Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
to the Philippians, he says that it was a filling up of their deficiency, 162 because, being situated at
a distance, they could not furnish aid to Paul at Rome. Hence Epaphroditus, having been sent for
this purpose, acted in their stead. 163 He speaks of the services rendered to him as the work of the
Lord, as assuredly there is nothing in which we can better serve God, than when we help his servants
who labor for the truth of the gospel.
Philippians 3:1-6
CHAPTER 3
1. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. 1. Quod reliquum est, fratres, mei, gaudete
To write the same things to you, to me indeed is in Domino; eadem scribere vobis, me equidem,
not grievous, but you it is safe.
haud piget, vobis autem tutm est.
2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, 2. Videte canes, videte malos operarios,
beware of the concision.
videte concisionem.
3. For we are the cirmcumcision, which 3. Nos enim sumus cicrcumcisio, qui spiritu
worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Deum colimus, et gloriamur in Christo Iesu, non
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. autem in carne confidimus.
4. Though I might also have confidence in 4. Tametsi ego etiam in carne fiduciam habeo.
the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath Si qauis alius videtur confidere in carne, ego
whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: magis:
5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock 5. Circumcisus die occtavo, ex genere Israel,
of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of tribu Beniamin, Hebraeus ex Hebraeis, secundum
the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; legem Pharisaeus:
6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church; 6. Secundum zelum persequens Ecclesiam,
touching the righteousness which is in the law, secundum iustitiam, quae est in lege,
blameless.
irreprehensibilis.
1 Rejoice in the Lord This is a conclusion from what goes before, for as Satan never ceased to
distress them with daily rumors, he bids them divest themselves of anxiety and be of good courage.
In this way he exhorts them to constancy, that they may not fall back from the doctrine which they
have once received. The phrase henceforward denotes a continued course, that, in the midst of
many hinderances, they may not cease to exercise holy joy. It is a rare excellence when Satan
endeavors to exasperate us 164 by means of the bitterness of the cross, so as to make God’s name
162 “Vn accomplissement, ou moyen de suppleer ce qui defailloit de leur seruice;” — “A filling up, or a means of supplying
what was defective in their service.”
163 “Faisoit en cest endroit ce qu’ils deuoyent faire;” — “Did in this matter what they ought to have done
164 “De nous troubler et effaroucher;” — “To trouble and frighten us.”
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John Calvin