quae quidem pax, ut ait, non humanum tantummodo, sed omnem creatum excedit intellectum, quia a solo Deo comprehenditur. Verum et huic utrique interpretationi, praesertim pcsteriori, parum apte cohaeret particula sequens: Custodiat corda vestra etc, quae omnino videtur ad praesens saeculum referenda esse. Quocirca aiii pacem Dei interpretantur trauquillitateia animi, quam homo habet in Deo per reconciliationem et praeceptorum ejus observationem: ita ut pulso foras timore, libera et quieta conscientia Deo serviat, cum laeta et suavi expectatione felicitatis aeternae. haec enim pax Dei est, quantam assequi potest homo in hac vita; eademque superat omnem intellectum nostrum, quia quantum bonum sit illa pax, dum hic vivimus, mente comprehendere non possumus. Cungruit hic sensus cum superioribus praeceptis, quibus jussiteos, semper in Domino gaudere, nihilque solieitos esse, sed omnia per orationes a Deo expectare. Nam ex his oritur et constat pax illa. Optat igitur Apostolus, ut ea pax custodiat ipsorum corda et intelligentias per Christum: corda quidem, id est, affectus seu voluntates, ne a bono declinent: intelligentias autem, id e&t, cogitationes mentis, ne devient a vero. Sic enim exponit S. Thomas. Quod si legamus assertive, custodiet; hic erit sensus non minus commodus: Si feceritis, quae dixi, tum futurum est, ut pax Dei superans omnem intellectum, custodiat, tueatur ac muniat instar valli cujusdam aut praesidii (tale quid enim significat Graecum verbum cppoopTJaei) corda et intelligentias vestras per Jesum Christum. Sane lectionem hanc probabiliorem reddit id quod paulo post similiter assertive dicitur: Et Deus pacis erit vobiscum.
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8. De caetero fratres, quaecunque sunt vera. Prirsquam epistolam claudat, generale subjicit praeceptum, multa summatim complectens ad moles et sanctam conversationem pertinentia. Quod reliquum est, inquit, fratres, quaecunque sunt vera, scilicet, cogitate. Quod verbum habetur in fine totiua sententiae. Dicens autem, quaecunque vera, mendacium et hypocrisim excludi vult ab acticnibus eorum. Quaecunqu-e pudica. Graece oeu.va: quae vox significat gravitatem, severitatem et bone^tatem morum. Unde alii vertunt, quaecunque honesta. Excludit igitur Apostolus hac parte omnem morum levitatem et lasciviam. Ambrosianus legit, quaecunque magnifica. Quaecunque justa; vetat ne cui faciant injuriam: significat enim eam justitiam, quae est specialis virtus. Quaecunque sancta. Graece, dyva, id est, pura, sive casta; ut hac parte prohibeantur carnalia peccata, velut impudicitia, ingluvies, ebrietas. Annotant enim Chrysostomus et Theophylac^is hoc dictum contra eos, quorum Deus venter est. Noster interpres in Graeco legisse videtur avia, id est, sancta: quomodo etiam Ambrosianus legit. Quod tamen eundem potest habere sensum; sanctum enim dicitur, quod est incontaminatum.
Quaecunque amabilia, id est, talia, per quae sitis amabiles hominibus. Nihil sit in moribus asperum, quod offendat eos, cum quibus conversamini. Quaecunque bonae famae. Vult ut ea agant, quae bonam famam et existimationem pariant apud homines: ab iis autem, quae famam laedere possent, caveant. Interest enim divin honoris, ut Ohristianum nomen bene audiat: sicut supra dictum est ad illud, modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus. Si qua virtus. Graece apex^, Quae vox, etsi philosophis aliisque scriptoribus saecularibus notissima, nusquam tamen in scriptura novi testamenti legitur, praeterquam hoc loco, et 1 Petr. 2., ubi dicitur, ut virtutes annuncietis, etc. Legitur etiam in lib. Sap. 5. et 8. Significatum ejus generale est vitio oppositum. Praecipit igitur Apostolus, ut pro ratione temporum ac rerum in omni genere virtutum se exerceant, ac nihil agant virtuti contrarium. Si qua laus disciplinae. Graece et Syriace tantum est: Et si qua laus: id est, ea facite, quae laudem apud homines mereantur, non quae reprehensionem. Non vult, ut laudem humanam appetant: sed ut ea, quae laude digna sunt, faciant, quatenus per hoc Deus glorificatur, juxta id, quod Christus ipse praoeipit dicens: Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent patrem vestrum, qui in coelis est. Matth. 5. Particulam disciplinae, nonnulli etiam Latini codices manuscripti non agnoscunt: et videntur Arabrosianus et Pelagius non legisse, quia non exponunt. Item Primasius et Sedulius non habent: sed laudem interpretantur, alter tolerantiae, alter bonae conversationis, nulla disciplinao facta mentione. Quanquam sic intelligi potest laus disciplinae, id est, disciplina inorura laudabilis: uti post S. Thomam Lyranus exponit.
Haec cogitate. Absolvit sententiam: praecipiens, ut omnia, quae jam dixit, assidue cogitent ac meditentur, atque in iis se exerceant, uiligenter caventes, ne ab ca regula deflectant. Hujusmodi enim cogitationem significat Apostolus: et hoc modo cogitare, seu meditari, frequens est in veteri scriptura. Unde Psalmista beatum praedicat eum, qui in lege Domini meditatrr die ac nocte.
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9. Quae et didicistis, et accepistis, et audistis, et vidistis in me. Duo priora verba ad doctrinam pertinent, reliqua duo ad exemplam. Ubi rursus se ipsum imitandum eis proponit: quod non poterant pseudapostoli, utpote moribus admodum corrupti, quemadmodum ex capite praecedenti liquet. Itaque tacite etiam hic illorum improbam vitam perstringit. Quod ultimo loco dicit, in me, ad singula verba aptandum est, hoc modo: Quae et didicistis a me, et accepistis a me, hoc est, quae ego vos docui ac vobis agenda tradidi; quae et audistis de me absente, et vidistis in me praesente; quasi dicat, haec a vobis exigo, quae et docui vos, et tam absens quam praesens opere atque exemplo monstravi.
Haec agite. Repetitio est: haec, inquam, agite, Graece est, icpaoasTS, a quo praxis. Exponit enim, quod dixerat, haec cogitate, ut ostendat non nudam cogitationem se exigere, sed eam, quae cam actione, seu praxi sit conjuncta. Et Deus pacis erit vobiscum. Sensus: Quae si feceritis, Deus auctor pacis erit vobiscum per insigne illud et incomprehensibili- donum ejusdem pacis, de qua paulo ante. Id est, eam pacem Deus vobis cumulabit.
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10. Gavisus sum autem in Domino vehementer, quoniam tandem aliquando refloruistis pro me sentire. Tiansit ad gratiarum actionem: ubi primum laudat Philippensium erga se benignitatem, sed ita tamen, ut tacitam expostulationem admisceat, dum significat, eos aliquamdiu a submittendo subsidio cessasse. Quod t men rursus ita facit civiliter, ut culpam officii ab iis dilati statim excuset per incommoditatem temporis. Illud, tandem aliquando, Graece est, jam aliquando, vel jam tandem: ne valde longam temporis moram significatam quis existimet. Porro Graecum verbum, quod interpres transtulit, refloruistis, proprie significat revirescere, iterum germmare ac pullulare. Unde alii vertunt, reviguistis. Est itaque sensus: magnopere gavisus sum in Domino, id est, magno affectus sum gaudio spirituali et christiano (nam hujus gaudii causa Apostolo erat fructus Philippensium, ut infra declaiatur), quod jam tandem, velut post ariditatem aut post hyemem, revirescentcs, iterum incepistis, pro me soliciti esse, meique curam habere: quemadmodum probat missum a vobis subsidium per Epaphroditum. Nam eo respicere Apostolum patet cx sequentibus.
Sicut et sentiebatis. Graece, in quo et sentiebatis, sive soliciti eratis, quod etsi alii aliter interpretentur, putamus tamen praeferendum id, quod nostrs, versio habet: ut intelligatur similitudo significata per illud, in quo. Sic enim ostendebamus recte exponi illam partem capitis superioris: In quo et comprehensus sum. Non est autem sensus: Sicut olim sentiebatis, aut sicut soletis sentire pro me, id est, mei curam habere; quemadmodurr nonnrlli exponunt. Nam huic sensui non respondet particula sequens: sed correctio quaedam est ejus quod dixerat, tandem aliquando refloruistis etc, quasi dicat: Non hoc dico, quasi pristinum erga me affectum ad tempus intermisisse vos putem, aut mei fueiitis aliquando obliti: imo vero tunc etiam pro me sentiebatis, id est, animum gerebatis pro me solicitum: nec deerat largiendi voluntas, sed opportunitas; hoc enim est, quod sequitur.
Occupati autem eratis. Id est, opportunitatem non habebatis. Nam verbum Graecum significat opportunitate destitui, commodum tempus non habere. Hoc autem quia contingere solet per occupationes: idcirco noster interpres vertisse videtur: Occupati eratis, quod et apud Ambrosianum legitur. Chrysostomus et TLeophylactus hanc importunitatem temporis intelligunt in eo, quod Philippenses ipsi non abundabant: non enim opportunum est dare, cum non habeas. Sed rectius est, ut cum Theodoreto, Oecumenio et aliis intelligamus defectum opportunitatis in genere: velut cum non est in promptu, qui munus perferat. Jam ex data explicatione collige, non ideo dicere Apostolum, Philippenses in solicitudine ipsius refloruisse, aut vigorem recepisse, quod interim aridi fuissent ac mortui, quantum ad studium Pauli: sed quod hujusmodi studium atjue affettus in animo latens non se tunc exeruerit. Est enim metaphora sumpta ab arboribus, quae, cum per hyemem mortuae videantur, eo quod vis earum intus contracta lateat, vere rursus flores ac frondes emittere incipiunt.
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11. Non quGsi propter penuriam dico. Graece, non quia secundum venuriam dico. Sensus: non quod haec dicam respectu penuriae: id est, respicere ad penuriam, quam patior, quasi meum commodum hic spectem. Alii xaxa pro 6\a positum volunt: secundum penuriam,:d est, propter penuriam. Verum sensus utriusque idem est. Non negat Apostolus, se penuriam pati, ut quidam intelligunt, sed negat, se ea quae dixit: Gavisus sum etc. propterea dixisse, ut indigentiae suae consuleret, quasi dicat: Non tam gaudeo propter me, cujus indigentiam sublevastis: quam propter charitatem vestram, quam hoc opere ostendistis. Eyo enim didici, in quibus sum, sufficiens esse. Hoc est, ego didici contentus esse iis, quae habeo, tanquam illa mihi sufficiant; hanc enim significationem habet Graeca vox aoTapxrjg. Dicens autem didici, significat, hanc rem esse disciplinae et exercitationis, quod quis vivat paucis ac necessariis contentus: atque hujus rei habitum longo usu se assecutum. Id quod diligenter a Graecis annotatum est. Nisi magis placeat, Apostolum his verbis significare, hoc sibi per divinam gratiam esse concessum, quod contentus sit praesentibus. Sic enim discendi verbum in sacris literis saepe ponitur, et ei respondens vocabulum docendi Deo tributum. Confer sequentia hoc loco.
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12. Scio et humiliari, scio et abundare. Erasmus vertit: Novi et humilis esse, novi et excellere. Eum multi neoterici sequuntur: putant enim, non sati* constare antithesin inter haec duo verba, nisi posterius accipiatur, ut in genere praecellentiam significet, sicut humilitas dejectionem. Verum non advertunt, Apostolum Hebraeum, et phrasibus Hebrahis magis quam Graecis assuetum, dixisse humiliari, pro eo quod est, tenuiter agere, et rerum ad vitam necessariarum angustiam pati. Sic enim Hebraicum daca, id est, humiliari, frequenter accipitur in sacris literis. Et ita hic accipi verbum Graecum, argumento est, quod pro eo pauio post substituit, penuriam pati, rursus ei opponens idem Graecum verbum Ticptaos^siv, id est, abundare, quemadmodum et ipse Erasmus eo loco verten dum non dubitavit. Est igitur hujus loci sensus, etiam secundum Graecos interpretes: Utramque fortunam, tenuitatis et abundantiae, novi moderate ferre: scio quomodo me gerere debeam dum premor inopia, et rursum quomodo dum copia suppetit. Scientiam intellige cum aflectu et usu conjunctam: nam ita demum consurgit habitus virtutis.
Ubique et in omnibus institutus sum. Graece: In omni et in omnibus, quemadmodum et Ambrosianus legit. Theophylactus et Oecumenius ita distinguunt: In omni, re: vel in omni, tempore: et in omnibus, quae intercurrunt: id est, quocunque casu occurrente. Quae distinctio an sit ex mente Apostoli, equidem dubito. Certe sensum ejus bene et Latine protulit noster interpres, dum vertit: Ubique et in omnibus. Sentit enim Apostolus se ita institutum, ut quicquid acciderit sive prosperum sive adversum, possit praesenti conditione prudenter uti secundum rectam rationem Deique legem. Dicit autem institutus sum, sive imbutus, ut est apud Ambrosiauum: ut insinuet, id quod mox clarius exprimet, hanc raticnem vitae, velut sacrum mysterium, se divinitus edoctum esse. Est enim in Graeco verbum, a quo mysteria dicuntur.
