Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
11. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, 11. Quare exhortamini (vel, consolamini) vos
and edify one another, even as also ye do. invicem, et aedificate singuli singulos, sicut et
facitis.
12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know 12. Rogamus autem vos, fratres, ut agnoscatis
them which labour among you, and are over you eos, qui laborant in vobis, et praesunt vobis in
in the Lord, and admonish you;
Domino, et admonent vos:
13. And to esteem them very highly in love 13. Ut eos habeatis in summo pretio cum
for their work’s sake. And be at peace among caritate propter opus ipsorum: pacem habete cum
yourselves.
ipsis, (vel, inter vos.)
14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them 14. Hortamur autem vos, fratres, monete
that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, inordinatos, consolamini pusillanimos, suscipite
support the weak, be patient toward all men infirmos, patientes estote erga omnes.
11 Exhort. It is the same word that we had in the close of the preceding chapter, and which we
rendered comfort, because the context required it, and the same would not suit ill with this passage
also. For what he has treated of previously furnishes matter of both — of consolation as well as of
exhortation. He bids them, therefore, communicate to one another what has been given them by
the Lord. He adds, that they may edify one another — that is, may confirm each other in that
doctrine. Lest, however, it might seem as if he reproved them for carelessness, he says at the same
time that they of their own accord did what he enjoins. But, as we are slow to what is good, those
that are the most favourably inclined of all, have always, nevertheless, need to be stimulated.
12 And we beseech you. Here we have an admonition that is very necessary. For as the kingdom
of God is lightly esteemed, or at least is not esteemed suitably to its dignity, there follows also from
this, contempt of pious teachers. Now, the most of them, offended with this ingratitude, not so
much because they see themselves despised, as because they infer from this, that honor is not
rendered to their Lord, are rendered thereby more indifferent, and God also, on just grounds, inflicts
vengeance upon the world, inasmuch as he deprives it of good ministers, 602 to whom it is ungrateful.
Hence, it is not so much for the advantage of ministers as of the whole Church, that those who
faithfully preside over it should be held in esteem. And it is for this reason that Paul is so careful
to recommend them. To acknowledge means here to have regard or respect; but Paul intimates that
the reason why less honor is shewn to teachers themselves than is befitting, is because their labor
is not ordinarily taken into consideration.
We must observe, however, with what titles of distinction he honors pastors. In the first place,
he says that they labor. From this it follows, that all idle bellies are excluded from the number of
pastors. Farther, he expresses the kind of labor when he adds, those that admonish, or instruct, you.
It is to no purpose, therefore, that any, that do not discharge the office of an instructor, glory in the
name of pastors. The Pope, it is true, readily admits such persons into his catalogue, but the Spirit
of God expunges them from his. As, however, they are held in contempt in the world, as has been
said, he honors them at the same time, with the distinction of presidency.
602 “Fideles ministres de la parolle;” — “Faithful ministers of the word.”
182
John Calvin