Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
seem at first view as if it were no great fault to seek one’s own profit; but how insufferable it is in
the servants of Christ, appears from this, that it renders those that give way to it utterly useless. For
it is impossible that the man who is devoted to self, should apply himself to the interests of the
Church. Did then, you will say, Paul cultivate the society of men that were worthless and mere
pretenders? I answer, that it is not to be understood, as if they had been intent exclusively on their
own interests, and bestowed no care whatever upon the Church, but that, taken up with their own
individual interests, they were to some extent negligent to the promotion of the public advantage
of the Church. For it must necessarily be, that one or other of two dispositions prevails over us —
either that, overlooking ourselves, we are devoted to Christ, and those things that are Christ’s, or
that, unduly intent on our own advantage, we serve Christ in a superficial manner.
From this it appears, how great a hinderance it is to Christ’s ministers to seek their own interests.
Nor is there any force in these excuses: “I do harm to no one“ — “I must have a regard, also, to
my own advantage” — “I am not so devoid of feeling as not to be prompted by a regard to my own
advantage.” For you must give up your own right if you would discharge your duty: a regard to
your own interests must not be put in preference to Christ’s glory, or even placed upon a level with
it. Whithersoever Christ calls you, you must go promptly, leaving off all other things. Your calling
ought to be regarded by you in such a way, that you shall turn away all your powers of perception
from everything that would impede you. It might be in your power to live elsewhere in greater
opulence, but God has bound you to the Church, which affords you but a very moderate sustenance:
you might elsewhere have more honor, but God has assigned you a situation, in which you live in
a humble style: 145 you might have elsewhere a more salubrious sky, or a more delightful region,
but it is here that your station is appointed. You might wish to have to do with a more humane
people: you feel offended with their ingratitude, or barbarity, or pride; in short, you have no sympathy
with the disposition or the manners of the nation in which you are, but you must struggle with
yourself, and do violence in a manner to opposing inclinations, that you may 146 keep by the trade
you have got; 147 for you are not free, or at your own disposal. In fine, forget yourself, if you would
serve God.
If, however, Paul reproves so severely those who were influenced by a greater concern for
themselves than for the Church, what judgment may be looked for by those who, while altogether
devoted to their own affairs, make no account of the edification of the Church? However they may
now flatter themselves, God will not spare them. An allowance must be given to the ministers of
the Church to seek their own interests, so as not to be prevented from seeking the kingdom of Christ;
but in that case they will not be represented as seeking their own interests, as a man’s life is estimated
according to its chief aim. When he says all, we are not to understand the term denoting universality,
as though it implied that there was no exception, for there were others also, such as Epaphroditus,
148 but there were few of these, and he ascribes to all what was very generally prevalent.
145 “Sans estre en plus grande reputation;” — “Without being in very great reputation.”
146 “En sorte que tu to contentes du lieu qui t’est ordonné, et que t’employes a ta charge;” — “So as to content yourself with
the place that is appointed for you, and employ yourself in your own department.”
147 See Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 1, p. 249.
148 “Car il y en auoit d’autres qui auoyent plus grand soin de l’Eglise de Dieu, que d’eux-mesmes, comme Epaphrodite;” —
“For there were others of them that had greater concern as to the Church of God, than as to themselves, such as Epaphroditus.”
46
John Calvin