As the term παρακλήσεως is often taken to mean exhortation, the commencement of the passage might be explained in this manner: “If an exhortation which is delivered in the name and by the authority of Christ, has any weight with you.” The other meaning, however, corresponds better with the context:…

That ye think the same thing. The sum is this – that they be joined together in views and inclinations. For he makes mention of agreement in doctrine and mutual love; and afterwards, repeating the same thing, (in my opinion) he exhorts them to be of one mind, and to have the same views.

But by humility. For both diseases he brings forward one remedy – humility, and with good reason, for it is the mother of moderation, the effect of which is that, yielding up our own right, we give the preference to others, and are not easily thrown into agitation.

5. He now recommends, from the example of Christ, the exercise of humility, to which he had exhorted them in words. There are, however, two departments, in the first of which he invites us to imitate Christ, because this is the rule of life: in the second, he allures us to it, because this is the…

The form of God means here his majesty. For as a man is known by the appearance of his form, so the majesty, which shines forth in God, is his figure. Or if you would prefer a more apt similitude, the form of a king is his equipage and magnificence, shewing him to be a king – his scepter, his…

It is asked, whether he did this as man? Erasmus answers in the affirmative. But where was the form of God before he became man? Hence we must reply, that Paul speaks of Christ wholly, as he was God manifested in the flesh, but, nevertheless, this emptying is applicable exclusive to his humanity,…

This passage has given occasion to sophists, or rather they have seized hold of it, to allege that Christ merited first for himself, and afterwards for others.

have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. But here a question arises – whether this relates to the divinity of Christ or to his humanity, for either of the two is not without some inconsistency, inasmuch as nothing new could be given to his divinity; and his humanity in itself, viewed…

As ye have always obeyed. He commends their previous obedience, that he may encourage them the more to persevere. As, however, it is the part of hypocrites to approve themselves before others, but so soon as they have withdrawn from public view, to indulge themselves more freely, as if every…

There are, in any action, two principal departments – the inclination, and the power to carry it into effect. Both of these he ascribes wholly to God; what more remains to us as a ground of glorying? Nor is there any reason to doubt that this division has the same force as if Paul had expressed the…

In the midst of a wicked generation. Believers, it is true, live on earth, intermingled with the wicked; they breathe the same air, they enjoy the same soil, and at that time they were even more intermingled, inasmuch as there could scarcely be found a single pious family that was not surrounded on…

“No man lighteth a candle, and putteth it under a bushel,” etc. We are said, however, to carry the word of life in such a way as to be, in the mean time, carried by it, inasmuch as we are founded upon it.

He makes use of the terms, καὶ λειτουργίαν – sacrifice and service, the former of which refers to the Philippians, who had been offered up to God; and the latter to Paul, for it is the very act of sacrificing.

From this it appears, how great a hinderance it is to Christ’s ministers to seek their own interests. Nor is there any force in these excuses: “I do harm to no one“ – “I must have a regard, also, to my own advantage” – “I am not so devoid of feeling as not to be prompted by a regard to my own…

The term Apostle here, as in many other passages, is taken generally to mean any evangelist, unless any one prefers to understand it as meaning an ambassador sent by the Philippians, so that it may be understood as conjoining these two things – an ambassador to afford service to Paul.

26. He longed after you. It is a sign of a true pastor, that while he was at a great distance, and was willingly detained by a pious engagement, he was nevertheless affected with concern for his flock, and a longing after them; and on learning that his sheep were distressed on his account, he was…

But on me also, lest I should have sorrow. Paul acknowledges that the death of Epaphroditus would have been bitterly painful to him, and he recognises it as an instance of God’s sparing mercy toward himself, that he had been restored to health.