Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
because he owns and acknowledges as done to himself whatever kindness is shewn to his servants.
They had therefore been truly sowing in the Lord’s field, from which a sure and abundant harvest
might be expected. Nor does he promise them merely a reward in the future life, but even in respect
of the necessities of the present life: “Do not think that you have impoverished yourselves; God,
whom I serve, will abundantly furnish you with everything necessary for you.” The phrase, in glory,
ought to be taken in place of the adverb gloriously, as meaning magnificently, or splendidly. He
adds, however, by Christ, in whose name everything that we do is acceptable to God.
20 Now to our God and Father This may be taken as a general thanksgiving, by which he closes
the epistle; or it may be viewed as bearing more particularly upon the last clause in reference to
the liberality shewn to Paul. 259 For in respect of the assistance which the Philippians had afforded
him, it became him to reckon himself indebted to them for it in such a manner as to acknowledge,
that this aid had been afforded to them by the mercy of God.
22 The brethren that are with me salute you In these salutations he names first of all his intimate
associates, 260 afterwards all the saints in general, that is, the whole Church at Rome, but chiefly
those of the household of Nero — a thing well deserving to be noticed; for it is no common evidence
of divine mercy, that the gospel had made its way into that sink of all crimes and iniquities. It is
also the more to be admired, in proportion as it is a rare thing for holiness to reign in the courts of
sovereigns. The conjecture formed by some, that Seneca is here referred to among others, has no
appearance of foundation; for he never gave any evidence, even the smallest, of his being a Christian;
nor did he belong to the household of Caesar, but was a senator, and had at one time held the office
of praetor. 261
END OF THE COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO
THE PHILIPPIANS.
259 “La liberalite de laquelle les Philippiens auoyent vse enuers sainct Paul;” — “The liberality which the Philippians had
exercised towards St. Paul.”
260 “Les compagnons, qui demeuroyent auec luy;” — “His associates who lived with him.”
261 “Some imagine,” says Dr. A. Clarke, “that Seneca, the preceptor of Nero, and the poet Lucan, were converted by St. Paul;
and there are still extant, and in a MS. now before me, letters which profess to have passed between Paul and Seneca; but they
are worthy of neither. They have been printed in some editions of Seneca’s works.” — Ed.
79
John Calvin