Et satiari, et esurire, et abundare, et penuriam pati. Hos infinitivos quidam suspendunt a verbo: Scio, quod praecessit: atque illud medium, ubique et in omnibus institutus sum, parenthesi claudunt. Verum nihil opus est hujusmodi hyperbato: nam optime referuntur isti infinitivi ad proximum verbum institutus sum, et continent enumerationem seu partitionem quandam ejus, quod in summa dixerat: JJbique, et in omnibus. oic, inquit, institutus sum, ut projrerum occasione et saturari possim, et esurire, atque omnino, vel abundare, vel indigere. Latius enim patent haec duo posteriora, utpote pertinentia etiam ad vestitum et caetera, quibus praeter victum opus est. Porro sicut abundare novit, non qui res superfluas ad luxum expendit, sed qui moderate et secundum Deum illis utitur, ea, quae supersunt, distribuens egenis: ita saturari novit, non qui gulam explet ac ventrem cibo potuque distendit: sed qui ita saturatur, ut metas sobrietatis ac temperantiae non excedat.
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13. Omnia possum in eo, qui me confortat. Giaece: In confortante, seu corroborante, me Christo: vel, sicut Am- Lrcsianus legit: In eo, qui me confortat Christus. Quoniam dixeret Apostolus: didici, ne existimetur haec, quae de se commemoravit, ad solum exercitium et studium voluntatis suae referre: tum ne videatur arrogantius locutus: totum illud Christo refert acceptum. Sensus est: Omnia jam enumerata, et alia quaecunque perferenda mihi sunt, possum et praesto per eum, qui mihi ad haec omnia vires subministiat, quique omnia haec in me operatur: scilicet per Christam, quasi dicat: Non meum opus est, inquit Theophylactus, sed ejus qui robur dedit, Christi. Considerat hic Apostolus iu Christo. non ut alibi saepe, rationem causae meritoriae, sed operantis atque efficientis, quam rationem cum Deo Patre habet communem: ut hinc intelligas, secundum Graecam lectionem, Christum ejusdem esse potentiae cum Deo, et proinde verum Deum. 6oll. Sitli Comm. Tom. II.
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14. Verumtamen bene fecistis communicantes tribulationi meae. Graece participium praeteriti temporis est, hoc modo resolvendum, quod communicaveritis tribulationi sive afflictioni meae. Sic enim alii dilucidius verterunt: quanquam bene noster. Illud enim participium communicantes, ampliatur ad tempus praeteritum, vi verbi principalis. Ne putarent Philippenses se rem supervacaneam aut parum gratam fecisse, quod Paulo pecuniam misissent, ut qui scribat, se non propter penuriam suam gavisum de eorum dono, propterea, quod nosset contentus esse priesentibus, possetque omnia pati: huic falsae suspiciunculae nunc occurrit, rursus eos laudans, eorumque erga se beneficentiam commendans: tanquam diceret, etsi sciam abundare et penuriam pati, et in omnibus institutus sim: vere tamen laboravi rerum penuria in hoc carcere, proinde vos bene fecistis, quod mihi afflicto et egenti res vestras communes feceritis, id est, de facultatibus vestris mihi tribuentis. Hoc enim, secundum usum Scripturae sacrae, significari vocabulo communicandi, ex aliis locis facile monstrari potest, velut ad Rom. 12. 2 Cor. 8. et 9. et Gal. 6. Atque eo modo locum hunc intellexerunt Augustinus a Beda citatus et in Glossam ordinariam relatus, Anselmus, Lyranus, Cajetanus, et glossa interlinealis. Quin et Apostolus ipse paulo post hoc modo communicationem accipit, cum ait: Nulla mihi Ecclesia communicavit. Quocirca minus germanum arbitramur eorum commentarium, qui sic exponunt: Quamvis ego non egerem, tamen bene vobis consuluistis mittendo subsidium. Id enim vobis profuit: quia per hoc participes facti estis tribulationis meae, id est, praemii, quod mihi repositum est apud Deum pro afflictionibus, quas patior. Qui tamen sensus, cum sit Chrysostomi et aliorum Graecorum, satis ostendit ex illorum sententia, quod hodie sectarii negant, posse alios aliorum meritis apud Deum adjuvari, dum per charitatis opera reddunt se eorum participes, juxta illud: Qui recipit justum innomine justi, mercedem justi accipiet, Matth. 10. Caettrum ex eo, quod Apostolus dicit: bene fecistis, manifeste retunditur eorum haeresis, qui omniafidelium, etiam justificatorum opera, dicunt esse peccata. Nunquam enim Apostolus de eo, quod sciret esse peccatum, diceret: bene fecistis.
4:15
15. Scitis autem et vos Philippenses, quod in principio Evangelii. Scilicet a me vobis praedicati, de quo Act. 16. Quando profectus sum a Macedonia. Graece, quando exivi a Macedonia, id est, quando Macedoniam, in qua vos estis, reliqui et transivi in Achaiam. Loquitur de primo suo discessu e Macedonia, de quo Act. 17. et 18. Dicit enim, in principio Evangelii, nam postea adhuc eum fuisse in Macedonia constat ex Act. 20. Igitur, quae hic dicit, tantum ad illud tempus sunt referenda.
Nulla mihi Ecclesia communicavit in ratione dati et accepti, nisi vos soli. Graece: ln rationem dationis et acceptionis, pro quo textus Ambrosianus habet: In ratione dandi et accipiendi: tametsi haec quoad sensum non differunt. Videtur hac parte Apostolus se excusare de^eo, quod circa initium praedicationis aliquoties a Philippensibus accepit: eam adferens causam, quod aliae Ecclesiae nihil contulissent. Unde haec excusatio rursus laudem Philippensium continet non exiguam, cum tacita aliorum vituperatione. Vos ipsi, inquit, nostis, et testari potestis, quod quando primum apud vos Evangelium praedicavi, postquam e Macedonia discessissem, nulla Ecclesia mihi quicquam tribuit, quod referre possem in rationes meas, praeterquam vos soli. Dicit autem, in ratione dati et accepti, alludens scilicet ad rationes pecuniarias, quarum duae sunt partes, expensorum et acceptorum, quae mutua compensatione aequari debeant: ut per hoc insinuet, jure se recipere posse sustentationem vitae ab iis, quibus ministerium verbi impendebat, juxta id, quod alifci dicit: Si nos vobis spiritualia seminavimus: magnum est, si noscarnalia vestra metamus? 1 Cor. 9. Ex hoc loco apparet, Apostolum in 2 Cor. 11. dicentem: Quod mihi deerat suppleverunt fratres, qui venerunt a Macedonia, de Philippensibus intelligere. Satis etiam apparet, Philippenses sponte dedisse. Paulus enim a nemine exigebat. Quod si fecisset, ut jure facere poterat: profecto aliae Ecclesiae non tam erga eum inhumanae fuissent, utpetentijustum acnecessarium stipendium denegarent.Verum ipse non solum non exegit, sed etiam ab Ecclesiis Achaiae accipere noluit, idque ob rationem explicatam in utraque epist. ad Oor. locis jam citatis. Est igitur in his verbis maxima commendatio Philippensium, sicut et sequentibus.
4:16
16. Quia et Thessalonicam semel et bis in usum mihi misistis. Graece: In Thessalonica: quod Ambrosianum textum secuti neoterici interpretes ita supplent: In Thessalonica cum essem. Sensus enim est, nam et cum essem Thessalonicae, semel et iterum mihi misistis, quae in usus meos erant necessaria; id est, quibus opus habebam. Graecum verbum significat publicam et honorificam missionem. Quaeret aliquis, cur ipsi Thessalonicenses non dabant, utique Philippensibus opulentiores? Erat enim Thessalonica metropolis Macedoniae. Respondet S. Thomas, Paulum ab illis accipere noluisse, sicut nec a Corinthiis. Ab his quidem, propter eorum avaritiam, ne offenderentur: ab illis vero, quia erant otio dediti, quibus proinde voluit Apostolus exemplum darelaborando manibus: quemadmodum ipse testatur 1 Thess. 2. et 4. 2 Thess. 3. Colligit idem Doctor ex hoc loco, Papam ex justa causa posse ab una Ecclesia accipere in subsidium aliarum. Quam rem aeque probat alter locus 2 Cor. 11. Alias Ecclesias exspoliavi, accipiens stipendium ad ministerium vestrum etc.
4:17
17. Non quia quaero datum. Graece to\ia, id est, donum seu munus: ut est apud Ambrosianum. Sensus est: Non haec commemoro, tanquam requirens, ut adhuc similia mihi praestetis, ut munus aliquod mittatis. Aut, non haec dico, quod ea, quaedantur, anteoculos habeam et amem. Loquitur enim in genere.
Sed requiro fructum abundantem in ratione vestra. Graece et Syriace: In rationem vestram. Sic et Aaibrosianus habet, et nonnulla Latina manuscripta. Sensus est: Sed requiro fructum accrescentem rationibus vestris. Si quid a vobis accipio: vestrum est lucrum et commodum, vester fructus ex hoc augetur, merito vobis referendus in rationes acceptorum. Rursus enim alludit ad rationes pecuniarias de quibus supra: sentit autem de fructu et lucro spirituali, quod sibi comparant apud Deum, qui necessaria ministris Evangelii liberaliter suppeditant.
4:18
18. Habeo autem omnia, et abundo. Graece, non est £/0), habeo: sed aiziyu), quod iuter alia significat recipere ex aliquo, velut censum ex agro, aut mercedem ex labore. Et quamvis verbum sit praesentis temporis, significatio tamen explicatur per praeteritum, recepi: quasi dicat, receptum habeo. Sic enim ex eodem verbo Graeco noster interpres vertit Matth. 6. receperunt mercedem suam, estque idem verbum apud LXX. Num. 32. recepimus possessiones nostras. Recte igitur auctor versionis Ambrosianae hoc loco transtulit: Recepi tamen omnia. Quod et Erasmus atque alii imitati sunt. Itaque Apostolus utens ejusmodi verbo, rursus innuere voluit, non esse gratuitum, sed debitum, id quod datur ratione ministerii sacri. Quod et a Graecis annotatum est. Sensus autem est: Quamvis donum non requiro, magisque vestrum fructum specto, quam commodum meum: recepi tamen omnia, quae misistis, adeo large, ut nunc abundem. Hoe addit, non quod munus Philippensium mediocritatem ex* cesserit: sed utgratum animum ostendat, utque intelligamus, facile abundare eum, qui re modica ac tenui contentus est.
Repletus sum, acceptis ab Epaphrodito, quae misistis. Ablativus, acceptis, non regitur a verbo repletus sum, quod prima facie videri potest: sed absolute ponitur. Quod patet ex Graecis, quae sic clarius verti possunt: Repletus sum, posteaquam accepi ab Epaphrodito, quae a vobis missa seu donata sunt: id est, munera seu dona vestra: ut veitit Theophylacti interpres. Haec plenitudo significat sufficientiam rerum necessariarum: nam quod ad animum Pauli attinet, etiam in penuria sufficiens erat, sicut ipse de se superius dixit.
Odorem suavitatis, hostiam acceptam, placentem Deo. Hi accusativi in Graeco non reguntur a verbo misistis, quod ibi non habetur, sed a participio ds^ausvog: et appositive junguntur cum illo, munera vestra. Vocat autem Apostolus munera Philippensium ad se missa, odorem suavitatis, vel, ut alii propius e Graeco vertunt, odorem bonae fragrantiae, phrasi Hebraica: id est, odorem suavissimum seu fragrantissimum: quod instar hujusmodi odoris aut sibi, aut potius Deo grata essent. Alludit ad id, quod apud Mosen passim de sacrificiis legitur, ea Deo accepta esse in odorem suavitatis. Vocat eadem munera: hostiam acceptam, placentem Deo: vel, ut in Graeco, beneplacitam Deo; non quod propriam habeant rationem sacrificii Deo oblati: sed quod Deo accepta, placitaque essent, perinde atque si sacrificium ad ejus honorem oblatum fuisset. Etenim omne bonum opus factum eo fine, ut sancta societate Deo inhaereatur, tanquam suinrao ac beatifico bono: generali ratione sacrificium est, teste Augustino lib. 10. de civit. cap. 6. Quo in genere Scriptura numerat imprimis opera beneficentiae erga proximos. LTnde est illud Hebr. 13. Beneficentiae et communionis nolite oblivisci: talibus enim hostiis promeretur Deus. Nec obstat, quod Apostolus non oblationem munerum, sed ipsa munera memoratis epithetis exornat dicens: Quae misistis, odorem suavitatis, hostiam acceptam etc. Sic enim vocantur, non secundum se considerata, sed relata ad animum seu voluntatem, a qua profidscebantur. Hinc vero rursum evidenter patet, non omnia justificatorum opera esse peccata, quod volunt haeretici. 31 • Neque enim peccatum esse potest hostia accepta, placensque Deo.
