Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

“The mention of his name implies merely that Timothy joined in affectionate remembrances to them. servants of Jesus Christ--The oldest manuscripts read the order, "Christ Jesus."”

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Grace . . . peace--The very form of this salutation implies the union of Jew, Greek, and Roman. The Greek salutation was "joy" (chairein), akin to the Greek for "grace" (charis). The Roman was "health," the intermediate term between grace and peace.”

God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

“Confirmation of Php 1:7. record--that is, witness. in the bowels of Jesus Christ--"Christ Jesus" is the order in the oldest manuscripts. My yearning love (so the Greek implies) to you is not merely from natural affection, but from devotedness to Christ Jesus.”

so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

“Literally, "With a view to your proving (and so approving and embracing) the things that excel" (Ro 2:18); not merely things not bad, but the things best among those that are good; the things of more advanced excellence.”

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

“Ro 6:22, "fruit unto holiness." which are--"which is by (Greek, 'through') Jesus Christ." Through His sending to us the Spirit from the Father.”

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

“The emperor was "Prætor," or Commander-in-Chief; naturally then the barrack of his bodyguard was called the Prætorium.”

And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.

“Translate as Greek, "And that (Php 1:13) most of the brethren in the Lord," &c. "In the Lord," distinguishes them from "brethren after the flesh," Jewish fellow countrymen. ELLICOTT translates, "Trusting in the Lord." by my bonds--encouraged by my patience in bearing my bonds.”

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

“But the others out of contention (or rather, 'a factious spirit'; 'cabal'; a spirit of intrigue, using unscrupulous means to compass their end; 'self-seeking' [ALFORD]) proclaim (the Greek is not the same as that for 'preach,' but, 'announce') Christ, not sincerely (answering to 'but of…”

because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.

“Christ, whose interests are my interests, being glorified thereby; and so the coming of His kingdom being furthered, which, when it does come, will bring completed "SALVATION" (Heb 9:28) to me and all whose "earnest expectation" (Php 1:20) is that Christ may be magnified in…”

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body…

“Or, "in nothing be disappointed in my hope, but that I may fully obtain it" [ESTIUS]. So "ashamed" is used in Ro 9:33. all boldness--"all" is opposed to "in nothing," as "boldness" is the opposite to "ashamed."”

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

“For--in either event (Php 1:20) I must be the gainer, "For to me," &c. to live is Christ--whatever life, time, and strength, I have, is Christ's; Christ is the sole object for which I live (Ga 2:20).”

I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.

“The partial life eternal is in the interval between death and Christ's second advent; the perfectional, at that advent [BISHOP PEARSON].”

But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

“to abide--to continue somewhat longer. for you--Greek, "on your account"; "for your sake." In order to be of service to you, I am willing to forego my entrance a little sooner into blessedness; heaven will not fail to be mine at last.”

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

“He did not yet know the issue, as far as human appearances were concerned (Php 2:23). He doubtless returned from his first captivity to Philippi (Heb 13:19; Phm 22). joy of faith--Greek, "joy in your faith."”

Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

“The Greek implies, "Let your walk as citizens (namely, of the heavenly state; 'the city of the living God,' Heb 12:22, 'the heavenly Jerusalem,' 'fellow citizens of the saints,' Eph 2:19) be," &c.”

without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.

“It attests this, that in contending hopelessly against you, they are only rushing on to their own perdition, not shaking your united faith and constancy. to you of salvation--The oldest manuscripts read, "of your salvation"; not merely your temporal safety.”

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

“For--rather, a proof that this is an evident token from God of your salvation, "Because," &c. it is given--Greek, "it has been granted as a favor," or "gift of grace."”

Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

“(1) "If there be (with you) any consolation in Christ," that is, any consolation of which Christ is the source, leading you to wish to console me in my afflictions borne for Christ's sake, ye owe it to me to grant my request "that ye…”

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

“Let nothing be done--The italicized words are not in the Greek. Perhaps the ellipsis had better be supplied from the Greek (Php 2:2), "Thinking nothing in the way of strife" (or rather, "factious intrigue," "self-seeking," see on Php 1:16).”

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

“The oldest manuscripts read, "Not looking each of you (plural, Greek) on his own things (that is, not having regard solely to them), but each of you on the things of others" also.”

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

“The oldest manuscripts read, "Have this mind in you," &c. He does not put forward himself (see on Php 2:4, and Php 1:24) as an example, but Christ, THE ONE pre-eminently who sought not His own, but "humbled Himself" (Php 2:8), first in taking on…”

but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.

“(2) He was "in the form of God" before He was "in the form of a servant." (3) He did as really subsist in the divine nature, as in the form of a servant, or in the nature of man.”

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

“In Php 2:7, in the Greek, the emphasis is on Himself (which stands before the Greek verb), "He emptied Himself," His divine self, viewed in respect to what He had heretofore been; in Php 2:8 the emphasis is on "humbled" (which stands before the Greek…”

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,

“God exalted Christ as man to equality with God [BENGEL]. highly exalted--Greek, "super-eminently exalted" (Eph 4:10). given him--Greek, "bestowed on Him." a name--along with the corresponding reality, glory and majesty. which--Translate, namely, "that which is above every name."”

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

“at the name--rather as Greek, "in the name." bow--rather, "bend," in token of worship. Referring to Isa 45:23; quoted also in Ro 14:11. To worship "in the name of Jesus," is to worship Jesus Himself (compare Php 2:11;”