Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
If any praise, 241 that is, anything praiseworthy, for amidst such a corruption of manners there
is so great a perversity in men’s judgments that praise is often bestowed 242 upon what is
blameworthy, and it is not allowable for Christians to be desirous even of true praise among men,
inasmuch as they are elsewhere forbidden to glory, except in God alone. (1 Corinthians 1:31.) Paul,
therefore, does not bid them try to gain applause or commendation by virtuous actions, nor even
to regulate their life according to the judgments of the people, but simply means, that they should
devote themselves to the performance of good works, which merit commendation, that the wicked,
and those who are enemies of the gospel, while they deride Christians and cast reproach upon them,
may, nevertheless, be constrained to commend their deportment.
The word, προσφιλὢ καὶ εὔφημα however, among the Greeks, is employed, like cogitare among
the Latins, to mean, meditate. 243 Now meditation comes first, afterwards follows action.
9. What things ye have learned, and received, and heard By this accumulation of terms he
intimates, that he was assiduous in inculcating these things. “This was my doctrine — my instruction
— my discourse among you.” Hypocrites, on the other hand, insisted upon nothing but ceremonies.
Now, it was a dishonorable thing to abandon the holy instruction, 244 which they had wholly imbibed,
and with which they had been thorouglly imbued.
You have seen in me Now, the main thing in a public speaker 245 should be, that he may speak,
not with his mouth merely, but by his life, and procure authority for his doctrine by rectitude of
life. Paul, accordingly, procures authority for his exhortation on this ground, that he had, by his
life no less than by his mouth, been a leader and master of virtues.
And the God of peace He had spoken of the peace of God; he now more particularly confirms
what he had said, by promising that God himself, the Author of peace, will be with them. For the
presence of God brings us every kind of blessing: as though he had said, that they would feel that
God was present with them to make all things turn out well and prosperously, provided they apply
themselves to pious and holy actions.
Philippians 4:10-14
10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that 10. Gavisu sum autem in domino valde, quod
now at the last your care of me hath flourished aliquando reviguistis in studio mei, de quo etiam
again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked cogitabatis, sed deerat opportunitas.
opportunity.
241 “The Clermont copy reads here, εἴ τις ἔπαινος, If there be any praise of knowledge. Instead of ἐπιστήμης, the Valesian
readings have παιδείες, with which the Vulg. Latin, agrees, reading, If there be any praise of discipline, (disciplinae,) as does
also the Ethiopic, and two ancient Commentators mentioned by Dr. Mills.” — Pierce. — Ed.
242 “Bien souuent on loue;” — “Very frequently they praise.”
243 Like the Latin terms cogitare, meditari, the Greek μελετᾷν signifies to contemplate a thing, with the view of, finding means
for effecting it. ... According to this view, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε, in the passage before us, will be equivalent to ταῦτα ποιεῖν λογίζεσθε,
‘think to do these things,’ — ‘give diligence to do them.’” — Storr. See Biblical Cabinet, vol. 40, p. 180 Note. — Ed.
244 “C’eust este vne chose dishonneste aux Philippiens de delaisser la sainte doctrine et instruction;” — “It would have been
a dishonorable thing for the Philipplans to abandon the holy doctrine and instruction.”
245 “En vn prescheur;” — “In a preacher.”
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John Calvin