4:19
19. Deus autem meus impleat omne desiderium vestrum. Graeca nunc habent: Replebit omnem indigentiam, sive necessitatem vestram, quasi dicat Apostolus, vos me replestis, mittendo largum subsidium: ego vicissim precor Deum meum, ut indigentiam vestram repleat, id est, ea, quibus opus habetis, usque ad sufficientiam suppleaf. Quamvis enim in Graecis plerisque codicibus sit futurum indicativum, replebit: Graeci tamen interpretes exponunt, quasi dictum sit, repleat, imprecatorio modo. Monet autem Chrysostomus, pro XP£'-a; necessitate, quosdam codiceshabere XaP'-v> id est, gratiam: nonnullos XaPav> ^ est> gaudium: tametsi veriorem putat lectionem, quam primo diximus. Sed cur dixit Apostolus, JDeus meus, et non: Deus noster, sicut mox inferius alt: Deo et Patri nostro? Ideo nimirum, quia loquebatur de compeusando beneficio evga se praestito: quasi diceret, etsi ego, qui pauper sum, simile beneficium referre requeam; tamen Deus meus, quem colo, facile id potest, cum sit ditissimus. Hoc enim est, quod sequitur; Secundum divitias suas. Id est, ea, quibuo indigetis, suppeditet vobis sufficienter abundeque pro sua opulentia.
In gloria, in Christo Jesu. Quia locutus fuerat de compensatione temporali, dicendo, repleat omnem indigentiam vestram: idcirco mox cogitationem eorum a temporalibus transfert ad aeterna et coelestia, cum addit, in gloria etc, quasi dicat: Ita precor vobis a Deo rerum hujus vitae sufficientiam, ut ea vobis cedat ad gloriam vitae aeternae per Christum: juxta id, quod orat Ecclesia: Sic transeamus per bona temporalia, ut non amittamus aeterna. Similem transitum a corporalibus ad spiritualia facit Aposto lus 2 Cor. 9. Potens est, inquit, Deus omnem gratiam abundare facere in vobis, ut in omnibus, semper omnem sufficientiam habentes, abundetis in omne opus bonum etc. Ac rursum: Qui autem administrat semen seminanti: et panem ad manducandum praestabit, et multiplicabit semen vestrum, et augebit incrementa frugum justitiae vestrae, ut in omnibus locupletati abundetis. Pctest etiam illud, in gloria, construi cumparticula proxime praecedente, ad hunc modum- Prout dives est gloriae largiter retribuendae per Christum. Sic enim dicitur Hebraea phrasi, dives in gloria, id est, dives gloriae: quomodo Gen. 13. secundum textum Hebraicum legitur Abraham fuisse dives in pecore, et in argento, et in auro: id est, dives talium rerum.
4:20
20. Deo autem et Patri nostro gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Concludit epistolam glorificatione Dei: quae tamen ad proxima referri potest, eo sp?ctans, ut ne quid sibi glorias de h jno opere adscribant Philippenses, ut sensus sit, secundum S. Thomam; De his omnibus bonis quae praestitistis et quae speratis, glorificetur Deus, pater noster, in omnem aeternitatem. Deum patrem suum atque ipsorum vocat, ratione adoptionis: nam de gloria consequenda sermo erat: cum alioqui Deus sit omnium pater ratione creationis. Utroque autem modo patrem esse, toti Trinitati commune est. Addit Amen illud solemne, quo precationem confirmet, quasi dicat: Vehementer opto et precor, ut fiat, quod dico.
4:21
21. Salutate omnem sanctum in Christo Jesu. Ex more salutationes annectit. Ordo est: Salutate in Christo Jesu omnem sanctum, id est, salutate meis verbis omnes fideles, qui apud vos sunt, imprecando illis ea bona, quorum Christus nobis auctor est. Fideles ab Apost jlo sancti vocantur, quia membra sunt Ecclesiae sanctae, nec aliter de unoquoque eorum opinar» debemus, quam quod sanctus sit, nisi forte aliud constet.
4:22
22. Salutant vos, qui mecum sunt, fratres. Id est, qui circa me sunt: ut qui mihi vincto ministrant, qui me visitant, qui mecum hic in Evangelio laborant. Ac ne angusta videatur haec salutatio, subjungit: Salutant vos omnes sancti, scilicet qui Romae sunt, id est, cmnis Romana Ecclesia. Maxime autem, qui de Caesaris domo sunt. Domo, id est, familia, Graece otxta^. Caesarem, Romanum intelligit: nec alium quam Neronem, sub cujus potestate vinctus erat. Quod enim apud Dorotheum in synopsi legitur, Caesarem, cujus hic meminit Paulus, unum fuisse e septuaginta Christi discipulis, id risu potius, quam confutatione dignum merito censet Cardinalis Baronius Tom. 1. AnnaJ. Eccles. Quid autem in universum de catalogoseptuagintadiscipuloium, quem ea synopsis recenset, existimandum sit: dixi in exposit. Epist. ad Rum. cap. ult. ad vers. 5. Adjicit igitur Apostolus hanc saluta tionis partem, ut Philippenses, dum au diunt, Evangelium usque in aulam et familiam Neronis penetrasse, atque ex ejus domesticis aliquos factos esse Christianos: gaudio et consolatione affecti, magis in fide confirinentu:' ac majori cum fidu cia etiam ipsi divulgent Evangelium. Porro qui fuerint hi Caesaris familiares a Paulo conversi, quaeritur a nonnullis: et sunt, qui Senecam philosophum Stoicum, Neronis praeceptorem, itemque nepotem ejus ex fratre, Lucanum poetam, designari outent, ut qui ambo paulo post illud tempus fuerint a Nerone sublati. Sed haec opinio parum probabilis est: neque enim hi Neronis erant domestici tempore captivitatis Pauli, sed aut senatores aut alio magistratu fungentes in urbe Romana, nec ob religionem interfeci', sed quod haberentur conscii conjurationis Pisonianae. Et quidem Lucanum fuisse Christianum, nullus est auctor, qui referat. Senecam vero Hieronymus provocatus Epistolis, quae circumferuntur ejus ad Paalum et Pauli ad ipsum, ponit quidem in catalogo Scriptorum ecclesiasticorum: sed cum jam satis exploratum habeatur apud eruditos, Epistolas illas fal.sas et supposititias esse: cumque (teste Augustino lib. 6. de civit. cap. 11.) Seneca de Christianis expresse nusquaui in scriptis suis meminerit, imo vero de iis sub nomine Judaeorum videatur etiam sinistre loqui; nulla ratio est, ut Apostolum hoc loco ad Senecam respexisse putemus. Sane verisimilius est, inter hos, quos Apostolus significat, fuisse Euellium et Torpetem, quos Neronis familiares fuisse, et martyrio sub eo coronatos, testatur Roman. martyrolog. die 11. et 17. Maji.
4:23
23. Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Graece et Syriace: cum omnibus vobis. Amen. Consueta est Apostoli clausula, qua omnes suas signat Epistolas. Sensus est: Deus per Christum det vobis et multiplicet beneficia gratiae suae. Post finem Epistolae sequitur in Graecis codicibus hypographe, significans, unde et per quem missa: Scripta est e Roma per Epaphroditum.
4:3
v. 3 etiam rogo et te, germane compar, YYfjote cóvCove: cúvčuyoç uni iugo iunctus ; dicitur vox haec a graecis de iis qui matrimonio, cognatione, munere, laboribus, negotiis coniuncti sunt, quare voce hac significari potest coniux, compar, collega, socius. Absurdam quorundam opinionem Paulum compellare uxorem suam, veteres iam refutarunt, provocantes ad 1 Cor. 7,8, quo loco se referat in numerum caelibum (Theod.) vel ad ipsam locutionem yvýcte, debuit esse vrsíx si de uxore esset sermo (ita ThdM. Thph.; sed Chrys. Oec. ad hanc formam non provocant, sed mulierem posse intelligi concedunt). Coniectant maritum, vel fratrem unius ex illis mulieribus fuisse, virum auctoritate praeditum, qui cohcordiam efficere valeret. Optimum est quod praeter alia habent Chrys. Oec., esse nomen proprium viri Philippensibus noti. Verum est quidem Xúčvyoç inter nomina propria graeca alias nondum irnotuisse. At hoc loco necessario debet esse nomen proprium ; si enim Paulus solum scripsisset : sincere collega, quis potuit intelligere quem ex suis sociis el adiutoribus nominare voluissel. Quem ita compellat, ei negotium singulare committit; ergo suo nomine designandus et ex numero reliquorum sociorum Pauli eximendus erat ; alias tota locutio et compellatio a nullo potuit intelligi; neque enim cogitari potest, apostolum unicuique collegae tale negolium voluisse commendare. Aliis placuit nomen proprium statuere l'vctoc. Genset Lightfoot valde probabiliter ita compellari Epaphroditum; putat enim tunc solum istam apostrophen non reddi plane obscuram, si ad eum qui epistolam perferat dirigatur. Alü coniecerunt designari Lucam, Silam, Timotheum, principem presbyterorum. Sicut Evodia et Syntyche, ita Syzygus quoque nomen proprium est; eum virum autem apostolus addens vyvác:s cum allusione ad vocis notionem communem peculiari laude prosequitur ; nomen scil. et omen habet, neque nomen gerit inane, vacuum, sed verum et suo nomine plane dignum collegam se praestat et praestitit apostolo. Huic itaque, qui non solum nominatur, sed vere et sincere est Xúčvyoçs, quem cum epistola legeretur, omnes statim cognoscere debebant (nisi iis aenigma vel iocum voluisset proponere), mandat: adiuva «llas, consilio, persuasione, institutione, auctoritate. Atque dignáe sunt quibus auxilium praestetur : a/cwsc, utpote vel quippe quae mecum laboraverunt in evangelio, in negotio propagandae rei christianae; mulieres aptae erant ad adducendas evangelio mulieres, ad quas aditus facillime illis patebat; laborem designat suvíOXnsi» wo cf. 1,27; « labor hic evangelieus, ut tunc erant tempora, non fiebat sine repugnantia adversariorum ; quae ex eo quia cum magna mulierum laude eas in eodem ordine ponit cum reliquis suis cooperatoribus, cwm Elemente petà xo Kiýuevtos, cum Clemente etiam e£ ceteris adiutoribus meis, cuvvepyòv uo». cum ceteris cooperatoribus meis, quibus laboribus suis apostolus mercedem coelestem promittit, quorum nomina sunt in libro vitae. Plerique ita iungunt ; illas ad concordem laborem adducat, exsisteret mirus quidam sensus ; lot viri quasi in aciem prodire deberent et cum sincero collega se coniungere ad duas illas mulieres in idem studium redigendas; an tantae molis est istud negotium ? et pro concordia illa effecta nomina eorum libro vitae inscribuntur | Neque haec coniunctio admitti pb si adiuva illas explicatur, ut Zahn, Ew. volunt, adiuva illas in operé evangelico; nam tum et Syzygus el Clemens et reliqui adiutores designarentur ut tales, qui in opere evangelico mulieres adiuvare, illis opem ferre et auxilium praestare deberent, ac si in hoc Gan. mulieres essent duces ac primas agerent partes. Apostolus grato animo memoriam recolit eorum qui secum laborarunt; pro tali labore libro vitae inscripti sunt; cf. Luc. 10,20 gaudete sod nomina vestra scripta sunt in coelis et vide Apoc. 13,8 et 20,12 et simili modo iam mentio fit de libro vitae seu catalogo viventium Ex. 32,32: sinon facis, dele me de libro tuo quem scripsisti et Ps. 68,29 deleantur de libro viventium et cum iustis non scribantur. Indicat ea locutione apostolus, se merito de illis confidere fore, ut Deo immobiliter adhaerentes vila aeterna potiantur. Notat Lap. : « nec enim vult eos omnino cerlos reddere de sua perseverantia, salute et electione ad gloriam eamque Philippensibus omnibus revelare; nec rursum vult sed tantum ipsos quoad praesentem gratiae statum inchoate scriptos esse in libro vitae». Hanc partem apostolum addidisse opinatur Est. ne aliis nominatis veteri cooperarii offenderentur quod nominati non essent ; quasi dicat, eorum nomina multo felicius alibi scripta esse, quam si hic adscriberentur; scripta enim esse in libro vitae (cf. Is. 4,3. Ez. 13,9). Clementem, cuius meminit Paulus, esse Clementem romanum, episcopum Romae, putarunt Origenes (in Ioan. 1,29 tom. 6,36), Eusebius (h. e. 3,15), Epiphanius (haer. 27,6), Hieronymus (de vir. ill. 45); item Pelagius, Primasius et Clemens frequentissime reperitur in inscriptionibus ex Philippis, Athenis, Damasco, Asia minore, Aegypto, Aethiopia, Illyria, Epidauro, imo etiam ex regione Stiriae, vide Zahn, Einleitung, I 8 30,1. In tomo 5 Corp. Inscript. plus quam quinquaginta viri eo nomine, et in tomo 10 plus quam quadraginta nomine Clementis recensentur. Privatas personas allocutus est in v. 2.3; iam ad omnes sermonem dirigit
