Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
be the more ratified and confirmed. This is to teach the gospel from the heart — when we are
prepared to confirm with our own blood what we teach.
From this, however, a useful lesson is to be gathered as to the nature of faith — that it is not a
vain thing, but of such a nature as to consecrate man to God. The ministers of the gospel have, also,
here a singular consolation in being called priests of God, to present victims to him; 141 for with
what ardor ought that man to apply himself to the pursuit of preaching, who knows that this is an
acceptable sacrifice to God! The wretched Papists, having no knowledge of this kind of sacrifice,
contrive another, which is utter sacrilege.
I rejoice with you, says he — so that if it should happen that he died, they would know that this
took place for their profit, and would receive advantage from his death.
18 Rejoice ye. By the alacrity which he thus discovers, he encourages the Philippians, and
enkindles in them a desire to meet death with firmness, 142 inasmuch as believers suffer no harm
from it. For he has formerly taught them that death would be gain to himself, (Philippians 1:21;)
here, on the other hand, he is chiefly concerned that his death may not disconcert the Philippians.
143 He, accordingly, declares that it is no ground of sorrow; nay, that they have occasion of joy,
inasmuch as they will find it to be productive of advantage. For, although it was in itself a serious
loss to be deprived of such a teacher, it was no slight compensation that the gospel was confirmed
by his blood. In the mean time, he lets them know that to himself personally death would be matter
of joy. The rendering of Erasmus, taking it in the present tense, Ye rejoice, is altogether unsuitable.
19 But I hope. He promises them the coming of Timothy, that, from their expecting him, they
may bear up more courageously, and not give way to impostors. For as in war an expectation of
help animates soldiers, so as to keep them from giving way, so this consideration, too, was fitted
to encourage greatly the Philippians: “There will one come very shortly, who will set himself in
opposition to the contrivances of our enemies.” But if the mere expectation of him had so much
influence, his presence would exert a much more powerful effect. We must take notice of the
condition 144 — in respect of which he submits himself to the providence of God, forming no purpose,
but with that leading the way, as assuredly it is not allowable to determine anything as to the future,
except, so to speak, under the Lord’s hand. When he adds, that I may be in tranquillity, he declares
his affection towards them, inasmuch as he was so much concerned as to their dangers, that he was
not at ease until he received accounts of their prosperity.
20 I have no man like-minded. While some draw another meaning from the passage, I interpret
it thus: “I have no one equally well-affected for attending to your interests.” For Paul, in my opinion,
compares Timothy with others, rather than with himself, and he pronounces this eulogium upon
him, with the express design that he may be the more highly esteemed by them for his rare excellence.
21 For all seek their own things. He does not speak of those who had openly abandoned the
pursuit of piety, but of those very persons whom he reckoned brethren, nay, even those whom he
admitted to familiar intercourse with him. These persons, he nevertheless says, were so warm in
the pursuit of their own interests, that they were unbecomingly cold in the work of the Lord. It may
141 “Pour luy offrir en sacrifice les ames des fideles;” — “To offer to him in sacrifice the souls of the believers.”
142 “Les enflambe a mourir constamment, et receuoir la mort d’vn cœur magnanime;” — “Enkindles them to die with firmness,
and meet death with magnanimity.”
143 “Que sa mort ne trouble et estonne les Philippians;” — “That his death may not distress and alarm the Philippians.”
144 “En ces mots, au Seigneur Jesus, il faut noter la condition;” — “In these words, in the Lord Jesus, we must notice the
condition.”
45
John Calvin