Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon solum, sed etiam mei; ut ne tristitiam super
sorrow.
tristitiam haberem.
28. I sent him therefore the more carefully, 28. Studiosius itaque misi illum, ut eo viso
that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and rursus gaudeatis, et ego magis vacem dolore.
that I may be the less sorrowful.
29. Receive him therefore in the Lord with 29. Excipite ergo illum in Domino cum omni
all gladness; and hold such in reputation: gaudio: et qui tales sunt, in pretio habete:
30. Because for the work of Christ he was 30. Quia propter opus Christi usque ad
nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply mortem accessit, exponens periculo animam, ut
your lack of service toward me. sufficeret quod deerat vestro erga me ministerio,
(vel, officio.)
25 I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus. After having encouraged them by the
promise of his own coming and that of Timothy, he fortifies them also for the present, by sending
previously Epaphroditus, that in the mean time, while he waited the issue of his own affairs, (for
this was the cause of his delay,) they might not be in want of a pastor who should take care that
matters were properly managed. Now, he recommends Epaphroditus by many distinctions — that
he is his brother, and helper in the affairs of the gospel — that he is his fellow-soldier, by which
term he intimates what is the condition of the ministers of the gospel; that they are engaged in an
incessant warfare, for Satan will not allow them to promote the gospel without maintaining a
conflict. Let those, then, who prepare themselves for edifying the Church, know that war is
denounced against them, and prepared. This, indeed, is common to all Christians — to be soldiers
in the camp of Christ, 150 for Satan is the enemy of all. It is, however, more particularly applicable
to the ministers of the word, who go before the army and bear the standard. Paul, however, more
especially might boast of his military service, 151 inasmuch as he was exercised to a very miracle
in every kind of contest. He accordingly commends Epaphroditus, because he had been a companion
to him in his conflicts.
The term Apostle here, as in many other passages, is taken generally to mean any evangelist,
152 unless any one prefers to understand it as meaning an ambassador sent by the Philippians, so
that it may be understood as conjoining these two things — an ambassador to afford service to
Paul. 153 The former signification, however, is in my opinion more suitable. He mentions also,
among other things, to his praise, that he had ministered to him in prison — a matter which will be
treated of more fully ere long.
26. He longed after you. It is a sign of a true pastor, that while he was at a great distance, and
was willingly detained by a pious engagement, he was nevertheless affected with concern for his
flock, and a longing after them; and on learning that his sheep were distressed on his account, 154
150 “De batailler sous l’enseigne de Christ;” — “To fight under Christ’s banner.”
151 “S. Paul pouuoit se vanter plus que pas on des autres, que sa condition estoit semblable a celle d’vn gendarme;” — “St.
Paul might boast more than any other that his condition resembled that of a soldier.”
152 “Pour tous prescheurs de l’euangile;” — “For all preachers of the gospel.”
153 “Ambassade pour administrer a Sainct Paul en sa necessite;” — “An ambassador to minister to St. Paul in his necessity.”
154 “Pour l’amour de luy;” — “From love to him.”
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John Calvin