Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
makes righteousness the breastplate. This, therefore, will suffice for understanding his meaning,
that he designs to teach, that the life of Christians is like a perpetual warfare, inasmuch as Satan
does not cease to trouble and molest them. He would have us, therefore, be diligently prepared and
on the alert for resistance: farther, he admonishes us that we have need of arms, because unless we
be well armed we cannot withstand so powerful 598 an enemy. He does not, however, enumerate all
the parts of armor, (πανοπλίαν,) but simply makes mention of two, the breastplate and the helmet.
In the mean time, he omits nothing of what belongs to spiritual armor, for the man that is provided
with faith, love, and hope, will be found in no department unarmed.
9 For God hath not appointed us. As he has spoken of the hope of salvation, he follows out
that department, and says that God has appointed us to this — that we may obtain salvation through
Christ. The passage, however, might be explained in a simple way in this manner — that we must
put on the helmet of salvation, because God wills not that we should perish, but rather that we
should be saved. And this, indeed, Paul means, but, in my opinion, he has in view something farther.
For as the day of Christ is for the most part regarded with alarm, 599 having it in view to close with
the mention of it, he says that we are appointed to salvation
The Greek term περιποίησις means enjoyment, (as they speak,) as well as acquisition. Paul,
undoubtedly, does not mean that God has called us, that we may procure salvation for ourselves,
but that we may obtain it, as it has been acquired for us by Christ. Paul, however, encourages
believers to fight strenuously, setting before them the certainty of victory; for the man who fights
timidly and hesitatingly is half-conquered. In these words, therefore, he had it in view to take away
the dread which arises from distrust. There cannot, however, be a better assurance of salvation
gathered, than from the decree 600 of God. The term wrath, in this passage, as in other instances, is
taken to mean the judgment or vengeance of God against the reprobate.
10 Who died. From the design of Christ’s death he confirms what he has said, for if he died
with this view — that he might make us partakers of his life, there is no reason why we should be
in doubt as to our salvation. It is doubtful, however, what he means now by sleeping and waking,
for it might seem as if he meant life and death, and this meaning would be more complete. At the
same time, we might not unsuitably interpret it as meaning ordinary sleep. The sum is this — that
Christ died with this view, that he might bestow upon us his life, which is perpetual and has no
end. It is not to be wondered, however, that he affirms that we now live with Christ, inasmuch as
we have, by entering through faith into the kingdom of Christ, passed from death into life. (John
5:24) Christ himself, into whose body we are ingrafted, quickens us by his power, and the Spirit
that dwelleth in us is life, because of justification 601
1 Thessalonians 5:11—14
598 “Si puissant et si fort;” — “So powerful and so strong.”
599 “D’autant que volontiers nous auons en horreur et craignons le iour du Seigneur;” — “Inasmuch as we naturally regard
with horror, and view with dread the day of the Lord.”
600 “Du decret et ordonnance de Dieu;” — “From the decree and appointment of God.”
601 “Comme il est dit en l’Epistre aux Romans 8. b. 10;” — “As is stated in the Epistle to the Romans Romans 8:10.”
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John Calvin