Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
15 The sons of God, unreprovable. It ought to be rendered — unreprovable, because ye are the
sons of God. For God’s adoption of us ought to be a motive to a blameless life, that we may in
some degree resemble our Father. Now, although there never has been such perfection in the world
as to have nothing worthy of reproof, those are, nevertheless, said to be unreprovable who aim at
this with the whole bent of their mind, as has been observed elsewhere. 129
In the midst of a wicked generation. Believers, it is true, live on earth, intermingled with the
wicked; 130 they breathe the same air, they enjoy the same soil, and at that time 131 they were even
more intermingled, inasmuch as there could scarcely be found a single pious family that was not
surrounded on all sides by unbelievers. So much the more does Paul stir up the Philippians to guard
carefully against all corruptions. The meaning therefore is this: “You are, it is true, inclosed in the
midst of the wicked; but, in the mean time, bear in mind that you are, by God’s adoption, separated
from them: let there be, therefore, in your manner of life, conspicuous marks by which you may
be distinguished. Nay more, this consideration ought to stir you up the more to aim at a pious and
holy life, that we may not also be a part of the crooked generation, 132 entangled by their vices and
contagion.”
As to his calling them a wicked and crooked generation, this corresponds with the connection
of the passage. For he teaches us that we must so much the more carefully take heed on this account
— that many occasions of offense are stirred up by unbelievers, which disturb their right course;
and the whole life of unbelievers is, as it were, a labyrinth of various windings, that draw us off
from the right way. They are, however, notwithstanding, epithets of perpetual application, that are
descriptive of unbelievers of all nations and in all ages. For if the heart of man is wicked and
unsearchable, (Jeremiah 17:9,) what will be the fruits springing from such a root? Hence we are
taught in these words, that in the life of man there is nothing pure, nothing right, until he has been
renewed by the Spirit of God.
Among whom shine ye. The termination of the Greek word is doubtful, for it might be taken as
the indicative — ye shine; but the imperative suits better with the exhortation. He would have
believers be as lamps, which shine amidst the darkness of the world, as though he had said,
“Believers, it is true, are children of the night, and there is in the world nothing but darkness; but
God has enlightened you for this end, that the purity of your life may shine forth amidst that darkness,
that his grace may appear the more illustrious.” Thus, also, it is said by the Prophet,
“The Lord will arise upon thee,
and his glory will be seen upon thee.”(Isaiah 60:2.)
He adds immediately afterwards, “The Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness
of thy countenance.” Though Isaiah speaks there rather of doctrine, while Paul speaks here of an
exemplary life, yet, even in relation to doctrine, Christ in another passage specially designates the
Apostles the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14.)
16 Holding forth the word of life The reason why they ought to be luminaries is, that they carry
the word of life, by which they are enlightened, that they may give light also to others. Now he
alludes to lamps, in which wicks are placed that they may burn, and he makes us resemble the
129 Our Author most probably refers to what he had stated when commenting on 1 Corinthians 1:8. See Calvin on the Corinthians,
vol. 1, pp. 58, 59. — Ed.
130 “Mesles auec les infideles et meschans;” — “Mingled with the unbelieving and the wicked.”
131 “Et lors mesme que S. Paul escriuoit ceci;” — “And even at the time that St. Paul wrote this.”
132 “De la generation peruerse et maudite;” — “Of the perverse and accursed generation.”
42
John Calvin