Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
of this holy man, to bear with their inhumanity with so much gentleness and indulgence, as not to
make use of one sharp word by way of accusing them!
17. Not that I demand a gift. Again he repels an unfavourable opinion that might be formed of
immoderate cupidity, that they might not suppose that it was an indirect hint, 252 as if they ought
singly to stand in the room of all, 253 and as if he abused their kindness. He accordingly declares,
that he consulted not so much his own advantage as theirs. “While I receive from you,” says he,
“there is proportionably much advantage that redounds to yourselves; for there are just so many
articles that you may reckon to have been transferred to the table of accounts.” The meaning of this
word 254 is connected with the similitude formerly employed of exchange or compensation in
pecuniary matters.
18 I have received all things, and abound He declares in more explicit terms, that he has what
is sufficient, and honors their liberality with a remarkable testimony, by saying, that he has been
filled. It was undoubtedly a moderate sum that they had sent, but he says, that by means of that
moderate sum he is filled to satiety. It is, however, a more distinguished commendation that he
bestows upon the gift in what follows, when he calls it a sacrifice acceptable, and presented as the
odour of a good fragrance For what better thing can be desired than that our acts of kindness should
be sacred offerings, which God receives from our hands, and takes pleasure in their sweet odour?
For the same reason Christ says, Whatsoever ye shall have done unto one of the least of these, ye
have done it unto me.
The similitude of sacrifices, however, adds much emphasis, by which we are taught, that the
exercise of love which God enjoins upon us, is not merely a benefit conferred upon man, but is
also a spiritual and sacred service which is performed to God, as we read in the Epistle to the
Hebrews, that he is well pleased with such sacrifices. (Hebrews 13:16.) Alas for our indolence! 255
— which appears in this, that while God invites us with so much kindness to the honor of priesthood,
and even puts sacrifices in our hands, we nevertheless do not sacrifice to him, and those things
which were set apart for sacred oblations we not only lay out for profane uses, but squander them
wickedly upon the most polluted contaminations. 256 For the altars, on which sacrifices from our
resources ought to be presented, are the poor, and the servants of Christ. To the neglect of these
some squander their resources on every kind of luxury, others upon the palate, others upon immodest
attire, others upon magnificent dwellings. 257
19 My God will supply Some read impleat — in the optative — May he supply. 258 While I do
not reject this reading, I approve more of the other. He expressly makes mention of God as his,
252 “Pour les induire a continuer;” — “To induce them to hold on.”
253 “Comme si eux deussent tenir la place de tous, et faire pour les autres;” — “As if they ought to hold the place of all, and
to act in the room of others.”
254 Calvin evidently refers to the word λόγον, (account,) which the Apostle had made use of in the fifteenth verse, in the phrase
εἰς λόγον δόσεω; καὶ λήψεω;, (in the matter of giving and receiving.) It is noticed by Beza, that the Rabbins make use of a
corresponding phrase (mattan umassa) — giving and taking. — Ed.
255 “Or maudite soit nostre paresse;” — “But accursed be our indolence.”
256 “Les consumons prodigalement et meschamment en choses infames et abominables;” — “We lay them out lavishly and
wickedly on things infamous and abominable.”
257 “Les vns dependent tout leur bien en toutes de dissolutions, les autres en gouermandise et yurognerie, les autres en brauetes
excessiues, les autres a bastir des palais somptueux;” — “Some lay out all their wealth on all kinds of luxuries, others on eating
and drinking, others superfluous elegance of dress, others in building sumptuous palaces.”
258 “Comme si c’estoit vn souhait que sainct Paul feist;” — “As if it were a wish that St. Paul expressed.”
78
John Calvin