Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
14. And many of the brethren in the Lord, 14. Et multi ex fratribus in Domino, vinculis
waxing confident by my bonds, are much more meis confisi, uberius ausi fuerint absque timore
bold to speak the word without fear.
sermonem Dei loqui.
15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy 15. Nonnulli quidem per invidiam et
and strife; and some also of good will: contentionem, alii autem etiam per
benevolentiam, Christum praedicant.
16. The one preach Christ of contention, not 16. Alii, inquam, ex contentione Christum
sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my annuntiant, non pure, existimantes afflictionem
bonds:
se suscitare meis vinculis:
17. But the other of love, knowing that I am 17. Alii autem ex caritate, scientes quod in
set for the defence of the gospel.
defensionem Evangelii positus sim.
12 But I wish you to know We all know from our own experience, how much the flesh is wont
to be offended by the abasement of the cross. We allow, indeed, Christ crucified to be preached to
us; but when he appears in connection with his cross, then, as though we were thunderstruck at the
novelty of it, 51 we either avoid him or hold him in abhorrence, and that not merely in our own
persons, but also in the persons of those who deliver to us the gospel. It may have happened to the
Philippians, that they were in some degree discouraged in consequence of the persecution of their
Apostle. We may also very readily believe, that those bad workmen 52 who eagerly watched every
occasion, however small, of doing injury, did not refrain from triumphing over the calamity of this
holy man, and by this means making his gospel contemptible. If, however, they were not successful
in this attempt, they might very readily calumniate him by representing him as hated by the whole
world; and at the same time leading the Philippians to dread, lest, by an unfortunate association
with him, 53 they should needlessly incur great dislike among all; for such are the usual artifices of
Satan. The Apostle provides against this danger, when he states that the gospel had been promoted
by means of his bonds. The design, accordingly, of this detail is, to encourage the Philippians, that
they may not feel deterred 54 by the persecution endured by him.
13 So that my bonds He employs the expression — in Christ, to mean, in the affairs, or in the
cause of Christ, for he intimates that his bonds had become illustrious, so as to promote the honor
of Christ. 55 The rendering given by some — through Christ, seems forced. I have also employed
the word illustria (illustrious) in preference to manifesta, (manifest,) — as having ennobled the
gospel by their fame. 56 “Satan, indeed, has attempted it, and the wicked have thought that it would
turn out so, that the gospel would be destroyed; but God has frustrated both the attempts of the
51 “Estans estonnez comme d’vne chose nouuelle et non ouye;” — “Being astonished as at a thing new and unheard of.”
52 “Et faux apostres;” — “And false apostles.”
53 “En prenant ceste dangereuse accointance de S. Paul;” — “By contracting this dangerous acquaintance with St. Paul.”
54 “Afin qu’ils ne soyent point destournex;” — “That they may not be turned aside.”
55 “Ses liens ont este rendus celebres, et ont excellement serui a auancer la gloire de Christ;” — “His bonds had become
celebrated, and had admirably contributed to advance the glory of Christ.”
56 “Pource qu’il entend que le bruit qui auoit este de ses liens, auoit donné grand bruit a l’Euangile;” — “Because he means
that the fame, which had arisen from his bonds, had given great fame to the gospel.”
19
John Calvin