Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
us is not an everlasting abode, but a frail tabernacle, which will in a short time be reduced to nothing.
Besides, it is liable to so many miseries, and so many dishonorable infirmities, that it may justly
be spoken of as vile and full of ignominy. Whence, then, is its restoration to be hoped for? From
heaven, at Christ’s coming. Hence there is no part of us that ought not to aspire after heaven with
undivided affection. We see, on the one hand, in life, but chiefly in death, the present meanness of
our bodies; the glory which they will have, conformably to Christ’s body, is incomprehensible by
us: for if the disciples could not endure the slight taste which he afforded 206 in his transfiguration,
(Matthew 17:6,) which of us could attain its fullness? Let us for the present be contented with the
evidence of our adoption, being destined to know the riches of our inheritance when we shall come
to the enjoyment of them.
According to the efficacy As nothing is more difficult to believe, or more at variance with carnal
perception, than the resurrection, Paul on this account places before our eyes the boundless power
of God, that it may entirely remove all doubt; for distrust arises from this — that we measure the
thing itself by the narrowness of our own understanding. Nor does he simply make mention of
power, but also of efficacy, which is the effect, or power showing itself in action, so to speak. Now,
when we bear in mind that God, who created all things out of nothing, can command the earth, and
the sea, and the other elements, to render back what has been committed to them 207 , our minds are
imrnediately roused up to a firm hope — nay, even to a spiritual contemplation of the resurrection.
But it is of importance to take notice, also, that the right and power of raising the dead, nay
more, of doing everything according to his own pleasure, is assigned to the person of Christ — an
encomium by which his Divine majesty is illustriously set forth. Nay, farther, we gather from this,
that the world was created by him, for to subject all things to himself belongs to the Creator alone.
Philippians 4:1-3
CHAPTER 4
1. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and 1. Itaque, fratres mei dilecti et desiderati,
longed for, my joy and corwn, so stand fast in gaudium et corona mea, sic state in Domino,
the Lord, my dearly beloved.
dilecti.
2. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, 2. Euodian hortor, et Syntchen hortor, ut
that they be of the same mind in the Lord. unum sentiant in Domino.
3. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, 3. Sane rogo etiam to, germane compar,
help those women which laboured with me in the adiuva eas, quae in evangelio idem mecum
gospel, with Clement also, and with other my certamen sustinuerunt, cum Clemente etiam, et
fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of reliquis adiutoribus meis, quorum nomina sunt
life.
in libro vitae.
206 “De sa Gloire;” — “Of his glory.”
207 “Qu’il leur auoit donne en garde;” — “What he had given to them to keep.”
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John Calvin