Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
8. Testis enim mihi est Deus, ut desiderem
vos omnes in visceribus 41 8. For God is my record, how greatly I long
after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Iesu Christi.
9. And this I pray, that your love may abound 9. Et hoc precor, ut caritas vestra adhue magis
yet more and more in knowledge and in all ac magis abundet cum agnitione, omnique
judgment;
intelligentia:
10. That ye may approve things that are 10. Ut probetis quæ utilia sunt, qno sitis
excellent; that ye may be sincere, and without sinceri, et inoffensi usque in diem Christi.
offence till the day of Christ;
11. Being filled with the fruits of 11. Impleti fructibus iustitiae, qui sunt per
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto Iesum Christum, in gloriam et laudem Dei.
the glory and praise of God.
7 As it is reasonable. For we are envious 42 valuators of the gifts of God if we do not reckon as
children of God those in whom there shine forth those true tokens of piety, which are the marks by
which the Spirit of adoption manifests himself. Paul accordingly says, that equity itself dictates to
him, 43 that he should hope well of the Philippians in all time to come, inasmuch as he sees them
to be associated with himself in participation of grace. It is not without due consideration that I
have given a different rendering of this passage from that of Erasmus, as the judicious reader will
easily perceive. For he states what opinion he has of the Philippians, which was the ground of his
hoping well respecting them. He says, then, that they are partakers with him of the same grace in
his bonds, and in the defense of the gospel.
To have them in his heart is to reckon them as such in the inmost affection of his heart. For the
Philippians had always assisted Paul according to their ability, so as to connect themselves with
him as associates for maintaining the cause of the gospel, so far as was in their power. Thus, although
they were absent in body, yet, on account of the pious disposition which they shewed by every
service in their power, he recognises them as in bonds along with him. “I have you, therefore, in
my heart;” this is, sincerely and without any pretense, assuredly, and with no slight or doubtful
opinion — as what? as partakers of grace — in what? in my bonds, by which the gospel is defended.
As he acknowledged them to be such, it was reasonable that he should hope well respecting them.
Of my grace and in the bonds. It were a ludicrous thing in the view of the world to reckon a
prison to be a benefit from God, but if we estimate the matter aright, it is no common honor that
God confers upon us, when we suffer persecution for the sake of his truth. For it was not in vain
that it was said,
Blessed shall ye be, when men shall afflict and harass you with all kinds of reproaches for my
name’s sake. (Matthew 5:11)
Let us therefore bear in remembrance also, that we must with readiness and alacrity embrace
the fellowship of the cross of Christ as a special favor from God. In addition to bonds he subjoins
the defense and confirmation of the gospel, that he may express so much the better the
41 “Aux entrailles de Jesus Christ, ou, Es cordiale affection de Jesus Christ;” — “In the bowels of Jesus Christ, or, In the
cordial affection of Jesus Christ.”
42 “Maigres et desdaigneux;” — “Miserable and disdainful.”
43 “Raison mesme et equite luy disent;” — “Even reason and equity tell him.”
15
John Calvin