4:4
v. 4 gaudete in Domino semper; iterum dico : gaudete, cf. 3, de quomodo fieri possit, ut semper gaudeant, declarat addens e» Domino : remissio peccatorum, gratia, spes vitae aeternae, haec sunt fundamentum el causa gaudii spiritualis et erectionis ac confortationis animorum; haec si quis'ob oculos habuerit, in quavis rerum conditione non carebit gaudio spirituali. Et hoe gaudium merito illis praecipere potest, quibus datum esse novit pro Christo pati (1,29); nam et apostoli ibant (flagellis caesi) gaudentes a conspectu concilii, quoniam digni habiti sunt pro nomine Iesu contumeliam pati (Act. 5,41). Gaudium itaque fidelium non reponitur in fortunis, in prospero rerum successu, sed fundatur et collocatur in Domino, in quo omnis vita supernaturalis quasi in suo fonte residet et permanet. Ac saepius gaudium commendat el praecipit: Rom. 13,12 spe gaudentes ; 2 Cor. 6,10; 13,11 de cetero, fratres, gaudete; 1 Thess. 5,16 semper gaudete; fructus Spiritus est caritas, gaudium Rom. 15,13 ete. Ex hoc loquendi modo confirmatur, 7aíosv quoque hic , retinendum esse in notione gaudendi, neque cogitandum esse de valedicendi significatione, quasi dixerit ad finem epistolae properans : valete in Domino! l S Alque g gaudendi notionem necessario. esse retinendam, Spparet etiam ex effectu quem apostolus ex ;zí;etv apudeos exsistere vult eL innotescere longe lateque
4:5
v. 5 modestia vesira, tò &xstxig pöy, indoles notatur Mos. 1); nota sit omnibus hominibus: hortatur ergo, ut sint benigni, mites, cum comitate quadam agant cum omnibus. Censet Chrys. hoc cum illis agant. Non ad hos spectat monitum, sed apostolus vult, ut eam animorum indolem benignam exhibeant et notam faciant PUN. simpliciter nullo excepto. lam talis indoles fructus est et effectus veri gaudii spiritualis. Qui tristis est et afflictus luget, is facile se praestat yvocO zo, vult ut innotescat, ut omnibus, eliam adversariis el persecutoribus, quasi experientia quadam exhibeant mitem evangelii indolem (cf. 9,45). Quod si fit, spes erit fore ut complures ab illis discant, magni aestimare novam hanc vivendi rationem. Nonne ipse Christus, ut ad eum accedamus doctorem, nos eo invitat quod ipse sit mitis et humilis corde ? discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde (Matth. 11,99). lexicographi etiam de moderatione, lenitate‘ (Milde, Bescheidenheit, Schonung). Cf. 4 Tim. 3,3. Tit. 3,2. Iac. 3,1.7 : Triumphantisi in modum exclamat, gaudii causam assignans : 5 Kóptoc EvYós, Dominus prope est; nexum "ps indicat T'hom.: « tangitur causa gaudii, homo enim gaudet de. propinquitate;amici ». Pars haec recte
plerumque ad antecedentia refertur; aliqui eam ad sequentia pertinere volunt (Cai. Beelen); atimmerito; nam propinquitas Domini non affertur tamquam ralio, cur non sint solliciti; sed tamquam remedium contra sollicitudinem assignatur precatio; unde ipso textu clare exhibetur nexus. Dominum prope esse graeci explicant : iam imminet iudicium ; recurrunt ad modum loquendi alias in Scriptura usurpatum : prope eni Dominus omnibus invocantibus eum Ps. 144, 18; iuxta est Dominus iis qui tribulato sunt corde Ps. 33,19; prope est ut venial tempus eius Is. 14,1 etc.: quare explicant de auxilio quod Deus suis afferre consuevit, (ThdM. Dam. Thom. Cai. Beelen). i / V At recte viderunt Lap. Tust., et partim etiam Est., apostolum loqui de iudicio universali : Christus iudex appropinquat, ut veniat ad iudicium, ul coronel nostram patientiam et modestiam; solet enim apostolus loqui de iudicio universali ita quasi igelaret et, vicinum esset, ut illud semper prae oculis habeant, ad illudque se comparent (Zap.) et Tust. « Supremum iudicii diem iamiam imminere, Paulo est admodum familiare » ; cui subiungit Est. :« quamvis de extremo iudicio loquatur, sicut alibi saepe, verificatur tamen sententia per iudicium particulare quod fit in morle cuiusque ». Sed melius dicendum est, apostolum loqui de Christi adventu ; nam causa gaudii affertur : fore iudicium, punitum iri: adversarios verum quidem est, at hoc loco gralis tala in. contextum inferuntur. Alii tamen faciunt transitum a modestia (cb -Entetxéc) ad sententiam : Dominus prope, dum inserunt: aequo animo suslinete insultus adversariorum ; afflictiones huius vitae non diu durabunt ; cito veniet tempus retributionis; nihil vobis curae sit, neque iniuria inimicorum, neque vestra afflictio (cf. Thph. Nat. Est.); uti dicitur pxxco- Pergit apostolus in adhorlatione ad gaudium, dum efficaciter remoyet obstaeulum et impedimentum gaudii assignato remedio ; obstat sollicitudo, anxia cura
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v. 6 nihil solliciti sitis, neque de rebus, quae vo s desunt, neque de malis ingruenlibus; sed in omni i» zxvs( in omni negotio seu conditione, in omni re, petitiones vestrae innotescant. apud omnibus hominibus; non iniucundo schemate nunc subdit quid velit innotescere Deo (Est.). Bene dicit Chrys. : « ecce alia consolatio ; pharmacum quod moerorem omnem et aegritudinem molestaque omnia propulsare potest; quale est hoc? precari, in omnibus gratias agere ; quam ob rem preces nostras non nudam petitionem esse vult, sed coniunctam cum gratiarum actione pro iis quae accepimus. Quomodo enim petet quis futura, qui de praeteritis gratiam non habet, yov oùx cidos » ? Petitiones nostrae zà «ithuta, ergo cuncta quae nos sollicitos habent, proponantur Deo et quidem oratione et obsecratione, geminata voce fervorem et perseverantiam orandi el deprecandi commendat ; Deo igitur in omni re (attende oppositionem”: nihil, wqèèv in nulla re solliciti — ¿vy mavti) per orationem et deprecationem proponite petitiones, et hae notae fiant cum gratiarum actione apud Deum; grato animo ad Deum est accedendum et ei gratias agere oportet; nam solum ea nobis dabit - quae nobis bona sunt et utilia ; quare gratiae sunt ei agendae, sive concedat quod petimus, sive pro eo quidpiam aliud dabit. Petitiones, quibus iungitur animus pro omni re Deo gratus, ?nnotescant, ac si dicere velit, istae facilius probenter Deo et prompte apud Deum notae fiant exauditione. Oportet enim prius, ait Theod.,*benefactorem Deum laudare pro -omnibus tam secundis quam adversis. dein ita ei offerre supplicationes. Et in liturgia pariter vere dignum, iustum, aequum et salutare vocatur Deo semper et ubique gratias agere, uti Dam. ait nos debere Orare ejyaotocoUvtac, 00x GÜouo)vvuc OVDE dxnotvcac. Oratione omnis curà et sollicitudo Deo commendatuft et fructus eiusmodi precationis est v. 7 et'pao Dei, pax cuius auctor et largitor est Deus; quia vero cor nostrum ab omni perturbatione non potest esse alienum, nisi per Deum, oportet quod per ipsum fiat ; unde dicit Dei (Thom.); cf. loan. 14,27 pacem-imeam do vobis; et quam potens et efficax sit ista pax, declaratur: quae exsuperatomuem sensum, t bxspéyoucz zívex voy, pax scil. Dei id efficit quod nulla consideratione humana fieri potest ; homo ande variis adductis rationibus sibi i in rerum perturbatione aliquam aüimi vel mentis tranquillitatem pro curare poterit ; at pax Dei longissime superat omnem effectum illum, quem mens creata producere valet; Deus in animis eam producit quietem, tranquillitatem; consolationem, pacem, et tantam in mediis afflictionibus alacritatem, quae omnes conatus hominis ad aequanimitatem habendam longissime excedat. Ergo orationibus ad Deum fusis id efficitur, ut pro anxia cura et sollicitudine, qua animi hominum vexari ac deprimi solent, pax Dei, est aperte nexus inter v. 6 el 7 : nihil solliciti sitis, sed innotescant petitiones apud Deum e£ pax Dei etc. Quare quaenam pax hoc loco intelligenda sit, facile perspicitur. Neque enim sermo est de reconciliatione, quam Deus fecit cum hominibus, prout pacem concipiunt Chrys. Thph. Est. Nat. Tust. ; neque sermo est de pace et concordia inter . homines, neque de pace cofiscientiae (Lap.), neque de pace seu tranquillitate ordinis divini (Cai.), neque de pace qua Deus ipse fruatur (Beelen). Haec pax qua largiente Deo ab omni sollicitudine eximantur simul iis erit firmum tutamentum, custodiat, opovphcs corda vestra et intelligentias vestras «à votueca in Christo Tesu, utitur apostolus verbo militari, praesidio quodam muniet, «,videturque ad militares excubias respexisse; ut enim vigilantibus a ceteri securi dormiunt, ita omnia tuta sunt iis qui hac pace perfruuntur » (Zust.): vel pax haec tuebitur ac muniet instar valli cuiusdam aut praesidii corda vestra, intellectum ac voluntatem et qù voíuzcza scil. quae intellectu et voluntate concepta proferuntur. Cor haud raro totum hominem interiorem significat et ponitur pro affectu, sensu, intelligentia. In graeco est tempus futurum ; ita ut oratio non tam hortantis sit, quam consolantis et promittentis, fore ut hac pace omnes eorum sensus, affectus, cogitationes firmiter muniantur in Christo Iesu, in eoque retineantur, ut nihil sentiant vel appetant vel apud se cogitatione statuant quod sit contra lienare posset. Ita în Christo intime iunge cum immediate antecedente : corda et intelligentias vestras, haec sint ac maneant in Christo, in eius complantatione (Rom. 6,5), in.eius doctrina, in fervore rem eius promovendi. In Christo enim, ut Thom. dicit, affectus conservatur a malo et intellectus perseverat in vero. Et cum apostolus talem pacem Deo largilore promittat, eco»páse:, iterum rationem quandam tangit cur
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4,8. De cetero, fratres, quaecumque sunt 4,8. To Xotzov, legoi, Ooa &ozly AANT, vera, quaecumque pudica, quaecumque | 09a. ceuyd, ösa NM Oca. &yvá, sa xp0Gciusta, quaecumque sancla, quaecumque gi, oa eÜpnua, els Tis doeth zal el vii amabilia, quaecumque bonae famae, si qua | Erawos (èniorhune) vaca hoy eshe. 9. d xod virtus, si gua laus disciplinae, haec cogi- ; tate. 9. Quae et didicislis et áccepistis et audistis et vidistis in me, haee agite : et Deus pacis erit vobiscum. l 10. Gavisus sum autem in Domino vehep éy zupiw peyahws, óc. 105 notè àvefüd.- menler. quoniam tandem aliquando refto- | Xece TO 0xip 6uo9 povely' èp’ © xat typo- occupati enim. eratis. 44. Non quasi propenaty AEN evo Ye. čuabov. iy olg elut nulla mihi ecclesia communicavit in ra- | Xdyov 8dastoe xal Appews, et uh Opes uóvot, tione datiet accepti, nisi vos soli, 16. quia | 46. ti xal iy Os cora xal anat xat òlis et Thessalonicam semel et bis in usum mihi misistis; 11. non quia quaero datum, sed requiro fructum, abundantem in ratione vestra. 18. Habeo autem omnia et abundo : repletus sum,acceptis ab Epaphvodito quae tam, placeniem Deo. 19. Deus autem meus Swdias, Üvciav. ðexthv eüpsoroy t Ocö. impleat omne desiderium vestrum secun- | 49. 6 òè Osóg pov e màcey ypelay dum divitias suas in gloria in Christo Iesu. Üuy xarà TO mAoUrtog ATOS ÈV doën Em 20. Deo autem et Patri nostro gloria in Xororó Inooŭ. 20. v9 02 8:9 xai rator tv saecula saeculorum. Amen. i : h Odea elg tóbs alvas TØV alóyov. Awy. 91. Salutate omnem sanctum in Christo , ; ; " S M vs Inu 91. "Aon&cxo0s nayta &yrov y. X oiov) 22. Salutantvos qui mecum sunt fratres. Tagoù. x Salutant vos omnes sancti, maxime autem 22. aanak OVTOL bugs x&yvec 0l &t01, paz quide Caesaris domo sunt. * m (Gra 0E ol ex tij Kaísapo: otxtac. * 93. Gratia Domini mostri Iesu Christi H yao coU-xuptou. "Inso$ Xpto109 cum spiritu vestro. Amen. ed coU nYeópaos ouv. Tandem ad finem properans («2 2o», cf. 3,1) magna sermonis sollemnitate plurima et amplissima eorum seriae commendat. meditationi et altlentioni, Sermonis vim et vehementiam produnt acdelineant asyndeta maxime generalis? «c. Quaenam in tota cogitandi ralione peculiari attentione prosequenda el retinendasint, longiore enumeratione recenset : quaecumque sunt vera, apodosis ad singula pertinens ponitur in fine, haec cogitate taŭze Xovítea0e, haec animo tractate, ad haecanimum adverlite. Quae enumerantur, ad mores pertinent ; quare vera quoque non de veritate religiosa seu integritate doctrinae concipienda erunt, sed polius de iis quae ab omni specie, falsa seu fallaci remota sunt, ergo de iis. neque adspecialem seu singularem virtulem coarctantur; quare vera quoque hac notione ampliore capienda erunt, neque solum peculiari modo explicanda sunt deiis quaeremota sunt a mendacio, hypocrisi, simulatione. : Nimisarcta est versio vulg quaecumque pudica, sa ceu, veteres interpretes iam monent vocem referri ad gravitatem morum et honestatemní el decorem ; csp»£ sunt quae apud alios reverentiam gignunt ; 1úbentur itaque modi agendi, loquendi honesti, decori, quibus existimalio quaedam et veneratio aliis ingeratur. Graeci arctius concipiunt dici ceuy& contra eos qui terrena sapiunt (3,10); quaecumque iusta, ixua notione contra eos quorum deus venter est{3,19); quaecumque amabilia, mp06QU,, grata aliis et accepta, voUro òè, õi% vb py mpooxpobety tigi (Thph.yÀ. e. ne quos offendant; quaecumque ad amicitiam, concordiam, benevolentiam alendam aut promovendam sunt accommoda (Lap.) ; ergo nihil in moribus aut conversatione sit durum aut asperum ; ea.nolione. explica etiam amabilia, quae digna sunt quaeamentur et omnibus cara sint (Zust.). Notio vocis poss acliva (nempe benevolus) minus congruit et sequenti quoque membro prior explicatio commendatur; quaecumque bonae famae cU. : vult eos «àv Tods dvÜpo ous meovoeiy (Chrys. Thph.), séd quo sensu id intelligendum sit, non apparet ; fortasse eodem modo concipi poterit, atque interpretatio latina, ea esse agenda quae bonam famam et exislimalionem pariant apud homines; nam providemus bona non solum coram Deo, sed etiam coram hominibus (2 Cor. 8,21; Rom. 12,17), oportet enim et testimonium habere bonum ab iis qui foris sunt (1 Tim. 3,7) ; eo sensu legitur sòọnpia 2 Cor. 6,8 in opposilione ad Bocenpíu. Verum quidquid sit de notione e)guíz, ad eam significationem nequit sUeruoc trahi, sed retinenda est notio communis loqui verba boni ominis, vitare verba quae offensionem pariant. Et ita s)gqux apte adneclitur ad z2oco0:3, grata, accepta, el explica s9gnv.x bene sonantia, ita scil. ut omnis loquendi modus sedulo vitetur, quo quis iure offendi possit. A qua notione non multum distat quod Ambrst. habet: laudabilia, qua voce etiam exprimitur, verba turpia esse vitanda, loquenda quae probari possint. ' Enumeralio absolvitur sententia maxime generali sé. qua virtus, àcszá, nusquam tamen in, scriptura novi testamenti legitur, praeterquam hoc loco et 4 Petr. 2,9 » (Est.) et 2 Petr. 1,3.5. Quidquid igitur in numero et genere virtutum ponitur, ad hoc scil. animum attendite pet huic additur : el cte ënawvos quidquid. laude et approbatione dignum est; vult itaque. apostolus, ut etiam áliorum iudicii et approbationis ratio habeatur, uti alias monuit ; quae aedificationis sunt, in invicem custodiamus ; unusquisque proximo suo placeat in bonum ad aedificationem (Rom. 14,19; 15,2), omnia ad aedificationem fiant (2 Cor. 14,96). Textus graecus communiter fertur ef «tc Exatvoc Sine additamento ; in paucis testibus additur nious, inde in vulg. s qua laus disciplinae, quidquid. laude dignum est, vel laudem. meretur disciplinae, bonae institutionis aut conversationis, haec cogitate, taŭta Aoyítss0s ad haec animum applicate, liaec mentibus volvite et meditamini. Atque haec omnia 'apostolus eos docuit etsuo exemplo iis quasi spectanda exhibuit. Unde, sicut supra dixit xoc Eyexe cónov 11s 9,17, itanune similiter
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v. 9 quae et didicistis et accepistis, duo verba ad doctrinam a Paulo traditam spectant, edocti sunt à Paulo et eiusmodi tradidit illis; e£ audistis et vidistis in me, pertinent haec ad exemplum quod Paulus iis dedit, quod iis notum est et ex aliorum narratione et ex propria eorum experientia. Haec optitna docendi ralio est, ait, Chrys., se ipsum in omnibus monitionibus formam, zózov, praebere. Et aliam rationem affert Dam., apostolum suum adducere exemplum, ne videatur aliquid eis maius praecipere quam asséqui possent; ne despondeatis animum tamquam ardua praecepta sint et maiora quam praestare valeatis; in me enim, inquit, audivistis omnia fieri, et non solum audistis sed vidistis ». Quaeitaqueex doctrina et exemplo apostoli norunt, haec agite, non sufficit oyičesgðs, sed. pro re nata illa ad praxin, Todocete, et ad exercitium sunt perducenda et opere .exsequenda. Quae si praes- Literint, et Deus pacis erit vobiscum, Deus auctor pacis et largitor auxilio suo vobis praesto erit (cf. 4,7). | tim ab initio tetigerat (1,5), sed de qua nunc pluribus agit laudans Philippenses de studio succurrendi, sed magis gaudens de eorum profectu, quam de ope sibi praestita;
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v. 10 gavisus sum autem in Domino vehementer, « non mundi, inquit, atque huius vitae more gavisus sum, sed in Domino; non quia ego respiravl, &vXx«uetv £oyov yo, sed quoniam vos profecistis » (Chrys.). Gaudium suum ait fundamentum habere et radifectu pariter propter Christi causam laetatur. Vox vehementer peydhws cum emphasi in fine ponitur. Explicat itaque simul cum laude Philippensium, quomodo adventu Epaphroditi, qui donum eorum secum tulit, maximo gaudio affectus sit et gaudii causam exponit : quoniam tandem aliquando reftoruistis pro me sentire ;non desunt, qui in istis verbis tacitam aliquam reprehensionem Philippensium deprehendant (Chrys. Oec. arboribus germinantibus, dein arefactis, ac rursum germinantibus; hoc vero indicare vult, illos cum antea florerent ac postea extabuissent (uapavðévreç), rursum vigere ; quamobrem vox illa et obiurgatio est et laus. Et similiter alii concipiunt: veluti post ariditatem aut post hiemem revirescentes, iterum incepistis pro me solliciti esse ( Est.). Quae tamen explicatio nimis quaesita et coacta videtur. Atque illi „ipsi qui ita explicant, statim in fine sententiae aliter loquuntur, quasi receptui canunt, et reprehensionem omnem retractant : « non id, inquit, vestrae negligentiae erat, sed necessitatis; non enim habebatis in manibus, non abundabatis » (Chrys.) non pro socordia me neglexislis, sed occasionem mittendi non habuistis (Oec.); opportunitatem non habuistis (Est.); postea increpationem mitigat et excusat (Lap. Iust.). Verum si ita reprehensionem oportet statim excusare vel penitus auferre, iam eo ipso merito potius dispiciendum est, num revera lateat in verbis prioribus reprehensio vel negligentiae vel tarditatis (Cai.). Atque revera alii nihil reprehensionis reperiunt in. primis istis verbis (cf. TAeod. ThdM. Thom. Nat. Beelen, M. Hpt.) et hisce erit assentiendum. Primo notari oportet, in &va0d23.etv non necessario exprimi notionem rursus, iterum virescere, ~ sed efflorescere, sursum florescere, sursum germinare. Porro erit inqui- - rendum, uirum &vx0X)e accipiendum sit notione transitiva (frondere — ^: facere, Ez. 17,24; Eccli 4,46 &vo0d)3tv cioýyny et 50,10 oc hala dYa0d))o0co xapnoUc), aut intransitiva. Hac notione intransitiva vocem hic accipiunt graeci et hac notione adhibetur vox apud profanos. Et ea significatione cum vulg: erit verbum retinendum : quia tandem aliquando floruistis, ut mei curam agatis, i. e. tandem aliquando ad tam prosperam pervenistis conditionem. Si vero 2va04:)3ew transitive accipitur : landem aliquando iterum fecistis florere * curam pro me agere, non quidem exprimitur reprehensio, quasi longiore tempore neglexissent curam eius habere; altamen suaviter insinuare videtur apostolus se amorem et curam eorum desiderasse. Verlit Dib. : cura vestra pro me tandem aliquando apparere - potuit (ans Licht treten). : Apostolus itaque gavisus est valde simul cum Philippensibus, quia - tandem aliquando (ubi etiam ,Philippensium mens indicatur) res eorum floruerint quod attinet. ad curam apostoli, £g à xat iepoveie, sicut et | senLiebatis ; semper scil. pro apostolo curam gerebant, seu solliciti erant (ef. Thph.). Si «govetv hoc loco accipimus sensu goce studere, operam dare, curam agere, dein facile etiam explicatur £o! xoà £ggoveise : £o" ò refertur scil. adsententiam ór: åveðdhete tò (fero quoque lectio To) ünip êyoŭ ppovety, etad hoc; ut res vestíae florerent, etiam curam egistis. Verki quale impedimentum diu obsteterit, declaratur : 7xatgeic0s 3£ (dxatgeicÜn. Opp. «à süxatgeiy) opportunum tempus autem non habuistis, opportuna seu prospera cotiditione non potiebamini. Bene sensum declarat Theod. : iam dudum enim volebatis meae subventioni prospicere, &AAà xctph» ovx toyhxate, sed non habuistis opportunitatem. Locutionem explicant: non habebatis in manibus vestris neque abundabatis ; a communi loquendi consuetudine hoc depromptum est; volemus enim dicere : angustia me invasit, malum tempus nunc est (ef. Chrys. Oec. Thph.). Quod in vulg. habetur: occupati enim eratis explica : impedili enim eratis, et eo sensu occupare quandoque adhibetur, v. g. ministeria aestu occupantur (apud Curtium; vide lexica). Magnum suum gaudium manifestavit apostolus, quod tandem. aliquando Philippenses id ei praestare poterant, cuius diu iam curam gerebant. Ne autem putent huius sui gaudii ralionem praecipuam esse, quod ipsius penuria esset ablata, subdit
4:11
v. 14 non quasi propter penuriam dico oùz ôr: elliptice, où Aéyo óct; affirmat se non ratione habita penuriae ita loqui. Non negat se penuriam passum esse, sed negat se dixisse : gavisus sum propterea, quod meae indigenliae consuluislis. Gavisus est deflorenti condilione eorum quae tandem aliquando iis obvenerit, non autem, ac si afflictus fuisset de sua penuria antequam liberalitate eorum ab ea essel levatus. Et cur merito ita loqui possit, explicat : ego enim didici, in quibus sum, sufficiens esse, usu el exercitatione didici contenius esse iis quae habeo, contentus esse praesentibus, contentus esse statu in quo versor. Ponitur cum emphasi ego enim, ut efferatur quod asseruil; non mea causa, non meae inopiae causa, sed vestra causa gavisus sum. Apostolus suam sibi servat libertatem; didicit sibi esse sufficiens, aòtdoxns ; cf. 2 Cor. 9,8 aòttoxciæ sufficientia; hane sibi suffi- cf. Hebr. 13,5 ZoxoUpevot coi; xapoUs!v contenti praesentibus. Unde innuit se non indiguisse necessario eorum beneficentia et dono. — Hane suam sibi sufficientiam ulterius explicat, se scil. in omni rerum conditione rebus dominari neque ullo pacto sub earum redigi potestate elucet notio *xzsvoWs0x: in conditione esse tenui, angusta, paupere; egestate et inopia laborare; antea dixit didici, cuius effectus est iam scio, scio ex una parte ferre penuriam, scio ex alterá parte etiam ferre abundantiam; scio quomodo me geram in penuria, quomodo in abundantia; 1. e. in penuria non tristatur neque deiicitur; in abundantia non extollitur; sed eundem se praestat in egestate et in abundantia (Chrys. Thyph.), semper servans animum liberum, rebus superiorem. Idque affirquóvis elin omnibus — locutio designatur maxime generalis — institutus sum uenia: initiatus sum, quasi sacram rem seu quoddam mysterium didicit, in omni plane rerum conditione et statu et quocumque casu oceurrente servare hanc libertatem animi et hoc dominium. Paulo aliter explicat Chrys. : in hoc longo tempore omnium experientiam cepi sipzv Safe» mX»cov, et haec omnia bene processerant. Sed fortasse consulto elegit apostolus vocem ad iniliandum sacris et mysteriis pertinentem, ut innuat ad talem libertatem animi perveniendum esse, sacra quadam institutione, hominem coelitus edoceri debere. ~ Quod in universum dixit ¿v mayr} xai £v näoıv, iam singillatim illustratur : et satiari et esurire, et abundare et penuriam. pati, ea se coelitus edoctum esse ait. Docet apostolus maximam animi libertatem servandam esse, neque. expedire se rebus ita dare, ut hae quasi dominium in hominem exerceant. Talem animi libertatem rebus superiorem ipse apostolus descripsit : reliquum est, ut et qui habent uxores tamquam non habentes sint, et qui flent tamquam non flentes, et qui gaudent tamquam non gaudentes et qui emunt tamquam non possidentes etc. (1 Cor. 7,29- 31). Ad rem notat Thph. : monstrat aulem per haec, quod neque antea cum nil conferrent, tristaretur, neque nunc cum darent, gavisus sit humana ratione, sed de ipsis, qui hisce utilitatem caperent. Et unde habeat vim et robur in hisce et in reliquis omnibus, subdit
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v. 13: omnia possum in eo qui.me confortat, non suis viribus quidquam tribuit, verum totum suum posse refert ad Christi opem et confortationem et simul exprimit maximam spem et fiduciam omnia possum, nihil unquam occurrere posse, cui non par sit ferendo seu exsequendo, quia in Christo consistens semper ab eo accepturus sit vires et robur. Quae dè se dixerat et quae profecto magna sunt, iam ait non esse opus suum, sed Christi opus, inde 'omnem speciem magniloquentiae evitat (cf. Chrys. Thph.). Dixerat apostolus se non propler penuriam gavisum esse de dono eorum, se scire sibi sufficere et penuriam pati; ne igitur Philippenses offenderentur, ac si non libenter accepisset quae misissent — solent enim qui dant offendi, quando accipientes asserunt se non indigere (Thph.) —1am eos laudat de eorum beneficentia; nam etsi ipse non opus habebat eorum subsidio, illi tamen ex sua parte praeclare egerunt;
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v. 14 verumtamen bene xaç fecistis communicantes tribulationi meae : facti sunt participes et socii tribulationis apostoli, svvxotwvevászvvéc poo «7, 014pe: mecum participes facti afflictionis meae. In eo reponit apostolus encomium, quod in talem cum ipso communionem et participationem afflictionis ingressi sunt; eo ipso enim etiam socii et participes praemii effecti sunt. Vim vocis declarat Chrys. : ostendens eos etiam lucrum fecisse, quandoquidem praemiorum facti erant parlicipes; et eodem. modo. de participatione mercedis explicant ThdM. Lap. Iust. Nat. et simili modo Hpt. quoque rem concipit, dum scribit, Philippenses tribulationem Pauli tamquam suam propriam considerasse, unde etiam benedictionem ad ipsos permanare. In tali participatione iam exprimitur notio communionis sanctorum. Et ad mercedis participationem etiam valet verbum illud Christi : qui recipit iustum in nomine iusti, mercedem iusti accipiet (Matth. 10,41). Alque eiusmodi communicatio et arcta societas non nunc primum exstilit, verum ab inilio praedicationis evangelii apud eos usque nunc vigebat inter Paulum et solos Philippenses, ita ul ea in re Philippenses prae ceteris omnibus ecclesiis eminerent. Recolit ilaque apostolus quae ipsi iam antea exhibita fuerant, ita ostendens se horum memorem esse apostolus adeo explicite statuit eos non primum nunc se beneficos erga ipsum praestitisse, sed id fecisse eos de more, id fecisse eos solos prae reliquis ecclesiis ;
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v. 13 scitis autem et vos, Philippenses, quod in principio evangelii: cum magno affectu eos nominatim compellat, volens iis clare in memoriam reducere, ut sibi conscii sint, lalem communicationem solum inter se et Paulum intercedere et intercessisse ab initio praedicationis evangelii apud ipsos, et deinceps quando profectus sum a Macedonia’, quando scil. relicta Macedonia per varias partes in Graecia,in Asia minore evangelicae praedicationi incumbebat (cf. Act. 17-290), nulla mihi ecclesia communicavit in ratione dati et dccepti, nisi vos soli ; et haec arcta societas inter Paulum et Philippenses consistebat in hac communica- Lione eic Aóyov 8óssoc xoi Ańupsws, locutio petitur ex re mercatoria ; in rationibus pecuniariis duae sunt partes seu tabulae expensorum et acceptorum. De notione Xóyoc vide Matth. 18,23; 25,19; Luc. 10,2 redde rationem villicationis tuae. Sensus locutionis üt: nullus fidelium coetus pro ministerio sibi impenso stipendia mihi dedit, nisi vos soli. Haec ratio dati et accepti illustratur consideratione illa quam apostolus affert : si nos vobis spiritualia seminàvimus (dedimus), magnum est si nos carnalia vestra metamus (accipiamus, 4 Cor. 9,11)? et docet gentiles esse debitores fidelium 1udaeorum : nam si spiritualium eorum participes facti sunt gentiles, debent et in carnalibus ministrare illis (Rom. 15,21). Hoc suum ius tuetur apostolus et compluribus argumentis probat Corinthiis, quamvis ob peculiares rationes ab iis nihil vellet accipere (1 Cor. 9,4-18). Et quam prompte et celeriter Philippenses stipendia ipsi persolverint, exemplo demonstrat; nam vix reliquerat Philippenses et adhuc degebat in Macedonia, iam accepit dona ab eis
4:16
v. 16 quia et Thessalonicam semel et bis in usum mihi misistis, ôt: forte non erit eadem notione capiendum qua äm: v. 15; nam vix potest supponi apostolum voluisse dicere : vos scitis vos mihi misisse; « atqui insipida sit istiusmodi oratio; ox: hoc loco valet nam, ut hic sit nexus sententiarum : merito dico vos mihi succurrisse quo tempore in vestra regione evangelium a me fuit praedicatum, nam el iam tum cum essem Thessalonicae, adeoque vel antequam Macedoniam relinquerem, semel atque iterum mihi misistis, quae in usus meos erant necessaria » (Beelen). Thessalonicae apostolus in synagoga per tria sabbata disserebat Iudaeis de scripturis; ex Iudaeis pauci crediderunt, multo plures ex proselytis; vide Act. 17,2-5; ex v. 4 videtur sequi Paulum diutius ibi versatum esse et relicta synagoga evangelium. praedicasse: Longiori commoralioni etiam magis congruit, quod miserint xoi &xaZ xat Sc, i. e. semel et iterum (uti locutio graeca in vulg 1 Thess. 2,18 bene redditur). Quare non opus est assumere eos intra tempus trium hebdomadum non tantum semel, sed bis misisse. Miserunt ¿v GeocoJovíxv, scil. cum apostolus ibi esset, seu (uli graece in verbis motus usuvenit) miserunt donum quod mansit Thessalonicae im usum cig civ ypetav, yge(av yàp TÀ peur danavýpaærtd qat, où vgugTv, où ex«zuXn (Thph.), sumptus dicit necessarios, non delicias, non luxum. De nolione dpsie cf. Act. 20-34; Rom. 12-13; £ Cor. 12,21. Hebr. 5,12 ete. d Prorsus aliam. explicationem. ad v. 15 Hpt. proponit. Censet enim ex v. 16 mentione facta Thessalonicae sequi, sententiam in v. 45 óxe éEzA0ov àro Maxc$ovíag nullo pacto posse intelligi : quando profectus sum a Macedonia; nam cum Thessalonica esset urbs Macedoniae, pecunia illa Thessalonicam missa nullo modo potest ratio afferri pro eo, quod Philippenses, cum apostolus Macedoniam relinqueret, cum. eo inierint communicationem in ratione dati et accepti. Quare censet te &E7200v àno Maxedovias facile aliter concipi posse; idque exemplis ostendit : 1 Cor. 14,36 quaeritur :-àg' pöy ó Aóyoc 109 Oeod £870ev ; Aro : itaque designat locum seu regionem, unde praedicatio evangelii in alias regiones emanavit; et simili modo, si de Iesu dicitur loan. 3,2. et 16,30 áno 0coü 2E50ec, non indicatur Patrem. esse relictum, sed solum a quo exierit. Eodem modo ergo concipi vult őre é£5)00v àxo Maxedovias, Macedonia regio est ex qua praedicatio evangelii in alias regiones transferri coepta est. Unde oritur sensus: cum inciperem in Macedonia cursum meum evangelicae praedicationis, nulla ecclesia me adiuvit, nisi vos soli; nam iam Thessalonicam misistis in ipsa Macedonia sitam, etc. Sed. in hac explicatione alia occurrit difficultas. Cum inciperet cursum suum evangelicum in Macedonia, quaenam ecclesiae exsistebant quae possent subsidia mittere? In Europa nulla; prima in Europa est ecclesia Philippensium; in Asia exsistebant coetus christiani illi quorum mentio fit Act. 13,14. partibus ? an illarum ecclesiarum socordiam notare voluit? vix credibile videtur. Neque tanta est difficultas in v. 16, ut recurrendum sit ad explicationem verborum ôte éEzA0oy azo Maxeoovíac quae nemini usque ad Hpt. in mentem venit et ralione quam prompte et celeriter subsidia miserint; non. solum post meam profectionem, imo antequam. profectus sum, vos memores fuistis indigentiae meae (cf. Vincent). : Commemoravit laudans Philippensium liberalitatem et promptitudinem. Sed, uli in v. 4f, statim cavet ne videatur hoc fecisse sui ipsius causa, ac si vellet ut sibi subsidia mitterentur v. AT non quia quaero datum oùy ôt: &ntUnx Tò 9óUx, cf. v. 14, non haec dico quia expeto donum vestrum. Antea dixerat senon gavisum propter sublevationem penuriae ; nunc explicat principalem causam sui gaudii, manifestans se non quaerere eiusmodi temporalia, sed quaerere sedulo ut abundet fructus bonorum operum in eis (cf. Ca?.), sed requiro fructum abundantem in ratione vestra, cb» xapròy non simplheiter vestrum desidero lucrum, sed «iv ticovdtovtæ, sed fructum accrescentem, lucrum plane abundans «ic )dntov 5p. in ralionem vestram, in computum vestruni, ut scil. merita vestra et inde merces vestra apud Deumaugeatur. Ergo ratio gaudii est lucrum spirituale Philippensium. Sensu omnino generali accipi debebit fructus abundans quem apostolus apud Philippenses expetit, i. e. de progressu et meritis bonorum operum, de eximia vita in omni pietate et integritate morum, quae vita erit fructus abundans institutionis ac doctrinae evangeli. Nam quod saepius explicant: si quid a vobis accipio, vestrum est lucrum (Zst.), vel gaudeo de fructu qui ex vestra liberalitate ad vos redi- - turus est (Nat.), non videtur probari posse. Si enim apostolus talem fructum abundantem revera expeteret, cerle eo ipso expeteret indirecto modo, sed ex necessaria consequentia, eliam donum abundans; id quod Lamen a mente apostoli longissime abest; nam non quaero quae vestra, sed vos (2 Cor.-12,14).
4:17
Dixerat: requiro fructum abundantem ; ne id male intelligatur, quasi ulterius expeteret subsidium, nunc declarat ea quae acceperit plenissime sufficere, imo se abundare ; et hanc largitatem et liberalitatem exaggerans simul ostendit gratum animum quo donum eorum acceperit
4:18
v. 18 habeo autem omnia, àx£,o, verbum hoc indicare debitum ex parte dantis, explicite. docent Chrys. Thph. &£àeew t: ogen toriy Tò mpRYux tovto yop sty &n£yo* aliter Oec. qui &néyw declarat per &x Xara otov 00x čti yoeíav £y tovtov, Sic ut his iam non indigeam ; Matth. 6,2 àz£&yovctv vertitur invulg. receperunt (mercedem suam); unden ostro loco etiam. quandoque explicant: recepi omnia; quae explicatio optima videtur, quia mz% esl idem atque acceptum aliquid testor (et eo sensu occurrit etiam in papyris et ostracis aegypt.); alii notionem verbi tradunt vico? £ysvaucta : plene habeo; imo addit apostolus et abundo, plus habeo quam mihi opus est; animum gratum declarat quo scil. beneficia magni aestimantur et exaggerantür, id quod iis quoque gratum el acceptum est qui dederunt. Denuo auget sermonem repletus sum acceptis ab Epaphrodito quae misistis xen if ooat ekdyuevoç postquam accepi donum vestrum tà map’ ó.óv, iam non restat locus seu spatium, ut ulterius quidquam recipiatur. Emphalica est cońsecutio verborum &z£;o, xsptsceóo, xexXüooya (Beelen). Ad «X zap’ möv; quae misistis apponitur appositio qua declaratur quid . sit donum eorum ratione habita Dei : odorem suavitatis, hostiam acceptam, placentem Deo, exclamat Chrys.: « papae, quo eorum munus evexit! non ego, inquit, accepi, sed Deus per me ». Consideratur tamquam sacrificium, quod in odorem suavitalis ad Deum ascendit, ab eo magna benevolentia et complacentia acceplatur tamquam res gralissima. Quae de „sacrificiis proprie dictis affirmantur, transfert apostolus ad eleemosynam tamquam ad sacrificium »metaphoricum; item Hebr. 13,16 beneficentiae el communionis nolite oblivisci; talibus enim hostiis promeretur Deus. Quod dixerat : requiro fructum abundantem «is Aóyov duv (v. 17) iam impletum iri promittit: vos necessitati meae providistis, Deus abundanter vestram indigentiam replebit
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v. 19 Deus autem meus, quem colo, cuius sum apostolus (.Nat.), quem peculiari affectu Deum suum vocat, quia pro beneficio sibi collato supplicationem offert, impleat, zX«póse, implebit omne desiderium vestrum nõsav yosíav buv omnem necessitatem, indigenliam vestram; iam Chrys. monet etiam legi xZc«v y4ow et nčcav yaptw, sed praeferendam censet lectionem 72síz « quoniam antea dixerat 1;xatgeic0s (v. 10), subiungit hic quod etiam facit in epistola ad Corinthios dicens: qui administrat semen seminanli et 'panem ad manducandum, praestabit et multiplicabit semen vestrum et augebit incrementa frugum iustiliae vestrae » (2 Cor. 9,10). Et quam abundanter. Deus id largiturus sit, indicatur, neque enim id praestabit quovis modo, sed secundum divitias suas LATÈ «b TAOÙTOG curo pro ralione et ménsura opulentiae suae ; dabit non secundum merita eorum, sed secundum divitias Dei (Cai.) ; dabit non parca manu, sed liberaliter pro sua ingenti affluentia et liberalitate (Zust.) ; insuper dabit in gloria £v 9675, inter varias accepliones illa videtur sensui et progressui orationis maxime consentanea, qua £v 3624 adverbialiter sumitur; est altera determinatio ad replebit ; prior est secundum divitias suas ; nunc insuper modo glorioso replebit (cf. Lap. Tust. Beelen, M. Hpt.); qui modus gloriosus intelligi potest, quatenus in ipsa largitione bonorum gloria et maiestas Dei splendide manifestatur et apparet (M. Hpt.) vel replebit cum magna et praeclara gloriae vestrae testificatione apud. omnes mortales et cum certa futurae felicitatis exspectatione (Just. Lap.). Replebit évbófoc splendide, i. e. largiter (Beelen) hoc loco ieiunum est post membrum antecedens. Aliis placet £v 357 explicare tamquam monitum, ut ad Dei gloriam utantur abundantia Chrys. Oec. Thph.) vel ut promissionem coelestis gloriae : replebit in gloria coelestis patriae (Cai. Nat.), in gloria sua (TAom.), ita replebit ut ea vobis cedant ad gloriam vitae aeternae (Est.), replebit coelestibus ac divinis bonis (Theod. Tust. in commentario ; aliter in paraphrasi). Et demum opinatur Est. iungi posse 1ta, ut Deus dicatur dives in gloria. Uti cuncta quae nobis tribuuntur, nobis obveniunt ex Christi meritis et ut membris corporis Christi, ita-etiam hoc loco demum additur : in Christo Jesu, ita ut ratio et causa, cur Deus impleturus sit, ultimatim fundetur et constituatur in eo qui est mediator inter Deum et homines (1 Tim. 2,3); implebit pecitevovtos toù XewcoU ( Thph.). Concludit partem hanc de dono a Philippensibus sibi misso doxologia
4:20
v. 20 Deo autem, et Patri nostro gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Vidit enim apostolus in dono illo bonum Philippensium opus et fructum et fontem benedictionis divinae (v. 14,17). Quare cum gratiarum actione ad Dei laudem assurgit. Deus est Pater fidelium, quatenus hi vioðscí in filios a Deo sunt adoptali et eo spiritu clamant: Abba, Pater (Rom. 8, 15.23 ; Gal. 4,5. Eph. 4,5; 1 Ioan. 3,U. Huic Deo Patri 5 óta debetur rum aeternitas cogitatur tamquam indefinita quaedam series saeculorum (Beelen). De omnibus quae praestitistis glorificelur Deus in omnem aeternitatem (Thom. Est. Nat.). Additur amen, sic fiat; formula hoc loco est precantis, optantis, confirmantis, uti in fine doxologiaeiam legitur in psalmis hebraeis 41,14; 72,19; 89,53; 106,48 amen (vulg fiat Ps. 40,14 etc.) et 1 Par. 16,36; Neh. 8,6, sicuti ad confirmationem rei propositae universus populus iubetur dicere amen (Deut. 27,15-26. Neh. 5,13). Ut in aliis epistolis (Rom. 1-2 Cor. Col.4 Thess.), ita hic quoque adiungit salutationes;
4:21
v. 21 salutate omnem sanctum in Christo Iesu, unumquemque fidelem ! qui versatur apud vos, salutate in Christo, non profana salutatione, sed cuius ratio, causa, modus quoque fundetur in communione cum Christo, in statu conditionis christianae. Notat Zust. : sed si ad omnem Philippensium ecclesiam epistola scripta est, ut ex initio constat, cui praeterea sanclorum salutem dicit ? an externis et peregrinis? an presbyteros et diaconos praecipue alloquitur eisque mandat, ut aliis fidelibus salutem dicant ? Hoc ultimum improbabile est, quia toties in epistola omnes vos alloquitur (1,1.4.7.8.25 ; 2,26 et cf. 4,15 vos Philippenses); potius de priore cogitari potest, ut externos.et peregrinos Philippis commorantes salutent, et si quis lectioni publicae epistolae non interfuerint. Cum sua-salutatione etiam aliorum salutationem eis scribit
4:22
v. 22 salutant vos qui mecum sunt fratres, et generatim omnes qui Romae versantur: salutant vos omnes sancti; qualem animorum coniunctionem eadem fides inter maxime dissitos et extraneos efficiat, pluribus prosequitur Chrys. : qui longe inler se distabant, sibi tamen vicissim coniuncti erant, et. qui procul aberant, perinde ac si prope essent, inter se salutabant et singuli erga singulos veluti erga sua membra afficiebantur ; aeque pauper erga divitem etc. i « Erexit eos et confirmavit ostendens ad imperatoriam etiam domum pervenisse praedicationem » (Chrys. Oec. Thph.), maxime autem qui de Caesaris domo sunt : oi £x ths Kaíaugoc otxias sunt ministri, servi, famuli, aulici, i. e. eiusmodi ministeria obibant liberti et servi (cf. Zahn, Einl. 8 31,1)ct teste Friedländer primus qui aliquibus ministeriis aulicis equites praefecit erat Vitellius (Sittengeschichte I, p. 84). Affirmal Chrys. opere adversus impugnatores vitae monasticae (libro 4,3; M. 47,323) narrat a Paulo concubinam Neronis valde dilectam (z«X3ax(óz) esse ad fidem adductam. Brevius dicit : Aéyscat &oxáoot Néoovog xat oivoyóov xe zx)Aaxióx (Rom. 45 in Act. M. 60,325). Sed res est plane incerta. Ex martyrologio romano (11.17 die maii) Evellium et Torpetem, Neronis familiares fuisse, et sub eo martyrio coronatos traditur. Concludit apostolus epistolam consueta apprecatione, qua melius et sublimius valete nequit excogitari
4:23
v. 23 gratia Domini nostri Iesu Christi eum spiritu vestro (amen); fertur alia lectio uetà závrov pov, et in sat multis additur 4v. Ceterum cf. Rom. 16,24; 1 Cor. 16,23, 2 Cor. 19,13. Gal. 6,18 gratia... cum spiritu vestro; Eph. 6,24. 4 Thess. 5,28. 2 Thess. 3,18. Apprecatio cum omnibus vobis saepius invenitur, cum spiritu vespro altera minus usitata substituerint. Altera haeclegitur adhuc Philem. v. 23 et 2 Tim. 4,22; quo sensu accipi possil cum spiritu, vide Cornet Com. in 2/Cor. et Gal. p. 614. > .COMMENTARIUS 1,1. Paulus apostolus Iesu Christi per ui sur : j j j rax 2c 3 f HR qui sunt Colossis, sanctis et fidelibus fra 2. «oic év KoAoccaig &ytote zal niators adehtribus in Christo Iesu. 3. Gratia vobis et ~ 3 7 ES P [4 € ^] A 1 ? ' : Ole ey Xorot@. 3. X&oig buiy xai EtOTVN axo pax a Deo Patre nostro el Domino Iesu ? BRUN dee Ve envn Christo Geo! xatpoc buv, In nomine apostoli continetur titulus auctoritatis, cur scribat fidelibus ceteroquin sibi ignotis; ceterum de inscriptione vide ad Eph. 1,1:2. Timotheus eodem modo nominatur in inscriptione 2 Cor. Phil. 1 et 2 Thess. Philm. ; praeter Timotheum in 4 et 2 Thess. adiunxit Silvanum. In compluribus epistolis salutatio non fit singulis, sed ecclesiae, uti 4.2 Cor. Gai. 1.2 Thess. Philm. ; certa causa eius varietatis frustra quaeritur. Salutatio mittitur coi; &yífec : de nomine éy:!os vide Eph. 1,4 et Phil. 4,21. Quaeritur hoc loco sitne explicandum «vei; &yíoi; per modum substantivi nominis vel adieclivi; qui prius praeferendum esse censent, provocant ad Rom. 1,7 ; 4 Cor. 4,2; 9 Cor. 1,1; Phil. 4,4 (Gla plerique recentiorum), alii meritocensent hisce exemplis rem non plane dirimi (Ew.), sed hoc loco adiectivum esse explicandum (Zpt.); designantur ex una parte tamquam separati a mundo, consecrati Deo, et ex altera parte lamquam ztezoí quam vocem longe plerique explicant de credentibus, de eorum fide [cf, Eph. 1,1). De firmitate seu fidelitate vocem. concipi debere contendunt Abbott, Lightfoot, quia alias nihil adderetur ad notiones &iotc et 4&8: ootc, sed prior vox nonexplicite fidem enuntiat, neque frater per se dicit fidem animo inhaerenten, el etiam frater in Christo polest designare eum qui externe coetui fidelium annumeratur. Insuper non apparet, qua in re seu cur firmilas seu fidelitas speciali modo efferatur. Intime in unam notionem confluit locutio fratribus in Christo, « non in Adamo, seu aliquo terreno parente, sed in Christo » (Lap.); vinculum huius cognalionis consistit et talis spiritualis fraternitas efficitur fide et baptismo Christi. Petitur gratia et paz (cf. 4 Cor. 4,3; Eph. 1,2) a Deo Patre nostro, cuius scil. nos fideles per vío0cc(z», per adoptionem filii sumus (cf. Eph. 4,5; Phil. 4,20). Hoc loco non addi et Domino nostro etc. iam disertis verbis monent Origenes et Chrys. neque habent hoc additum codices meliores vulg am fu. Sed cum eiusmodi additum legatur in reliquis epistolis Pauli omnibus, excepta 4 Thess., etiam patet cur in compluribus codicibus et versionibus sit adscriptum. Causam cur Paulus hoc dio 12. gratias agentes Deo Patri, qui | xoázog tňs Ons a0t00 elg mücay bxopoviy Familiari quadam insinuatione apostolus incipit a gratiarum actione ; sic enim orditur épistolam ad Romanos, et illam quae Ephesiis inscribi solet, ut se absentium non meminisse solum, sed etiam curam gerere, deque eorum salute apud Deum sollicitum esse doceat, qui pro iis Deo gratias agat et preces fundat (Iust.); gratias agimus, non de se solo, sed ob inscriptionem de Timotheo quoque id enuntiare apostolum merito censebis; eùygpıotoŭuey utrumque per se significat, gratias agimus et gratiam habemus; Deo et Patri Domininostri Iesu Christi, oritur hic eadem quaestio, uli Eph. 1,3, scil. utrum genitivus a solo nomine praecedenti dependeat, vel ab utroque. Dependere a solo nomine praecedenti censent Just. Nat. Lap. Hpt., Xa ut Deo separatim et solitarie ponatur : gratias agimus Deo (auctori omnium bonorum) vel Deo, qui est Pater Domini nostri. Lectio varia fertur ;apud aliquos testes xoi omittitur ; Chrys. legit «à O: «à IIacoí etc. Verum, uti iam dictum est ad Eph. 1,3, praestat ita explicare, ut genelivus ab utroque nomine depéndeat. Dominus ipse non est veritus dicere se ad Patrem suum et Patrem nostrum, ad Deum suum et Deum nostrum ascendere (Ioan. 20,13); ergo nihil profecto obstat, quin prima SS. Trinitalis persona, quae Pater est Verbi aeterni, Deus vocetur Verbi incarnati. Apostolus-ergo qui in locutione simili «à OsQ xa macro huv (Phil. 4,20; Gal. 1,4) genetivum 410v ad utrumque nomen retulit (Deo et Patri nostro) idem hic fecisse censeri potest, praesertim quia Eph. 1,17 scripsit ó Ge5c toù xuptóu tuOv "LInco) Xotecou. « Ambiguum vero esl, scribit Just., utrum apostolus dicat se quoties oret semper pro Colossensibus gratias agere, an vero ita se pro iis Deo graliam referre, ut semper suis in precibus eos bonorum auctori commendet ; utrum dixerit, non magnopere laborandum videtur; posterior certe sententia Chrysostomo magis arridet, cui ego non invitus assentior. » Ita ille. At certe meliorem sensum prior praebet sententia : gratias agimus semper, et id determinatur eo quod additur pro vobis orantes, scil. quando et quoties preces fundimus, etiam pro vobis Deo gratiasagimus; bene notat Cai.: « quod autem. dicit semper (gratias agimus), limitat subiungendo pro vobis orantes ». Id melius congruit, quam: semper pro vobis orantes gratias agimus (cf. Eph. 1,16). Qua gratiarum actione in orationibus suis magnum suum amorem in Colossenses testatur. Et hoc fecit ex tempore quo de eorum fide notitiam accepit v. 4 audientes, &xoócxvvsc postquam audivimus fidem vestram in Christo Iesu-cf. Eph. 4,15, fides scil. reposita in Christo; qui modus loquendi pariter habetur 1 Tim. 3,13 et 2 Tim. 3,15 2iX niotews ths £v Xov "Inoo?, similis videtur esse locutio Marc. 1,15 ztszs0ece ¿v c eos vYeXío, at Gal. 3,26 melius expli- - catur : omnes estis per fidem filii Dei in Christo (quotquot enim baptizati estis in Christum, Christum induistis). Cum fide 1 iungi debet caritas, ne fides sit mortua (Gal. 5,6; Iac. 2,23- 26); unde apostolus etiam gratias agit quod audivit de iis did cum fide et - dilectionem quam habetis in sanctos omnes, a profano mundo exempti, Deo consecrati sunt £y:o:; vide Eph. 1,15, quo loco sicuti saepius admirabilis haec biga, fides et caritas, apud apostolum apparet (Chrys:); cf. 1 Thess. 1,3; 2 Thess. 1,3; Philm. 5. « Perfectionem suo testimonio eis iribuit,cum eos dixit fide claros et caritate ; caritas enim universum mandatum in aclione consistens complectitur. Solet autem apostolus laudibus primum aures praeparare z2oJ«zívet», levigare, polire, tum deinde convenientem doctrinam tradere » (Theod.). Loquitur apostolus non de solo affectu. dilectionis (quem ad omnes homines protendi aliquo modo oporlet), sed de effectu et opere, maxime quoad subventionem necessilatis atque inopiae proximorum ; qua in re maxime valet : operemur . bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei (Gal. 6,10) et Rom. 12,13 necessitatibus sanclorum communicantes (cf. Est.). Bonos nuntios audierat ab Epaphra ; cf. v. 8. Commemorata fide et dilectione eliam incipit explicare materiam gratiarum actionis (Caz.). Et hanc materiam actionis gratiarum etiam ulterius assignat
4:1
… 1938, pp. 185-89). This tripartite hierarchy, from the very origins, exercised in different degree and manner true priestly functions, concerning the Sacrifice (e.g., the bishop performs the eucharistic rite: a fact explicitly attested by St. Ignatius [Phil. 4, 1], by St. Irenaeus [in Eusebius, Hist. eccl., V, 24, 16-17; PG 20, 507]; St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, celebrates the eucharistic Sacrifice in the presence of Pope Anicetus at Rome), …
4:2
… Other prominent figures are a Clement, the "genuine Syzygus" (Phil 4:3: is this a proper name?) and those two women Euodia and Syntyche, who are politely asked to come to an agreement (Phil 4:2).
4:3
… He was in personal contact with Peter and Paul (Irenaeus, loc. cit.) and according to the ancients he should be identified with the C. of Phil. 4, 3. On the other hand, the identification, proposed by some, with the consul Titus Flavius C., cousin of Domitian martyred in 95, rests only on the testimony of the Clementine apocrypha, …
Paul also went to L.'s house after his release from prison (Acts 16:40). From these passages and from Phil. 4:3, it does not follow what E. Renan thinks, namely that Paul had married L.
… Other prominent figures are a Clement, the "genuine Syzygus" (Phil 4:3: is this a proper name?) and those two women Euodia and Syntyche, who are politely asked to come to an agreement (Phil 4:2).
4:4
… 5:4; Heb. 9:28; I Pet. 5:4; I John 2:28; 3:2). The "nearness of the Lord" is a cause of fear, like the irruption of a thief (I Thess. 5:2-4; II Pet. 3:10; Rev. 1:3; 16:15), of austerity (Rom. 13:11 ff.; I Cor. 7:29-32; II Cor. 6:2), but also of joy (Phil. 4:4-6). Because it is connected with death and judgment, the p. must be awaited with anguish and with trust, being the passage from the precarious to the eternal (II Cor. 4:14-17; Rom. 8:18-25).
4:5
economy, has ceased (II Cor. 5:17; Heb. 8:13); we are near the "end of all things" of the world (Heb. 10:25, 37; Jas. 5:8; I Pet. 4:7; I John 2:18). When the Apostles proclaim "the Lord is near" (Phil. 4:5; Rom. 13:11; Jas. 5:8; Rev. 3:20), it is a matter of a spatial-spiritual nearness rather than a temporal one; it is the presence of Jesus already living among his own (Matt. 18:20; …
… While in certain texts P. seems to long for a speedy end of the world with the corresponding beginning of a blessed life with Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:3, 4; Phil. 1:6, 10; 3:20; 4:5), in others (Rom. 11:25) he posits as necessary the prior spread of the Gospel and the conversion of the Jews, which should precede the complex events of the parousia (revelation of …
4:6
Detachment from the world, simplicity with regard to the necessary cares of temporal life (ἁπλότης: Matt. 6:25-34; 1 Cor. 29-35; Phil. 4:6), finds its example (1 Thess. 1:7) in the generosity of the newly converted of Macedonia, whose "extreme poverty overflowed in the riches of their simplicity" on behalf of the poor …
4:8
… the teaching of the Apostle: "whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever merits honor, if there is any virtue, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8). Such an interest Christianity directs toward moral improvement and religious elevation. …
… 21), discipleship being a conforming to the master's directives, or that inculcate voluntary service (Mt. 20, 26; Lc. 22, 26). The earthly life of Jesus Christ gave us a perfect example of poverty (II Cor. 8, 9), of chastity (Hebr. 7, 26), of obedience (Phil. 4, 8).
All the faithful are called to holiness, at least in a general way. This truth is established by Sacred Scripture (Mt. 5:48; Lk. 14:25; Phil. 4:8; I Cor. 7:29-31; Eph. 1:4; II Tim. 3:10; I Pt. 1:15; I Io. 2:15; Apoc. 22:11), by the holy Fathers (St. Augustine, Sermo 96, 7; PL. 38, 588; St. Basil, Sermo de renunciatione saeculi; …
In general, any subject that is suited to the purpose of urging and strengthening the soul in the virtues is good, according to the saying of St. Paul (Phil. 4:8). Such subjects are found especially in the Gospels, in the liturgy, and in the writings and lives of the saints. …
4:9
Especially in the Pauline epistles, both the Good News in its generality (Rom. 6, 17; Gal. 1, 9-12; I Tim. 6, 20; II Tim. 1, 13 ff.) and specifically the precepts of Christian life (Phil. 4, 9; I Thess. 4, 1; II Thess. 2, 15; 3, 6), or even individual doctrines such as the Eucharist and the Resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 11, 23 ff.), are presented with a similar term …
4:10
… St. Ignatius, Ad Smyrn., 4, 2 (Phil. 13); 11, 3 (Phil. 3, 15); ad Philad., 1, 5; 8, 2 (Phil. 2, 3), there is the explicit testimony of Polycarp, Ad Phil., 3, 2, who reminds the F. of the letters written to them by Paul; allusions in 1, 1 (Phil. 2, 17; 4, 10); 2, 1 (Phil. 2, 10; 3, 21); 9, 2 (Phil. 2, 16); 12, 3 (Phil. 3, 18). The F. is also cited in a writing of the churches of Thyatira and Vienna (Eusebius, Hist. eccl., 5, 2: PG 20, …
Far from reserving itself to God alone, evangelical gratitude spreads solicitously toward the free cooperators in the divine munificence (Phil. 4:10-20). Christian charity does not allow itself to be overwhelmed by ingratitude, but neither does it remain insensible to well-ordered gratitude (Lk. 17:15-19): which is in the disinterested …
4:13
… The divine promises confer on man the greatest security, they give him almost the sense of omnipotence: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Only on this ground can the victorious conviction flourish that resists and triumphs in the face of the most arduous tasks. …
4:15
Besides the allusions of I Clem. 3, 4; 21, 1 (Phil. 1, 27); 47, 2 (Phil. 4, 15); of St. Ignatius, Ad Smyrn., 4, 2 (Phil. 13); 11, 3 (Phil. 3, 15); ad Philad., 1, 5; 8, 2 (Phil. 2, 3), there is the explicit testimony of Polycarp, Ad Phil., 3, 2, who reminds the …
4:17
… Haer., 4, 18, 4: PG 7, 1026; cf. 2, 8, 3 [Phil. 4, 17]; 5, 13, 4 [Phil. 3, 10]: PG 7, 995, 1159). The authenticity of the F. is commonly affirmed by Clement of Alexandria (Strom., 4, 13: PG 8, 1300; Paed., 1, 6: PG 8, 312), by Tertullian …
4:18
… letters written to them by Paul; allusions in 1, 1 (Phil. 2, 17; 4, 10); 2, 1 (Phil. 2, 10; 3, 21); 9, 2 (Phil. 2, 16); 12, 3 (Phil. 3, 18). The F. is also cited in a writing of the churches of Thyatira and Vienna (Eusebius, Hist. eccl., 5, 2: PG 20, 433). Phil. 4, 18 is cited as Paul's by St. Irenaeus (Adv. …
… and from the parallel passages of St. Paul it emerges that these are oblations improperly so called, whose object is the bona animae, prayer (Hebr. 13:15), faith (Phil. 2:17); the bona corporis (Rom. 12:1); the bona fortunae (Hebr. 13:16; Phil. 4:18). If the nature of every priesthood is inferred from the nature of the victims offered, the priestly prerogative with which the simple faithful are invested is metaphorical and improper. …
4:21
… imprisonment (61-63): custodia militaris, which allowed Paul to have his own house (Act. 28, 16. 30) and to receive visitors (ibid. 28, 17. 30). The letters of the imprisonment show at his side collaborators and disciples (Phil. 1, 1; 2, 19. 25 ff.; 4, 21; Col. 1, 1; 4, 7-14; Philem. 1. 23 f.), as well as the fugitive slave Onesimus (Philem. 10-13). An allusion to the praetorians, who took turns guarding Paul (Act. 28, 16), has been seen in
4:22
Styger put forward the theory that the origins of the Christian cemeteries of Rome are to be sought among the faithful de Caesaris domo mentioned by St. Paul (Phil. 4:22). But apart from the fact that none of the Roman cemeteries so far known allows us to reach such remote antiquity, the very names recalled above of the most ancient cemeteries do not …
… against the Judaizers (3, 2-11), this letter seems closer to Thessalonians and Galatians than to the other three of the imprisonment (v. FILIPPESI, epistola 11). The mention of the "praetorium" (Phil. 1, 13) and of "those of Caesar's household" (ibid. 4, 22) does not oblige us to think of Rome: in every great city of the empire there was a "praetorium" (local sense) and people who managed the emperor's interests, working his estates or his mines.
4:23
… thinking (ibid. 2:12 "spirit of the world"; etc.), and the activity of the Holy Spirit in man (ibid. 14:12, 32; I Thess. 5:16; II Thess. 2:2: the charisms) or man under the influence of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 14:14-16; "with your spirit"; Gal. 6:18; Phil. 4:23; II Tim. 4:22; Philem. 25), and the person of the Holy Spirit. …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Rheims 1582), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.